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Tachanka

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 8, 2021
30
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Where on Apple's site does it explicitly say the battery needs to be beneath 80% to qualify for battery service for a fee?



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If your Apple Watch battery holds less than 80 percent of its original battery capacity and it’s covered by AppleCare+, you will get Apple Watch battery service for no additional charge. We might need to test your product to find the cause of your battery issue.

there might have been a misunderstanding between you and the person you talked to, you should be able to pay the $79 and get a new battery.
Although, you'll probably get a refurbished watch, and not your old watch with a new battery.
 
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This is what I thought would happen.
But this is the second time my watch has been sent back. After a nearly hour long call with support, the person I was speaking to said they only provide battery service if it is below 80% capacity or if it fails diagnostics. My watch is at 87% capacity and passed diagnostics so it was sent back.
 
Also on the support site there is no option to select standard aging of the battery as a reason even when you are willing to pay.
Screen Shot 2021-12-07 at 7.26.12 PM.png
 
Why are you trying to replace the battery if it is still in relatively good condition?
I want it replaced. Performance is not the best and I am willing to pay for a replacement. Ive done it with Macs and iPhones. I wanted an OEM battery on a 2009 MacBook Pro in early 2014 and the employees tried to talk me out of it despite it have a "Service Now" warning and having over 600 cycles on it.
 
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The support person you spoke with was correct. Your battery needs to be under 80%, before Apple will replace. Since your watch is 87%, you shouldn't be having any battery problems. My launch day series 6 just hit 87% and it still keeps a good charge.
Where is it on Apple's website? I wouldn't have bothered sending it in if it said this on the site. Also none of the people on Business Chat or on the phone mentioned it to me until today.

I'm using a 5 year old Series 2 Ceramic which is getting better battery life than the S4. Glad to hear that about your Series 6 tho


https://support.apple.com/watch/repair/service

https://support.apple.com/watch/repair/service/pricing
 
Screen Shot 2021-12-14 at 9.19.48 PM.png



It only mentions below 80% in relation to AppleCare+ and replacement for no cost.
 
Where is it on Apple's website? I wouldn't have bothered sending it in if it said this on the site. Also none of the people on Business Chat or on the phone mentioned it to me until today.

I'm using a 5 year old Series 2 Ceramic which is getting better battery life than the S4. Glad to hear that about your Series 6 tho


https://support.apple.com/watch/repair/service

https://support.apple.com/watch/repair/service/pricing
"Your battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles. The one-year warranty (for Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport) and two-year warranty (for Apple Watch Edition) include service coverage for a defective battery. If it is out of warranty, Apple offers a battery service. Prices and terms may vary."


That pretty much lets you know the threshold Apple uses for replacement.
 
View attachment 1928686


It only mentions below 80% in relation to AppleCare+ and replacement for no cost.
Yes, if the battery falls below 80% in a year, it will be replaced for free. The 80% threshold applies to warranty and non warranty watches.

I think if a person is willing to pay the $79 regardless, Apple should replace the battery. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't see it that way.
 
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"Your battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles. The one-year warranty (for Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport) and two-year warranty (for Apple Watch Edition) include service coverage for a defective battery. If it is out of warranty, Apple offers a battery service. Prices and terms may vary."


That pretty much lets you know the threshold Apple uses for replacement.
They also state that for iPhones(except it is 500 cycles) but as stated above I have replaced above 80% for the fee
Screen Shot 2021-12-14 at 9.26.14 PM.png
 
Yes, if the battery falls below 80% in a year, it will be replaced for free. The 80% threshold applies to warranty and non warranty watches.

I think if a person is willing to pay the $79 regardless, Apple should replace the battery. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't see it that way.
Exactly!
 
They also state that for iPhones but as stated above I have replaced above 80% for the feeView attachment 1928694
I am not interested in debating the issue.

Apple runs their own diagnostics on the battery before determining if they will replace the battery. The on board WatchOS battery health is merely an estimate. Apple uses their own software program to check the health. You are going to have to wait for the battery to degrade.
 
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The support person you spoke with was correct. Your battery needs to be under 80%, before Apple will replace. Since your watch is 87%, you shouldn't be having any battery problems. My launch day series 6 just hit 87% and it still keeps a good charge.
Holy mother of dragons: I know it’s an estimate but my launch day Series 3 LTE is currently claiming 99% ?

1639540515995.png


Not sure if I believe that or not - but still….
 
I want it replaced. Performance is not the best and I am willing to pay for a replacement. Ive done it with Macs and iPhones. I wanted an OEM battery on a 2009 MacBook Pro in early 2014 and the employees tried to talk me out of it despite it have a "Service Now" warning and having over 600 cycles on it.
BTW, I was just curious. I wasn’t trying to be an @sshole. I totally get your point.
 
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For the $79 battery service fee, Apple doesn't replace the battery, they replace the entire watch.

I've had my Apple watch for 3 years and the battery health is degraded to 99%.
So my plan is to go into the Apple store and demand a new watch, I mean battery, for $79.

I don't see why we all don't do it.
 
