Apple Watch Ultra Repairs Cost $499 Without AppleCare+

[Moonlight]

No, you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. There is zero hyperbole in my comment. If you want the simplified version that doesn't offend your sensibilities, I could have just said, "Wow ... that is really expensive!"

And yes, 500 dollars is a lot to repair an 800 dollar watch. All of their products cost nearly the same as they originally cost without Apple Care, which includes the iPhone and all of their Macs. It's been getting worse over the years as Apple has moved toward designing full on SoCs. And those aren't tiny computers on your wrist. You're being defensive for no reason when I wasn't even talking to you in the first place, just sharing my opinion in a forum designed for people to share their opinions. Many other people think this is expensive. Go bother them.

OK, lets see:

"There is zero hyperbole in my comment." on a comment you just said "Criminal can be used in a sense that says something is disgraceful or bad." That is hyperbole, an exaggerated statement.

"And those aren't tiny computers on your wrist." They aren't? What are they??

"I wasn't even talking to you in the first place" You are talking to all of us when you post in a forum and don't direct a comment at a specific person

"just sharing my opinion in a forum designed for people to share their opinions" That is all I am doing as well. I never said anything but my opinion on your statements.

And I am not arguing, I am trying to clarify your wild statements for people that are on this forum, and not as informed as most.

 

[Shh]

OK, lets see:

"There is zero hyperbole in my comment." on a comment you just said "Criminal can be used in a sense that says something is disgraceful or bad." That is hyperbole, and exaggerated statement.

"And those aren't tiny computers on your wrist." They aren't? What are they??

"I wasn't even talking to you in the first place" You are talking to all of us when you post in a forum and don't direct a comment at a specific person

"just sharing my opinion in a forum designed for people to share their opinions" That is all I am doing as well. I never said anything but my opinion on your statements.

Do you argue with everyone in your personal life for no reason too? Welcome to the ignore list.

 

[Moonlight]

Do you argue with everyone in your personal life for no reason too? Welcome to the ignore list.

When you can't back up your wild, contradictory, and mostly false statements, you ignore.

 

[unclemax]

I have a friend who collects watches.... Average price over $7,000. This watch is dirt cheap for everything it does.

Luxury watches cost a lot because they are luxury items from luxury brands, not because of what they can do. If you don’t care about a particular brand (like, you don’t have to get a Rolex), for $1000-ish you can get solid watches from almost-luxury brand that are going to serve reliably for decades, and servicing them wouldn’t break the bank. Apple Watch is popular because it’s a new thing and it’s a wearable computer, not because it’s a better watch.

 

[Alan Wynn]

So, if you want AC+ and plan on keeping the watch for a long time, seems like a big disincentive from using Apple Card monthly payments/free financing!

At the end of the two year period, one has about 60 days to convert to monthly. On the other hand if one buys the two year and trades the item in before then, one can get a pro-rated refund.

 

[SlipSlidinAwa]

These are watches for rich people, who won't notice or care how much repairs cost.

If you do outdoor activities Ultra is a very good choice as it provides everything you need to support these activities and is cheaper than Garmin and Suunto equivalent products. It’s taken a long time which means it includes health and accident safety features which others cannot do. This is not for those people who don’t do outdoor activities, sport and exercise. For those do who it is invaluable and will help keep you fit.

 

[Xand&Roby]

Repairing any of the ceramic Apple Watch Edition (S2, S3, and S5) and every other Edition (S0 Gold 18K, S6 and S7 Titanium) costs, to this day, 881.40€ per single watch and repair also means a battery replacement or a firmware lock, ALWAYS involves a replacement of the entire watch.

Do you really care about that Ultra?!

It's not an expensive watch, it's not a niche watch, it's not a beautiful watch, it's just a big watch that doesn't fit on all your wrists, and that isn't good for extreme sports (titanium is a delicate material).

You don't have AppleCare+ but you change every year your phone (maybe a 128Gb Pro Max to show you have money but not enough to buy 1Tb?) and your watch (maybe a Hermes with dubious taste straps from 899€?)? The subtle difference between seems rich and having money to spend.

 

[Knowimagination]

Hmm maybe I’ll add Apple care when my watch comes in. Would be nice piece of mind since I hope to keep this one for at least 4 years.

 

[Xand&Roby]

I wouldn't pay the 500. I would just buy a new Ultra.

With a titanium watch? Best wishes.

It scratches almost like an aluminum one, imagine if you use it for extreme sports. In the end after changing two you buy a serious watch in rubber or a really durable material (no, metals are not, especially painted ones).

