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How can one break a product? My Apple Watch is almost 2 years old, it works fine and could stay up to 2 days.

But not just Apple Watch but any devices.
 
One or two years ago, we saw this same sort of battery swelling (like in the watch photo) with a number of MacBook Pros in our department. They all seemed to be of 2008-2011 vintage... It's kind of weird to see a trackpad that's been pushed out of the laptop's frame by a swollen battery!

If you remove the battery from the laptop and leave it on the shelf (note: I am not recommending this, just commenting on what I observed), it eventually will resemble a small silver pillow.

To show you how loyal Mac fans can be - I don't think any of the faculty laptops which exhibited this problem got taken back to Apple to argue for a repair. Instead, they all used it as an excuse to buy new Macs. :D
 
Happened to mine a couple weeks ago. I thought I was lucky that it failed within the 2 year AppleCare period, but I guess it's moot now.

apple-watch-battery.jpg
 
Must be a much bigger problem then Apple thought it would be, plus high public exposure has caused them to do something.
I was looking on eBay and the Apple Watch seems to have gone up in price? I've been pondering a Series 1 42mm, trying to see how I could get one for Christmas. Is eBay a safe place to buy them? I've seen some say they have got them from there.
 
Bought my Series 0 on day one, and the battery is still going strong, despite the small hit with OS3.
 
Reports are rare, but it does appear to be an issue affecting a small number of original Apple Watch users. The battery problem causes the Apple Watch screen to pop away from the casing, rendering it unusable.
How can it be rare when two posters on this site have photographic evidence of it happening? I bet less than 0.1% of Apple Watch owners are even aware of this site.
 
Has this battery issue been reported with the second generation Series 1 and Series 2 watches?
 
How can it be rare when two posters on this site have photographic evidence of it happening? I bet less than 0.1% of Apple Watch owners are even aware of this site.
There are also hundreds of MacRumors members with the 1st gen Apple Watch who haven't been affected by swollen batteries. All it means is a small percentage of your "less than 0.1% of Apple Watch owners" have been hit by this issue.
 
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Too challenged to look at a teardown? This is why the Swiss watch industry was never worried about cheaply made disposable offshore watches.

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+Watch+Teardown/40655
YROejwEciDwEoPeL.large
The Swiss watch industry IS worried.

White papers from the Swiss government and Deloitte show wrist wearables have had a significant deleterious effect on the industry.

When the Watch launched my prediction was the Swiss would see a ca 25% loss in 2 years; AFAIK they have lost more than 20%. I'm still thinking they will have no significant growth anymore while their share of the market will dwindle to about half.
[doublepost=1493467173][/doublepost]
You're joking, yes? Considering how much Apple originally charged for gen 1's plus the ridiculous premium they tack on to the price of watch bands, they absolutely do make a profit.
[doublepost=1493435498][/doublepost]What I found funny was the way Apple, and the website AppleInsider, said that this was a small issue affecting a very limited number of users. So it's small enough to offer a warranty extension right off the bat without a fight, whereas they're still firmly burying their heads in the sand over the touch of death affected iPhone 6's. Clearly it's not so small an issue, or is it everyone in the industry is afraid anytime an issue involving failing batteries comes up?
Once a battery fails and exposes itself, the opportunity exists for a customer to start poking around. With lithium batteries this is a very bad invitation as poking around risks penetrating the battery seal and starting a fire.
 
I feel like my battery is about to bite the dust. Last night it dropped 40% just sitting on my nightstand.
 



Apple today informed retail store employees and Apple Authorized Service Providers that it is extending the service coverage for first-generation Apple Watch models experiencing battery problems to three years.

In an entry in Apple's repair database (via 9to5Mac), the company explains that coverage is extended for original Apple Watch models that are seeing swollen or expanded batteries. A public announcement about the service extension has not been made, and it's not clear if Apple will offer reimbursements for customers who have already paid for battery replacements or have done battery replacements themselves.

applewatchscreenpop-800x600.jpg

Image via MacRumors forum user Rosepod5
Customers who have an original Apple Watch afflicted with a swollen or expanded battery will now be able to have the device repaired for up to three years after its purchase date, even when AppleCare was not purchased for the watch. From the repair database:Complaints about swollen batteries on the original Apple Watch have been circulating for a few months on reddit, the Apple Support Communities, and the MacRumors forum.

Reports are rare, but it does appear to be an issue affecting a small number of original Apple Watch users. The battery problem causes the Apple Watch screen to pop away from the casing, rendering it unusable.

The first-generation Apple Watch, first introduced in April of 2015, recently reached its second birthday on April 24.

Article Link: Repair Period for First-Gen Apple Watches With Battery Issues Extended to 3 Years
Wait....a battery issue? :rolleyes:
 
[doublepost=1493435498][/doublepost]What I found funny was the way Apple, and the website AppleInsider, said that this was a small issue affecting a very limited number of users. So it's small enough to offer a warranty extension right off the bat without a fight, whereas they're still firmly burying their heads in the sand over the touch of death affected iPhone 6's. Clearly it's not so small an issue, or is it everyone in the industry is afraid anytime an issue involving failing batteries comes up?

Because lithium batteries sometimes swell and that is a known issue, and there is a repair program for 6s phones with touch problems
 
Great that Apple has addressed this, now if they would also address the issue of the back casing separating from the watch...this is an issue that is all over the internet and happened to me a couple of months ago. Luckily it hasn't rendered my watch unusable, but I am concerned about the integrity of it plus I have to be careful every time I remove it from the charger as to not damage it further.
 
