Repair Period for First-Gen Apple Watches With Battery Issues Extended to 3 Years - MacRumors
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Repair Period for First-Gen Apple Watches With Battery Issues Extended to 3 Years

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Apple today informed retail store employees and Apple Authorized Service Providers that it is extending the service coverage for first-generation Apple Watch models experiencing battery problems to three years.

In an entry in Apple's repair database (via 9to5Mac), the company explains that coverage is extended for original Apple Watch models that are seeing swollen or expanded batteries. A public announcement about the service extension has not been made, and it's not clear if Apple will offer reimbursements for customers who have already paid for battery replacements or have done battery replacements themselves.

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Image via MacRumors forum user Rosepod5

Customers who have an original Apple Watch afflicted with a swollen or expanded battery will now be able to have the device repaired for up to three years after its purchase date, even when AppleCare was not purchased for the watch. From the repair database:

Apple has extended Service coverage for eligible Apple Watch (1st gen) models with an expanded/swollen battery to three years after the original date of purchase. Eligible devices will be covrered for two years beyond the original 1-year Limited Warranty.

Complaints about swollen batteries on the original Apple Watch have been circulating for a few months on reddit, the Apple Support Communities, and the MacRumors forum.

Reports are rare, but it does appear to be an issue affecting a small number of original Apple Watch users. The battery problem causes the Apple Watch screen to pop away from the casing, rendering it unusable.

The first-generation Apple Watch, first introduced in April of 2015, recently reached its second birthday on April 24.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Tags: Apple Store, GSX
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

coolbreeze Avatar
coolbreeze
117 months ago
Apple doesn't make a profit on these.
My stainless w/milanese loop was $700.

If Apple is losing money on that, I have a bridge to sell you.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mi7chy Avatar
mi7chy
117 months ago
Result of using cheap offshore batteries to increase profit.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
cardfan
117 months ago
Must kinda suck for the ones that bought gold ones.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kevinkyoo Avatar
kevinkyoo
117 months ago
Apple doesn't make a profit on these.
How does this make any sense?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mlrollin91 Avatar
Mlrollin91
117 months ago
Good to know. I just ran out of AC+ on my S0 yesterday. Can't believe its already been 2 years.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
Robert.Walter
117 months ago
I thought the front seal failed due to body oil/sweat (although I don't get it wet or wear it for exercise besides walking and I don't use skin creams, etc.). Didn't ever imagine it was a swollen battery issue. Happened while at my desk. Tapped the screen to wake up and it had a hollow thunk. On inspection I saw the seal on mine failed at the top, right and bottom and the display was attached only on the left like a cover on a book (this seems at odds with other's pics showing it only attached on the top like a note pad.)

My Series-0, 42mm Al sport, Watch was 21m/o w/o Care. The sr Care guy was on his way to telling me what the replacement cost would be. I stopped him and said I didn't pay ca 700$ for a watch to throw its crystal like this. I still have a Timex Boy Scout watch I bought in 1976 that I wore like crazy and it never threw its crystal. He shifted gears and remembered that in Europe there is a 2y warranty and, voila!, Apple would replace it for free!

We had quite a long discussion about the issue. He said and then repeated he had never ever seen something of this sort. He also promised I wouldn't see this problem again.

Although I love my watch, I have to say that I'm disappointed by many aspects of this issue and I have unease that a) this will happen again in another two years, and b) that the nearly dozen or so people I talked into getting a watch will have such a problem and I'll look like a dick for having talked them into buying them.

Attached is a pic of my failed watch.

Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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