Apple Watch repairability barely budged this year, according to teardowns of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Both watches scored just 4 out of 10 on iFixit’s repairability scale, with the Series 12 benefiting from a handy new battery pull tab. However, with both models, you still need to pry off a glued screen to swap out a failing battery.
Apple Watch Series 12 brings small repairability bump
While the Apple Watch keeps getting better at everything from health tracking to battery life, fixing one still proves challenging. Both the Series 12 and Ultra 4 are glued-together puzzle boxes that make replacing a worn-out battery — one of the most inevitable failures in any smartwatch — difficult for DIY types and costly if you don’t buy AppleCare+ insurance.
iFixit tore down both Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. They say the Series 12’s battery comes out more easily than its predecessors, thanks to Apple adding a stretch-release adhesive tab that pulled apart relatively easily. (When working on previous models, techs needed to pry out the battery using a specialized tool called a spudger.)
“Our teardowns of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 show that battery changes are absolutely possible, though there is still an expensive screen between you and the consumable battery,” iFixit wrote Tuesday.
Apple also made another small repairability improvement in the Apple Watch Series 12.
“We also found a simpler display connection,” iFixit said. “Apple eliminated the previous fiddly ZIF connector and its tape, in favor of a press connector under a bracket. There’s a tradeoff, though, because replacing the screen now requires removing and replacing the battery too.”
The battery itself grew slightly to 1,461Wh in the Series 12, up from 1,403Wh in Series 11, which should help it last longer.
These tweaks earned the Apple Watch Series 12 a 4 out of 10 repairability score from iFixit, a one-point jump from last year’s base model.
Still, getting inside remains a chore. iFixit says the Series 12 has understandably tighter tolerances than the larger Ultra 4. As it turns out, the force needed to pry the Series 12’s display open made the team worry about damaging it.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 stays stuck at 4 out of 10 on repairability scale
The Apple Watch Ultra 4’s design is basically the same as its predecessor, says iFixit. Four pentalobe screws on the bottom look promising, but don’t be fooled. They only provide access to the sensor assembly, and removing them compromises the Ultra 4’s waterproofing.
To reach the battery, iFixit says you need to heat the display for around 10 minutes and cut the perimeter adhesive. The team also used a new metal pick with depth marking to avoid slicing delicate cables.
The Ultra 4 packs a 2,444Wh battery, compared to 2,313Wh in the Ultra 3. The sensor layout also features more LEDs spread across a wider area. But the Apple Watch Ultra 4’s repairability score matches the previous three generations.
In compliance with Right to Repair laws?
iFixit’s bigger complaint is access to tools, parts and repair guidelines for Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. The DIY repair advocates say they think Apple is noncompliant with electronics right-to-repair laws in all 10 states that have them on the books. Those states are Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, New York, Maryland and Connecticut.
“By law in the ten states that have passed electronics Right to Repair, we should be able to get those same materials,” iFixit said. “Yet Apple sells no Watch repair parts or dedicated service tools to DIY fixers and provides no corresponding repair manuals through its Self-Service Repair program. A repair option that ends at Apple’s door is exactly the problem Right to Repair is meant to solve.”
The pricing for Apple’s repair services makes the Apple Watch repairability problem even worse. Apple estimates $99 for battery service on an Apple Watch Series 12 on the GPS-and-cellular model, but that price jumps to an eye-watering $599 estimate to fix “other damage.”
That tops the $399 price of a new aluminum Apple Watch Series 12, and is almost as much as the $699 you’d pay for a titanium model. iFixit calls the Series 12’s improvements a “far cry from Right to Repair compliance.”
Apple’s Self Service Repair Program, which launched in 2022, currently covers iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, displays and a couple of audio products.
Google Pixel Watch 5 stomps Apple Watch Series 12 on repairability
Google’s recently released Pixel Watch 5 shows what’s possible, scoring 9 out of 10 on iFixit’s repairability ranking. In Google’s latest smartwatch, just two Torx screws and a gasket stand between you and the display. Moreover, the battery comes out with only a few more screws.
For now, an Apple Watch with a dying battery still means a trip back to Apple.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
