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Apple Watch Display popped off, is this a swollen battery?

dewski said:
I ended up going into the store about hearing of the authorization charge when I called in to ask about the program. They agreed about the swollen battery and told me the same. A series 1 should be at my door in a few days. Thanks!
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The authorization charge is usually only required when you have to mail your defective product in until Apple verifies the issue first and/or any damage they may find caused by the owner, which they will in return quote you a repair fee or deny the service if there is something else noted. If you have an Apple store near you as you do, its always best to have them inspect the device in person, that way the customer has all the answers and has an understanding of what the next step is versus mailing the Product in, where they only have repair notes to read. Its a much more complete experience in the store.
 
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Relentless Power said:
The authorization charge is usually only required when you have to mail your defective product in until Apple verifies the issue first and/or any damage they may find caused by the owner, which they will in return quote you a repair fee or deny the service if there is something else noted. If you have an Apple store near you as you do, its always best to have them inspect the device in person, that way the customer has all the answers and has an understanding of what the next step is versus mailing the Product in, where they only have repair notes to read. Its a much more complete experience in the store.
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Agreed. I knew that I would have the charges refunded but I didn't want to take the chance and wanted it verified in person before it was shipped off. Once I hit 30, I really started to hate going to malls. lol
 
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Last night discovered my S0 screen and popped off and it does look like the battery is swollen. I'm going to contact Apple today and see what they say. I don't use the watch much, so if they end up not agreeing with my assessment I'll just move on from the AW.

UPDATE: Apple is sending me a replacement S0 watch free of charge.
 
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Sital said:
Last night discovered my S0 screen and popped off and it does look like the battery is swollen. I'm going to contact Apple today and see what they say. I don't use the watch much, so if they end up not agreeing with my assessment I'll just move on from the AW.

UPDATE: Apple is sending me a replacement S0 watch free of charge.
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Earlier this week, I went to remove my original stainless steel Apple Watch from my charger and discovered, when I went to tap the face, that the crystal was loose. It is 3 years and 8 months old, I purchased Apple Care for it when it was new, and I expected the watch to last and work for at least a decade given the $600 I paid for it.

I thought the adhesive must have just weakened on it. So I made an appointment with Apple to have a genius look at it and, hopefully, re-adhere the crystal. They took it back into the shop, returned a bit later and told me that the only thing they could do is offer me a replacement, with the same year and model, for $250. That seems weird to me to pay for old technology when I could get a much newer aluminum model for less than $150. I asked to speak to a manager and he concluded that "while Apple has a solution, it's not a solution that will work for you". Some solution!

So, I thought I'd just research and find out how to adhere it myself. I found a kit on iFixit that might work, but in my research I discovered the swollen battery issue. So, I opened the crystal and looked under and I can see the battery is NOT flat, it is slightly rounded and puffed out- clearly swellling up and I'm now certain that's why the crystal is now loose, not for weakened adhesive. It was fine when I put it on my charger for the night, and in the morning it was totally loose.

I wrote about my issue and dissatisfaction with Apple's customer care on the Apple community forums...and it was immediately removed as "not being constructive". So now Apple has managed to tarnish their image in my eyes thrice today.

I'd love to post their email reply to me, along with my original post that they deleted if anyone's interested.

(It's been a while since I've posted in this forum, and noticed after my post the list of Apple equipment that's all integrated into my home. This failure on Apple has really tarnished their products and commitment to customer satisfaction to me. I doubt I'll be continuing to add to my Apple ecosystem in the future. I can tell they're just not that into me.)
 
iBighouse said:
Earlier this week, I went to remove my original stainless steel Apple Watch from my charger and discovered, when I went to tap the face, that the crystal was loose. It is 3 years and 8 months old, I purchased Apple Care for it when it was new, and I expected the watch to last and work for at least a decade given the $600 I paid for it.

I thought the adhesive must have just weakened on it. So I made an appointment with Apple to have a genius look at it and, hopefully, re-adhere the crystal. They took it back into the shop, returned a bit later and told me that the only thing they could do is offer me a replacement, with the same year and model, for $250. That seems weird to me to pay for old technology when I could get a much newer aluminum model for less than $150. I asked to speak to a manager and he concluded that "while Apple has a solution, it's not a solution that will work for you". Some solution!

So, I thought I'd just research and find out how to adhere it myself. I found a kit on iFixit that might work, but in my research I discovered the swollen battery issue. So, I opened the crystal and looked under and I can see the battery is NOT flat, it is slightly rounded and puffed out- clearly swellling up and I'm now certain that's why the crystal is now loose, not for weakened adhesive. It was fine when I put it on my charger for the night, and in the morning it was totally loose.

I wrote about my issue and dissatisfaction with Apple's customer care on the Apple community forums...and it was immediately removed as "not being constructive". So now Apple has managed to tarnish their image in my eyes thrice today.

