Apple Watches Shipping to Customers Confirmed to Have Covered Diagnostic Port

Early Apple Watch models were found to have a hidden diagnostic port used to allow Apple engineers to diagnose problems with the devices, but reports at the time were unsure if the feature would be included in models shipping out to consumers. Apple Watches have now arrived in Australia, giving us our first opportunity to further investigate the diagnostic port.

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MacRumors reader MrLaforge has received his Space Gray Apple Watch Sport and has taken high-quality pictures of the casing, giving us a look at what appears to be the diagnostic port hidden underneath a cover. The port's cover looks a lot like the SIM card slot on an iPhone 6, and it appears that it might open in a similar way, giving Apple employees a way to run diagnostics on the Apple Watch when it's brought in for service.

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The same covered diagnostic port was also present in Apple Watches provided to media sites for Apple Watch reviews earlier this month. At Apple Stores, devices on display have the same ports, but they remain uncovered, presumably to make it easier for employees to continually monitor and adjust settings on the devices.

A report from TechCrunch has speculated that this diagnostic port could also potentially be used for smart band accessories in the future, but it is unclear if that is something that Apple is planning on introducing.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10

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Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
135 months ago
The watch has as many ports as the new MacBook.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrLaforge Avatar
135 months ago
Bad office lighting, and it's been mauled by half the office.

The finish is clean, just not showing in this photo.

Sim Tray is super tiny, even the tiniest pin I could find won't fit in the eject hole..
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brian Y Avatar
135 months ago
Looking at that up-close photo, I'm glad I changed from space grey to silver. That finish looks terrible.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Locoboof Avatar
135 months ago
Port,no port..... Just deliver mine tomorrow!!! :D
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrLaforge Avatar
135 months ago
I want an answer as well

Pure luck.

Ordered at 4:31pm ACST via the App Store App here in Adelaide, Australia.

Confirmed at 4:33pm ACST in Email

I didn't do any more or any less than anyone else.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PowerBook-G5 Avatar
135 months ago
Diagnostics are accessed only through the iPhone paired with watch. Edition is the only watch which can have diagnostics run on watch only. The stores have received a grey device that locks into the strap slot with pins that go into the slot when uncovered.

Source? What makes the Edition so much different that it and only it can be used with this "grey device"?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)