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Apple is ridiculous.
I’ve spent two months to buy AppleCare+ for my watches Series 2, Edition and SS, and while in the last weeks I’ve acquire from myself the SS AC+ for 65€ the AC+ for Edition became only monthly (3 weeks ago it cost 99€), and now I’ve received a support call from AppleCare in Ireland who tells me:”yours watches aren’t new (I’ve broke the plastic from myself with videos); AC+ don’t support pre Series 3 watches (I’ve bought 3 AC+ for 3 watches S2 in the last two weeks), not Edition (Apple site expressly talks about Edition, not S3 Edition, so for me and for Apple system it extend AC+ on every Edition series, but not for Human Resources who works for Apple); and after 6 weeks they told me “my AC+ plans could be rejected if I could use it in future”, so I answer “are you sure? I don’t know about contracts who canceled themselves when they need to be used, only scams”.
This is Apple, one of the most capitalised company in the world that can’t sells you a product ‘cause it doesn’t know what it sells, it’s Human Resources are more dumb than Siri and it’s site is, as it’s Human Resources called it, something like scam (I’ve talked with something like 23 Apple Support assistants in the last two months and at least 5 AppleCare+ Department assistants, I can’t believe how they could be defined “workers”, Siri is seriously more capable, while is smart like a wall).
 
Apple is ridiculous.
I’ve spent two months to buy AppleCare+ for my watches Series 2, Edition and SS, and while in the last weeks I’ve acquire from myself the SS AC+ for 65€ the AC+ for Edition became only monthly (3 weeks ago it cost 99€), and now I’ve received a support call from AppleCare in Ireland who tells me:”yours watches aren’t new (I’ve broke the plastic from myself with videos); AC+ don’t support pre Series 3 watches (I’ve bought 3 AC+ for 3 watches S2 in the last two weeks), not Edition (Apple site expressly talks about Edition, not S3 Edition, so for me and for Apple system it extend AC+ on every Edition series, but not for Human Resources who works for Apple); and after 6 weeks they told me “my AC+ plans could be rejected if I could use it in future”, so I answer “are you sure? I don’t know about contracts who canceled themselves when they need to be used, only scams”.
This is Apple, one of the most capitalised company in the world that can’t sells you a product ‘cause it doesn’t know what it sells, it’s Human Resources are more dumb than Siri and it’s site is, as it’s Human Resources called it, something like scam (I’ve talked with something like 23 Apple Support assistants in the last two months and at least 5 AppleCare+ Department assistants, I can’t believe how they could be defined “workers”, Siri is seriously more capable, while is smart like a wall).

First off, this has nothing to do with Apple’s Human Resources department. Apple HR is a purely internal department for Apple employees only. They have nothing to do with anyone outside of Apple.

Secondly - pretty sure you’re still SOL for your S2 Edition watches etc. Apple no longer sells those devices and they’re long out of support.

Whilst its true that they state “Apple Watch Edition” the chances are that because your device is so old. Given that no authorized reseller would be selling these devices now, you’re going to be hard pushed to make any headway.

Whilst you may have “broken the plastic yourself” that means nothing legally. For starters, how sure are you that the devices are totally untouched as out of the factory condition - any old scammer can shrink wrap boxes these days.

The absolute most you might be able to get out of Apple is a refund of your AppleCare premiums.
 
I did this for my Apple Watch Series 2 a couple of weeks ago because the battery was in poor condition (especially when cold outside). In the support chat the operator said that from Apple's point of view the battery was still within limits but barely. (You cannot check the battery health yourself in watchOS 6).

But nevertheless he accepted my wish to have the battery serviced. So I guess in the end it's Apple's decision whether to do the servicing or not and the operator has some discretion. I sent in my watch and almost immediately after arriving at Apple they sent me a refurbished Apple Watch 2 which is in brand new condition.
 
I am not interested in debating the issue.

Apple runs their own diagnostics on the battery before determining if they will replace the battery. The on board WatchOS battery health is merely an estimate. Apple uses their own software program to check the health. You are going to have to wait for the battery to degrade.
I am not either and I think we agree? I just think Apple's internal requirements for battery replacement should be communicated on their website. It is not any of the support peoples fault it is just poor and ambiguous wording.

This wasn't the first support person I chatted with and until an hour long phone call and this advisor contacting a different department I was never informed of it.
 
I did this for my Apple Watch Series 2 a couple of weeks ago because the battery was in poor condition (especially when cold outside). In the support chat the operator said that from Apple's point of view the battery was still within limits but barely. (You cannot check the battery health yourself in watchOS 6).

But nevertheless he accepted my wish to have the battery serviced. So I guess in the end it's Apple's decision whether to do the servicing or not and the operator has some discretion. I sent in my watch and almost immediately after arriving at Apple they sent me a refurbished Apple Watch 2 which is in brand new condition.
Interesting. How is the Series 2 for you in late 2021?
 
I absolutely agree with you, it's ridiculous. My S3's battery has been acting up yet the watch still claims a battery health of 97%, which means there's no way for me to get it replaced. I talked to Apple earlier this week and they told me to not even bother sending it in with a 97% battery health indicator as it will only get sent back, and I might end up getting charged for shipping.

Absolutely ridiculous.
 
It's a policy to prevent abuse.

While you pay $79 for a new battery, what you are really getting is basically a new watch. Apple doesn't replace the battery in an Apple Watch.

Now they need to trace a line somewhere, if not, everyone could basically get a new watch for $79.

Have some scratch on yours? No problem, pay $79 for a "battery replacement" and get a new unscratched one.

Worn down = < 80%
 
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