Replace battery or get a new Watch?

[Spindel]

So my AW6 (titanium if it matters) has just now (or recently, I don’t check that often) has started to indicate a battery health of 78%. I preordered the watch as soon as it was possible and have had it more or less since release day.

I have noticed a noticable decline in battery time for the last 2-3 months. With that said a normal day without exercise I still get more than 24 h of battery time out of the watch (I wear it when I sleep). When I exercise I throw it in the charger while showering and getting changed so I have no troubles getting through the day. Most noticable performance degredation is when I go phoneless for a couple of hours, this drains the battery faster now compared to when it was fresh and I do not get that many hours when away from the phone.

Anyhow.

I’ve been tempted by the AWU and now I’m at a crossroad. Should I send the AW6 to apple for a battery replacement, costing me about 10% of the cost of a AWU. Or should I hold out until September and instead get a (presumed) AWU2.

Of course the financially sound decision would be to just get the battery replaced, specially considering I have the titanium edition AW6 (If I had the standard non LTE AW6 this would not be a discussion if the battery replacement cost would be the same since it was so much ceaper than the edition). With that said, my economy does allow for me to buy a AWU with no adverse effects.

So this comes down to ”feels”.

How would you guys/girls reason in this situation.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I have the same Ti version in Series 7. The choice is yours. Much cheaper to trade it in and get a like model with a brand new battery. BUT, if you want the latest, hold onto it till September and buy another. I do not see a huge leap in technology coming to the Series 9, maybe some new colors. My S7 SBTi battery still says 100%. Your watch will be as new with a new battery.

 

[WozzaTT]

Can’t comment on the AW6 but I was in a similar quandary re AWU or wait for AWU2 (presumed, as you say). I decided not to wait and got an AWU at the weekend - what a fabulous watch.

I doubt very much whether the AWU2 will bring any significant improvements so I feel comfortable with my decision. At the moment anyway!

 

[jz0309]

So my AW6 (titanium if it matters) has just now (or recently, I don’t check that often) has started to indicate a battery health of 78%. I preordered the watch as soon as it was possible and have had it more or less since release day.

I have noticed a noticable decline in battery time for the last 2-3 months. With that said a normal day without exercise I still get more than 24 h of battery time out of the watch (I wear it when I sleep). When I exercise I throw it in the charger while showering and getting changed so I have no troubles getting through the day. Most noticable performance degredation is when I go phoneless for a couple of hours, this drains the battery faster now compared to when it was fresh and I do not get that many hours when away from the phone.

Anyhow.

I’ve been tempted by the AWU and now I’m at a crossroad. Should I send the AW6 to apple for a battery replacement, costing me about 10% of the cost of a AWU. Or should I hold out until September and instead get a (presumed) AWU2.

Of course the financially sound decision would be to just get the battery replaced, specially considering I have the titanium edition AW6 (If I had the standard non LTE AW6 this would not be a discussion if the battery replacement cost would be the same since it was so much ceaper than the edition). With that said, my economy does allow for me to buy a AWU with no adverse effects.

So this comes down to ”feels”.

How would you guys/girls reason in this situation.

it sounds like your S6 still does its job nd you can work around the battery degradation for now.
I'd hold on til the S9/AWU2 are announced and you know what they are going to offer, facts, not rumors.
Then make a decision.
Your S6 is an "edition", if it were me, given that trading in it/selling it will not give you much, I'd get a new battery and use it for sleep tracking, should be good for 3+ years just for that ... I have a S7 Ti that I kept and use for sleep tracking when I got my Ultra

 

[BenGoren]

So my AW6 (titanium if it matters) has just now (or recently, I don’t check that often) has started to indicate a battery health of 78%. I preordered the watch as soon as it was possible and have had it more or less since release day.

I have noticed a noticable decline in battery time for the last 2-3 months. With that said a normal day without exercise I still get more than 24 h of battery time out of the watch (I wear it when I sleep). When I exercise I throw it in the charger while showering and getting changed so I have no troubles getting through the day. Most noticable performance degredation is when I go phoneless for a couple of hours, this drains the battery faster now compared to when it was fresh and I do not get that many hours when away from the phone.

Anyhow.

I’ve been tempted by the AWU and now I’m at a crossroad. Should I send the AW6 to apple for a battery replacement, costing me about 10% of the cost of a AWU. Or should I hold out until September and instead get a (presumed) AWU2.

Of course the financially sound decision would be to just get the battery replaced, specially considering I have the titanium edition AW6 (If I had the standard non LTE AW6 this would not be a discussion if the battery replacement cost would be the same since it was so much ceaper than the edition). With that said, my economy does allow for me to buy a AWU with no adverse effects.

So this comes down to ”feels”.

How would you guys/girls reason in this situation.

Since a replacement battery actually gets you a complete like-new watch for all of $80, it seems like a no-brainer, no matter what. (In case you didn’t know, they’ll send you a completely different watch, most likely refurbished, and then, at their leisure, part out your old watch for their own internal refurbished watch assembly line.)