 

[zorinlynx]

This is for the new Ultra:

499 to repair without AppleCare

99 for AppleCare + 79 for a single repair under AppleCare. So, 178 to repair with AppleCare

That is a 321 difference

If you had 4 apple watches with AppleCare over the years and never had an incident until now, you would have spent 475

If you had 4 apple watches with AppleCare over the years and never had an incident you would have spent 396 (for nothing)

If you had 4 apple watches over the years and never bought AppleCare, you would have saved 396 that could go towards the 499 repair and it would cost you only 103 more than you saved

If you had 4 apple watches and never bought AppleCare over the years and never had an incident, you would have 396 extra dollars in your pocket


And... if you NEVER bought ANY warranty for ANYTHING over your lifetime, I promise you will come out way ahead, even with repair bills like this.

This is why I stopped buying AppleCare. The math just doesn't make sense for it; over the long term you're always going to pay more for AppleCare than you would have in repairs if you take care of your stuff.

Now if you're the sort to drop your stuff constantly, it might make sense.

 

[Alan Wynn]

This is for the new Ultra:

499 to repair without AppleCare

99 for AppleCare + 79 for a single repair under AppleCare. So, 178 to repair with AppleCare

Nope. $99 for AppleCare+ and $0 for non-accidental damages over the second year.

That is a 321 difference

A $400 for non-accidental failures. In addition, if one accidentally damages one’s watch twice over the period, now the difference is $741. Damage it 3 times (something that is certainly not unreasonable for someone doing the kind of sports for which this watch is intended and the numbers are even starker $1,161.

If you had 4 apple watches with AppleCare over the years and never had an incident until now, you would have spent 475

That really depends on how long one kept each watch. If one kept each watch for the full two years, the cost of AppleCare+ for those watches would have been $396. If one kept them for only one year, the cost drops to under $204 (the minimum prorated amount of $99 - $48 X 4, I am pretty sure that the one pays less for the first 12 months, but I do not remember the formula).

Yup. On the other had, if you had to replace the battery in one watch ($69), and replace a broken crystal on another ($349), you are at $418 vs. $465 if you had them for 2 years each, or $273 if you had them for a year. Two accidents over 4 watches and the numbers are: $767 vs. $534 (or $342 if one has them for one year).

If you had 4 apple watches with AppleCare over the years and never had an incident you would have spent 396 (for nothing)

True, but if you had 4 Apple Watches for one year each, replaced the battery in one, and had two cases of accidental damage you would have saved $425. Like every thing, the question is how likely do you think that damaging the watch is going to be.

 

[JeMeCasse]

My wrists aren't big enough for this watch. It'd look ridiculous.

 

[Xand&Roby]

LMAO this is getting into MacBook Pro repair territory.

You can buy whole ass iPads for that.

I think I'll buy it on my CC for their warranty.

I don’t know what prices you saw of MacBook Pro repairs but I repaired 5 screens in 4 years at the MacBook 12” 2015, 2 or 3 batteries, all for free only with the warranty without AppleCare+ and the last free replacement without the warranty. Each individual screen cost €550, without VAT. Every single battery is 450€, without VAT. In the end Apple paid me, for that Mac, a value of 3500€, VAT excluded, for repairs against a cost of 1000€ (it was a pre-production without even the serials on the cables in promotion). I bought a second MacBook 12” 2019, 880€ new (on promotion) with AppleCare at 150€. Changed 3 screens in 2 years and all the lower case because Apple had scratched it in service, at the moment it cost Apple 2200€ in repair (gold 2018 costs more than silver) and still has 1 year of AppleCare+ that I will use for the battery and a new screen.

I doubt that current MacBook Pros have lower repair costs. Those who buy Apple products without AppleCare are naïve.

 

[NameRequired]

I don’t know if it’s been reported yet but I was just informed all 45mm bands will fit the new watch, so that’s neat.

 

[Xand&Roby]

over the long term you're always going to pay more for AppleCare than you would have in repairs if you take care of your stuff.

My first MacBook 12” (2015) every 12 months (once after 3 months) filled the screen with little animals that died between glass and screen.

You could see them running all over the Mac. Four 2015 screens later and one 2016 (they finished 2015 screen in 2019, with the original MacBook font) the animals are still here. 2019 MacBook hadn’t animal but yellow area in screens. Do you know what the problem was? The Chinese screens stores. They were the ones who neglected the environment.

The batteries died on their own after a few cycles (150~250). Apple repairs are done badly by staff who don't feel like doing them. To replace the 7 Edition ceramics I went to a reseller because Apple claimed they were fake, and I had the codes in my hand that proved their legality.

Apple quality sucks, let someone who has been funding them for 40 years to say so. The products are badly made (and the current ones are worse than the previous ones, a 4S you could have slamd it into the wall and broke the wall, a 5s scratched, a 13 dents on the first fall of the scratch screen on its own, other than Ceramic Shield), Apple does not care about suppliers, AppleCare contracts border on the scam, Apple in order not to recognize your rights, and if it could scam you they try (I was scammed from Apple for AppleCare+ and iTunes Store, and them give every your single data in your iCloud at the first clown disguised as an authority without a mandate).

