Done with Apple Watches for now

[jsgreen]

My Series 5 screen stopped working, it displays just fine but it’s ability to sense touches has gone, apple repair diagnostic confirmed there’s a hardware issue - probably a soldered connection that’s come undone. It’s 3.5 years old, battery life was down to 77% (per the diagnostic).

This is my second watch to die - first one was a series 2, the battery ultimately failed on that one.

I’ve enjoyed my apple watches, but hadn’t really considered them to be disposable - but they really are. I realize the hardware issue mine experienced is rare, but every one of these will eventually have a battery die. At $400+ but will only last 3-5 years, that’s an expensive choice when you can’t replace a battery.

Wish apple would make the batteries replaceable and keep these things out of landfills. I’d consider buying another if the battery was replaceable, but until then I’m done.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

My Series 5 screen stopped working, it displays just fine but it’s ability to sense touches has gone, apple repair diagnostic confirmed there’s a hardware issue - probably a soldered connection that’s come undone. It’s 3.5 years old, battery life was down to 77% (per the diagnostic).

This is my second watch to die - first one was a series 1, the battery ultimately failed on that one.

I’ve enjoyed my apple watches, but hadn’t really considered them to be disposable - but they really are. I realize the hardware issue mine experienced is rare, but every one of these will eventually have a battery die. At $400+ but will only last 3-5 years, that’s an expensive choice when you can’t replace a battery.

Wish apple would make the batteries replaceable and keep these things out of landfills. I’d consider buying another if the battery was replaceable, but until then I’m done.

Apple does have a battery replacement available. If you take it to a store and they confirm the battery is under 80% capacity they will replace the watch with a refurbished identical model for $99. Apple doesn't replace the battery, they replace the watch..

 

[Monkswhiskers]

3yrs is pretty much the life of tech these days.

 

[okkibs]

I just buy the cheapest SE model and consider them disposable from the beginning. Never had to replace a battery because at that point I can get a new SE model really cheap anyways. But the $99 replacement fee for a new battery seems fair. I replace my Mac every three years and that $150 summer gift card on its own takes care of 50% of the price of a new one so I don't bother with the battery.

The older SE still sold for $100 and I had another gift card left over from an iPad Apple deal so I ended up getting a new AW at no additional cost.

It's obviously not great that your AW failed already, but then that can always happen with any Apple product or other tech product. I've had Macs fail, iPhones fail and so on. Doesn't mean I never buy Apple products again just because one thing failed after 3 years.

 

[jsgreen]

Apple does have a battery replacement available. If you take it to a store and they confirm the battery is under 80% capacity they will replace the watch with a refurbished identical model for $99. Apple doesn't replace the battery, they replace the watch..

If this is an option I’ll consider it. Looking at apple’s support site now, thank you!

 

[Howard2k]

Don’t most places have recycling programs these days? If not, Apple certainly does.

No need for these to go to a landfill. Either recycle them through your municipality (here we can just drop it to Best Buy or similar) or just return it to Apple and they will take care of it.

 

[jsgreen]

Appreciate the replies - just registered the watch for a battery replacement and it came to a little more than $80 which I think is reasonable.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Appreciate the replies - just registered the watch for a battery replacement and it came to a little more than $80 which I think is reasonable.

Yes, I seem to remember $79 so my apologies for quoting $99..

 

[marspark]

3yrs is pretty much the life of tech these days.

True, my iPhone 12 is really slow now days and the battery dies within 4 hours.

 

[DiscordUser]

True, my iPhone 12 is really slow now days and the battery dies within 4 hours.

Press X to doubt.

You either have a faulty unit since the beginning or you're really hammering down on that battery. I have an 11 Pro at 96% battery health that still performs like "new".

 

[Anappleaday29]

Press X to doubt.

You either have a faulty unit since the beginning or you're really hammering down on that battery. I have an 11 Pro at 96% battery health that still performs like "new".