I'd love to post their email reply to me, along with my original post that they deleted if anyone's interested.

(It's been a while since I've posted in this forum, and noticed after my post the list of Apple equipment that's all integrated into my home. This failure on Apple has really tarnished their products and commitment to customer satisfaction to me. I doubt I'll be continuing to add to my Apple ecosystem in the future. I can tell they're just not that into me.)
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Well this is disheartening. My wife's screen on her series 1 Apple Watch just popped off last night while we were eating dinner. The battery is swollen as well. I'm going to try and talk to Apple about the replacement program but I have low expectations and will most likely order parts from iFixit.
 
Doug B said:
Well this is disheartening. My wife's screen on her series 1 Apple Watch just popped off last night while we were eating dinner. The battery is swollen as well. I'm going to try and talk to Apple about the replacement program but I have low expectations and will most likely order parts from iFixit.
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Apparently a Class Action lawsuit was filed for this issue, since many people appear to be affected....

https://www.macrumors.com/2019/04/02/apple-watch-swollen-battery-lawsuit-new-jersey/
 
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Seems like if, over time, it’s exposed to a good amount of heat, I can see a swelling battery to become a problem. But a watch being exposed to some heat is part of general use. Plus, what I think, is newer software on old hardware makes the device a bit warmer since it’s working harder to do what it offers to do.

People pay $200+ for these watches. They should have thought about this when in the engineering process.
 
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Doug B said:
Great news but doesn’t help now. Luckily I can get replacement parts from iFixit for about $40.
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I can respect your choice to use whatever third-party supplier you want for replacement parts for the Apple Watch, but I would caution you with iFixit’s Apple Watch parts. I can tell you firsthand, the quality will be substantially lower, even though you are saving money compared to what Apple would charge you in store. Just know, that whatever parts they distribute to you, they are _not_ OEM, as long as you can accept that.
 
Relentless Power said:
I can respect your choice to use whatever third-party supplier you want for replacement parts for the Apple Watch, but I would caution you with iFixit’s Apple Watch parts. I can tell you firsthand, the quality will be substantially lower, even though you are saving money compared to what Apple would charge you in store. Just know, that whatever parts they distribute to you, they are _not_ OEM, as long as you can accept that.
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Good to know. I’ve never actually used their parts. I’ve always had great luck with my Apple products. Plus I usually upgrade well before Apple Care is expired with the exception of my MacBook Pro. My wife is more on the conservative side when it comes to upgrading. Maybe I can finally talk her into a new watch.
 
My screen popped off a week ago due to the swollen battery. Apple wants 79 bucks to fix it. Looks like the warranty is over. I'm pretty disappointed since it's a clear manufacturing defect and I expected the watch to last longer.
 
Wonder how many Watches have been affected by this mine touchwood is working like a dream I can get 2 days use out of it no probs but I’m not using it for calls as you do look stupid talking to a watch ;)
 
Kerry78 said:
Wonder how many Watches have been affected by this mine touchwood is working like a dream I can get 2 days use out of it no probs but I’m not using it for calls as you do look stupid talking to a watch ;)
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It looks like it only affects 1st Gen or the original apple watch.
 
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I've finally retired my Apple Watch Series 0 original and upgraded to a Series 4 44MM. I don't know why I waited so long. This runs circles around my original. Buying it just for the speed alone, is reason enough for anyone with a series 0, 1, 2 to upgrade. I am loving it!
 
Series 1 have a battery issue. Over 3 years in aus, apple dont care but will sell you a (refurbished?) watch for $349 aud. A battery can be bought on line for $15 from china - original battery. But apple wont sell a new battery. Or a new? watch can be bought on line as second hand for under $150 aud. Replacing battery is simple, just view on youtube. There are also broken screen watches for sale at under $100 but the condition of all parts is questionable. But, if your face has lifted, an easy job to put it on another watch in place of a cracked screen. Why the owner should go to these lengths to get a working watch is difficult to understand. But life of an apple watch is most likely 3 years which make it an expensive replaceable item. Hopefully, later series have improved batteries.
 
I thought the screen popping off was a fail safe feature. That happened to a friend of mine and she was grateful that her screen popped off instead of her watch catching fire.

She was still under AppleCare warranty so perhaps she would have felt differently had it happened after her warranty had expired, but I'd rather lose the screen than start a fire.
 
smirking said:
I thought the screen popping off was a fail safe feature.
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Not that I’m aware of. The only reason the display would detach, is due to the swelling from the battery, forcing the display and causing the adhesive to separate. I don’t think that’s a fail safe feature, I think that’s just the occurrence once the battery swells due to the defect.

Lithium ion batteries can be very unpredictable, they can expel gases and fluid, most cases, that’s what that protective wrapping around the battery is for, which that would probably be considered a fail safe with the wrapper around the battery.
 
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