Do you have the hope that it will be enough to cure the products? Hope in vain, they are made to break themselves, and if it doesn't happen they break them.

 

[iBreatheApple]

I usually try to refrain from non-meaningful comments, but...

lmaooooo

 

[OhMyMy]

If they buy that and not behaving pretentiously, I don't have any problems whatsoever. But lately, my country has seemingly evolving backwards. Lots of people buying latest gadgets and flaunt them.
Just come here to Jakarta and see those pretentious who always look like they're on the call with their Fold or Flip or Pro Max, but in fact they're not having any calls, they just want to flaunt it in front of all people. Same with all those Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch users here: pretends tidying up their hair every so often just to show the world they have the "it" gadgets.
It's becoming more and more common it became such a very irritating eyesore not for me, but also for anyone.

So you’re playing into their game and mad that you’re playing into their game? For every one person with an Apple Watch there’s thousands more without one. Why are you resentful of someone who feels the need to be pretentious to grab attention?
Either you can afford it or you don’t.

 

[OhMyMy]

I thought the watch is rugged and tough to withstand extreme activities.

It’s rugged, not made out of Vibranium.

 

[OhMyMy]

This is for the new Ultra:

499 to repair without AppleCare

99 for AppleCare + 79 for a single repair under AppleCare. So, 178 to repair with AppleCare

That is a 321 difference

If you had 4 apple watches with AppleCare over the years and never had an incident until now, you would have spent 475

If you had 4 apple watches with AppleCare over the years and never had an incident you would have spent 396 (for nothing)

If you had 4 apple watches over the years and never bought AppleCare, you would have saved 396 that could go towards the 499 repair and it would cost you only 103 more than you saved

If you had 4 apple watches and never bought AppleCare over the years and never had an incident, you would have 396 extra dollars in your pocket


And... if you NEVER bought ANY warranty for ANYTHING over your lifetime, I promise you will come out way ahead, even with repair bills like this.

There’s a reason they call them accidents. It’s not like a trip to the Bahamas that you plan ahead, it’s like a lightning strike that you take a chance with. You’re only as safe as your luck permits you.
Some people are fine without one as their typical lifestyle doesn’t involve much risk but for others it’ll be well worth it. So your math is moot for the unlucky ones.

 

[unclemax]

My wrists aren't big enough for this watch. It'd look ridiculous.

Never stopped paneristi

 

[iSayuSay]

For the price out-of-warranty repair I could just get myself another piece Apple Watch. And most likely could get me a better, newer Series 9 or 10 instead of the same old Ultra.

Don’t get me wrong, I honestly think AW Ultra is a better deal compared to Editions due to improved features and ruggedness. But the repair cost is insane, especially for something as disposable as a wrist computer.

I never get too attached for some tech product like this, just buy it, wear it and milk it down to the last drop, then replace.

 

[matrix07]

The repair bill is equivalent to a brand new Apple Watch Series 8 41mm Cellular, or 64GB WiFi iPad mini. Wow.
Premium product, premium features, premium repair bills also.
.

It's still the cheapest new Apple Watch announced considering a generic Apple Watch with same material will cost you $50 more but this has so much more to offer.

 

[iSayuSay]

I have a friend who collects watches.... Average price over $7,000. This watch is dirt cheap for everything it does.

But of course his $7000 watches last much longer than this Ultra crap, don’t they? Years later those watches could be a rare collectibles at which they yield excellent returns.

Sure $799 sounds cheap for those collectors, but AW really is a disposable purchase with short lifespan. I’d just gey the cheapest standard model (Nike edition is my favorite), then replace when necessary.

 

[Appleuser823]

Evil Tim only cares about money and profit. You’ll love our PROOOOODUCTS! He pretends they care about environment and people, but that is a lie.

 

[Razorpit]

The watch is a sealed device for water resistance, any repair would require pretty much rebuilding the Watch. I have always wondered how Apple can offer battery replacements at the low price that they do.

The most you could hope for is that Apple disassembles the watch into all the fully functional internal components and then uses the components as the inputs for newly manufactured “refurbished” models.

For this watch yes, for my ’98 Promaster Aqualand, no. It’s been back to Citizen multiple times for a battery replacement and new seals. Everything else is original.

But of course his $7000 watches last much longer than this Ultra crap, don’t they? Years later those watches could be a rare collectibles at which they yield excellent returns.

Sure $799 sounds cheap for those collectors, but AW really is a disposable purchase with short lifespan. I’d just gey the cheapest standard model (Nike edition is my favorite), then replace when necessary.

An Apple watch and dive computer for that money? It’s actually a great deal.