Yep. I have a series 4 AW that still works like new.
Minus the degrading battery health.
OP just got a bit..unlucky

 

[mectojic]

It has got to be the stupidest thing imaginable.
Just 20 years ago, imagine telling someone you'd bought a $400 watch, but the battery couldn't be replaced.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

It has got to be the stupidest thing imaginable.
Just 20 years ago, imagine telling someone you'd bought a $400 watch, but the battery couldn't be replaced.

Just 20 years ago, imagine telling someone you'd bought a $400 watch that did all the things an Apple Watch can do.

 

[oMc]

True, my iPhone 12 is really slow now days and the battery dies within 4 hours.

Get a new battery.

I'm running iOS 17 beta (still an early unfinished iOS version) on my iPhone 12, and everything is fine. It's not normal for an iPhone 12 to be "slow". Not yet at least. Maybe in 2-3 more years yeah.

 

[CraigJDuffy]

Yep. I have a series 4 AW that still works like new.
Minus the degrading battery health.
OP just got a bit..unlucky

My XS Max runs like new and the battery lasts all day (6 hours screen on, 12 screen off) at 93% capacity.

 

[Anaxarxes]

I’ve enjoyed my apple watches, but hadn’t really considered them to be disposable

There is your false logic.

It's a tech device. Not a watch. It has a rechargeable battery, a processor that can or will be at some point not powerful enough for new software and features.

Go sell it for 100 bucks after 3 years and get a new one on Amazon Prime Day for 300. It's a cost of 100 USD / year.

 

[JustAnExpat]

I hate how the name of the "Apple Watch". Watches should last a lifetime, passed down from generation to generation. This is a fitness tracker that collects information on a person's biometrics and also tells time. It's not a watch, and shouldn't be viewed as such.

Contact Apple though, they should be able to replace the battery.

 

[tehStickMan]

hadn’t really considered them to be disposable

I mean that's kinda your mistake there.

They are clearly small devices with non-serviceable batteries, that will die well within 10 years.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

But the batteries are servicable?

 

[JustAnExpat]

But the batteries are servicable?

Yes. The batteries can be replaced. I had an Apple 3 Watch with a knockoff battery. It didn't show the proper percentage and wear.

 

[GuruZac]

I can understand your frustration, and while it is where we are currently with tech, it’s a bummer. I have had 4 Apple Watches- Series 0, Series 2, Series 5, and my Ultra. The Ultra hands down is the first to feel special. From battery life, to display, to titanium case, to the unique watch faces, it’s truly a fantastic watch. Were it not for the Ultra, I’d likely have switched to a Garmin, but as it stands now, I intend to keep with the Ultra line.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

Phones are alright 3rd party batteries. When it comes to the watch I would only want Apple to do it (you get a refurb unit anyway) because I swim a lot.

 

[Night Spring]

but hadn’t really considered them to be disposable -

I always expected to replace them every few years, especially with the first few generations, when the technology improves rapidly. I've settled in now to upgrading every other year, using Apple's trade-in program. It's a hassle-free way to get some money toward buying a newer model, so I feel like I get my money's worth for a gadget I keep for two years. Bose also often lets me trade in an older set of earphones for a newer model, giving me $75-100 off the new purchase. But yeah, while I don't exactly think of technological gadgets as disposable, they do have a limited lifetime. It's the nature of the thing.

 

[Saturn007]

3yrs is pretty much the life of tech these days.

Have things changed that much in the past few years?

My workhorse of a computer is an 8-year-old 2015 13” MBA that runs well and is on Monterey. My 2016 iPhone SE is great, too.

I replace my Mac every three years and that $150 summer gift card on its own takes care of 50% of the price of a new one so I don't bother with the battery.

Where do you get a new Mac for $300?! 😁

Or, did you mean that you replace your *watch* every three years?

 

[curnalpanic]

Where do you get a new Mac for $300?! 😁

Or, did you mean that you replace your *watch* every three years?

I wonder what model that is. Mac mini perhaps? Even if you sold your old Mac and bought a new one, 100 bucks a year in depreciation is not a lot.