When iFixit took apart the iPhone 14, it found that Apple has redesigned the internal components to make the phone easier to repair, earning it a decent 7/10 repair rating. The new Apple Watch Ultra has four exposed screws holding the back panel; does that mean the new $800 smartwatch is easy to repair?
well no Check out iFixit’s teardown video below, which explains the challenges of fixing a Watch Ultra.
The Apple Watch Ultra has a much bigger battery than the Series 8 • Bigger speaker too
Some of this is inevitable: the watch has an impressive water resistance of 100m and you can take it diving to a depth of 40m (130ft). This type of waterproofing requires a very good seal, so if you remove the back, you need to make sure you put in a new seal (and do it well, too).
Another problem is the design itself: you can’t access the battery from the back, you have to remove the screen. This was also the case with the Watch Series 7, but the Apple Watch Ultra has a flat screen and the metal body has a raised lip around it to protect it. This makes removing the screen without breaking it very difficult.
How much do repairs cost? Going through official Apple channels will cost you $100 to replace the battery, other more involved repairs (including a broken screen) will be $500 without an AppleCare+ plan (and $80 with it).
You can check out iFixit’s battery and screen replacement guides if you’re thinking of doing repairs yourself.
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