Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Won't Be Able to Repair Out-of-Warranty Apple Watches Due to Import Ban
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Apple is all for the environment when it comes to not giving you a charging block. When it comes to repairability so all this stuff doesn't end up in a landfill, they don't care.
I bet they wish they designed these watches to be repairable now 😂 Kind of glad to see it.
I bet they wish they designed these watches to be repairable now 😂 Kind of glad to see it.
Bring on the Karens… if you didn’t get AppleCare that’s on you.
When the Apple Watch import ban goes into effect after December 25, 2023, Apple will not be able to repair out-of-warranty Apple Watch models in the United States. Apple Watch repairs typically involve replacing a broken unit with a new model rather than fixing an individual component, and replacement devices will not be available.
Apple shared the news with retail employees in a memo that was sent out this week. Portions of the memo were seen by MacRumors, and it was also shared by Bloomberg. Apple is set to stop all U.S. online sales of the Apple Watch in just a few hours, with in-store sales to cease after December 24.
"Product replacement (CRU) programs aren't available in the United States for the watches below: Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch Ultra or later," reads the memo.
Apple cannot provide replacements for any out-of-warranty Apple Watch with a blood oxygen sensor, which includes the Apple Watch Series 6 and later and the original Apple Watch Ultra. Customers who damage their Apple Watch will need to wait on repairs until hardware replacements are available again. Software-based repairs will remain available.
Apple Watch models that are under warranty are allowed to be replaced. This includes both the standard one-year warranty for new devices and devices protected through an extended AppleCare warranty.
Customers will not be able to exchange an Apple Watch after the ban comes into effect, but accessories like bands can be replaced and returns will be accepted.
The United States International Trade Commission is putting a stop to imports of Apple Watches with blood oxygen sensing technology, which means Apple cannot bring them to the United States from overseas where they are manufactured. The ITC in October said that Apple infringed on blood oxygen patents owned by medical device company Masimo, and set the ban for December 25.
Apple could avoid a pause in sales if the White House steps in and vetoes the ban, but that has not happened as of yet. The White House has until December 25 to make a decision.
Other options include settling the dispute with Masimo, which would involve Apple having to pay Masimo to license the patent technology, or removing the infringing technology. Apple is working on a software fix for the Apple Watch blood oxygen sensing algorithm that it believes will be sufficient to get the Apple Watch back on store shelves.
While Apple has to stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Apple Watch SE will remain available. Third-party retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart will also be able to continue sales of all Apple Watch models while supplies last.
Article Link: Apple Won't Be Able to Repair Out-of-Warranty Apple Watches Due to Import Ban
Should be a big relief for those having monthly Apple Care+ coverage
Funny, I just got a warranty battery replacement for my AW6 Hermes. Which has the 3-year Applecare+ instead of the 2 available on the others it was going to expire next month.
I don't expect this situation to last for years, so if you just bought a new Watch cause of the ban you could likely ride it out without. But that extra year of Applecare+ is a good value for a wearable.
I don't expect this situation to last for years, so if you just bought a new Watch cause of the ban you could likely ride it out without. But that extra year of Applecare+ is a good value for a wearable.
Apple is choosing to **** over their customers, after choosing to rip off Masimo***
Glad I never bought into the smart watch ****, and this is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
**** Apple for this.
Glad I never bought into the smart watch ****, and this is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
**** Apple for this.
Yet they licensed RED’s ******** internal RAW patents, just rolled over for them…
Nahh, this doesn’t add up.
Apples behaviour on all this has really made me want to stick with Garmin. Was toying with the idea of changing or trying the ultra but i don’t want issues repairing etc because of some unforeseen piracy that Apple do as business practice
I never praised beeper, but go ahead and think everyone who disagrees with you is just a dumb hater.
offtopic (just wanto to show that there are alternatives)
love my epix gen2, much more superior than the AWU in most aspects of activities, measurements, battery life, offline maps, training plans, sleep measurements, quality, repairability, different sizes etc.
if you pay with your watch or talk to your watch and go outside without your phone, stay with the AW for sure.
if you dont care so much much about smartness and you have your iphone for that look at garmin watches, they have tons of watches most in different sizes.
🍿
love my epix gen2, much more superior than the AWU in most aspects of activities, measurements, battery life, offline maps, training plans, sleep measurements, quality, repairability, different sizes etc.
if you pay with your watch or talk to your watch and go outside without your phone, stay with the AW for sure.
if you dont care so much much about smartness and you have your iphone for that look at garmin watches, they have tons of watches most in different sizes.
🍿
Last edited:
For a multi trillion dollar company this is an absolute mess.
Apple says they can not replace it.
Do they have to refund your purchase price if under warranty?
Do they have to refund your purchase price if under warranty?
Apple will maintain stock of refurbished Watches for repair and warranty purposes. They are not subject to any import ban as they are already in the country.
ugh.. I respect some (a little) of his work and struggles for right to repair... but I can't stand him and his vaguely sexist, homophobic (probably transphobic too..) ways.. He's like the most typical techbro out there.
(except on right to repair)This is the road the chose when letting Marketing control the company. Steal patents instead of innovating their ass.
USA White House will save their ass, thats how the USA works helping their own companies.
Nobody knows what really happened and even then all companies are guilty of this anyway. Masimo is no different. I'm not defending anyone.