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Great that Apple has addressed this, now if they would also address the issue of the back casing separating from the watch...this is an issue that is all over the internet and happened to me a couple of months ago. Luckily it hasn't rendered my watch unusable, but I am concerned about the integrity of it plus I have to be careful every time I remove it from the charger as to not damage it further.
Actually, they did.
That issue is covered under another internal repair program, but only for two years.
 
Actually, they did.
That issue is covered under another internal repair program, but only for two years.

Really? Can you tell where or when you saw this? I've researched it numerous times and haven't found anything in regard to a repair program. I also called Apple the end of last year when I was still within the two year period and they were totally clueless of the incident...wanted me to send it in for an estimate. Repair cost is ridiculous out of warranty-I'd rather put the money towards a new watch.
 
Really? Can you tell where or when you saw this? I've researched it numerous times and haven't found anything in regard to a repair program. I also called Apple the end of last year when I was still within the two year period and they were totally clueless of the incident...wanted me to send it in for an estimate. Repair cost is ridiculous out of warranty-I'd rather put the money towards a new watch.
Sorry, but no.
i work in apple AASP so i can tell you that it's true, but i didn't saw that in somewhere publicly
 
Sorry, but no.
i work in apple AASP so i can tell you that it's true, but i didn't saw that in somewhere publicly

Ridiculous that they didn't make this public knowledge...at the very least the could have informed technical personnel of the program.
 
Really? Can you tell where or when you saw this? I've researched it numerous times and haven't found anything in regard to a repair program. I also called Apple the end of last year when I was still within the two year period and they were totally clueless of the incident...wanted me to send it in for an estimate. Repair cost is ridiculous out of warranty-I'd rather put the money towards a new watch.


You must have gotten a really bad customer service rep. This happened to my wife's Watch, took it off the charger and the back just came off, stayed attached to the puck.

Went on live chat, explained what happened and a replacement Watch was dispatched the same day. Took less than 10 minutes on live chat. No hassles at all.


As for the issue at hand, this happened to me on Friday. Well, whether it's an expanding battery or not I don't know.
Genuinely lifted my arm to check the time and was greeted with this:

IMG_0361.JPG


I'm fortunate enough to still have AppleCare + on it, just, there's only a month or so left on it. But phoned customer service, less than 5 minutes on the phone and my replacement was dispatched that afternoon. Arrives on Tuesday thankfully, I already miss it.
 
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You must have gotten a really bad customer service rep. This happened to my wife's Watch, took it off the charger and the back just came off, stayed attached to the puck.

Went on live chat, explained what happened and a replacement Watch was dispatched the same day. Took less than 10 minutes on live chat. No hassles at all.


As for the issue at hand, this happened to me on Friday. Well, whether it's an expanding battery or not I don't know.
Genuinely lifted my arm to check the time and was greeted with this:

View attachment 697906


I'm fortunate enough to still have AppleCare + on it, just, there's only a month or so left on it. But phoned customer service, less than 5 minutes on the phone and my replacement was dispatched that afternoon. Arrives on Tuesday thankfully, I already miss it.

Was your wife's watch still under the one year warranty or did you have AppleCare? Mine was completely out of warranty.
 
Was your wife's watch still under the one year warranty or did you have AppleCare? Mine was completely out of warranty.

No, hers was out of warranty and didn't have AppleCare. I figured she'd be gentle on it.

I've always found Apple support to be amazing. A couple of years ago they replaced my iPhone 6+. I didn't ask them to, was in the Apple Store chatting away and happened to mention my mute switch was slightly loose. Not broken, not even particularly annoying. But the guy asked to see it and on the spot just said, I'll give you a new phone. That was out of warranty and didn't have AppleCare either.
I felt oddly guilty about it, there was no real need for them to replace it. But they refused my attempts to offer them money for it.

Those aren't even the only good experiences I've had with them, it's one of the things that keeps me an Apple customer. Though I do always buy AppleCare now.
 
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No, hers was out of warranty and didn't have AppleCare. I figured she'd be gentle on it.

I've always found Apple support to be amazing. A couple of years ago they replaced my iPhone 6+. I didn't ask them to, was in the Apple Store chatting away and happened to mention my mute switch was slightly loose. Not broken, not even particularly annoying. But the guy asked to see it and on the spot just said, I'll give you a new phone. That was out of warranty and didn't have AppleCare either.
I felt oddly guilty about it, there was no real need for them to replace it. But they refused my attempts to offer them money for it.

Those aren't even the only good experiences I've had with them, it's one of the things that keeps me an Apple customer. Though I do always buy AppleCare now.

Maybe you just have been really super lucky. In researching all the instances where the back came off I didn't see one instance where anyone was successful in getting a replacement or repair if their's was out of warranty. perhaps I should try again-it couldn't hurt- although now it's been over two years, but I guess it's worth a try.
 
Maybe you just have been really super lucky. In researching all the instances where the back came off I didn't see one instance where anyone was successful in getting a replacement or repair if their's was out of warranty. perhaps I should try again-it couldn't hurt- although now it's been over two years, but I guess it's worth a try.

Two years is a bit of a long stretch I suppose, but it never hurts to ask. You never know what'll happen if you're lucky enough to get the right rep on the other end.
So far (Touch wood :D) I've never had any reason to complain about their service.
 
Must be a much bigger problem then Apple thought it would be, plus high public exposure has caused them to do something.
I was looking on eBay and the Apple Watch seems to have gone up in price? I've been pondering a Series 1 42mm, trying to see how I could get one for Christmas. Is eBay a safe place to buy them? I've seen some say they have got them from there.
I wouldn't trust eBay, they have a major iCloud lock epidemic with Apple devices. Use Swappa, it's an amazing site and iCloud locked devices are banned.
 
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