Either you can keep the watch that they send you indefinitely (reasonably, at least as long as the one you have now lasted — the battery will be newly manufactured, possibly with superior technology) or you can sell the new watch for a heck of a lot more than you can sell your current watch.

As an owner of an Ultra, I absolutely love it. The screen is gorgeous; the battery life is such that I’ve had literally zero anxiety about it; and the speakerphone is at least better than that on the iPhone Xs, probably later models as well. I know others complain about it being too big / bulky / heavy, but I’ve never felt so. It’d be nice if it didn’t stand quite so far off my wrist, but plenty of other watches are even taller.

But … there’s no way I could afford to buy one today. And I’m sure I’d be more than happy with a titanium LTE 6, especially with a new battery.

So, if money is tight for you, as you suggest … don’t think twice. Do the official Apple battery replacement thing and enjoy many more years out of the watch.

b&

 

[Spindel]

Since a replacement battery actually gets you a complete like-new watch for all of $80, it seems like a no-brainer, no matter what. (In case you didn’t know, they’ll send you a completely different watch, most likely refurbished, and then, at their leisure, part out your old watch for their own internal refurbished watch assembly line.)

Either you can keep the watch that they send you indefinitely (reasonably, at least as long as the one you have now lasted — the battery will be newly manufactured, possibly with superior technology) or you can sell the new watch for a heck of a lot more than you can sell your current watch.

As an owner of an Ultra, I absolutely love it. The screen is gorgeous; the battery life is such that I’ve had literally zero anxiety about it; and the speakerphone is at least better than that on the iPhone Xs, probably later models as well. I know others complain about it being too big / bulky / heavy, but I’ve never felt so. It’d be nice if it didn’t stand quite so far off my wrist, but plenty of other watches are even taller.

But … there’s no way I could afford to buy one today. And I’m sure I’d be more than happy with a titanium LTE 6, especially with a new battery.

So, if money is tight for you, as you suggest … don’t think twice. Do the official Apple battery replacement thing and enjoy many more years out of the watch.

b&

I probably wasn’t clear, money really isn’t the issue.

I’m fully aware of the watch becoming ”like new” with a fresh battery. That was why I said the sensible thing would be to just get the battery replaced.

But the AWU has had me really tempted, the size of the AWU is not an issue (I have a mechanical saturation diver that is really chunky). Main draws of the AWU for me has been the much better battery time. Nice to not have to charge every day and being able to go phoneless for maybe an entire day.

But as I said if I go with the ”stupid” choice I’ll wait for the (rumored) AWU2.

But regarding my AW6, I still love it (except for the degraded battery, but that was expected over time). I’m also very pleased I got the titanium instead of the SS (for me the standard aluminium one has never been an option mainly because it does not have sapphire chrystal).

 

[deeddawg]

I did battery replacement on my AW6 SBTi a couple months ago - AppleCare covered it. Easy enuf process, they sent me the replacement (indiscernible from new) and I sent the old one back in.

Way I figure, this gives me opportunity to decide if whatever comes out this year is worth upgrading to or if I hold out another year.

 

[Spindel]

Just an update.

I came to the conclusion that I should go with the fiscally sensible option. So tomorrow I will drop the watch off for battery replacement.

 

[PatrickNSF]

Just an update.

I came to the conclusion that I should go with the fiscally sensible option. So tomorrow I will drop the watch off for battery replacement.

That makes sense, especially since it’s a Titanium. In fact, I’d hold onto it even if you decide to get the Ultra 2 later. I regret not getting the S7 Ti when they were available.

 

[Spindel]

Not having my AW drives me insane!

While waiting (they said it could be up to two weeks before I get it back) I'm using one of my mechanical watches (that has been unused since I got the AW). And while the watch I use is a really nice watch (it was not a cheap watch) it drives me insane that all it can do is showing me time, date and day >.<

Yeah I know this is a champagne problem, but still annoys me

 

[stanza.richi]

Not having my AW drives me insane!

While waiting (they said it could be up to two weeks before I get it back) I'm using one of my mechanical watches (that has been unused since I got the AW). And while the watch I use is a really nice watch (it was not a cheap watch) it drives me insane that all it can do is showing me time, date and day >.<

Yeah I know this is a champagne problem, but still annoys me

Be careful: after some days of mechanical watch you could appreciate that it is showing you only time, date and day 😜

 

[Spindel]

Yay! It's ready for pickup!

But my schedule doesn't allow me to pick it up until tomorrow >.<

 

[IJBrekke]

Replacing the battery and keeping the watch is also the most eco-friendly option. Always something to consider whenever we can. If September rolls around and you want to move to something new, you’ll recoup a little bit of the battery cost at resale of the titanium.

 

[deeddawg]

Not having my AW drives me insane!

While waiting (they said it could be up to two weeks before I get it back) I'm using one of my mechanical watches

This is why I went with the advance replacement.

They put a $$$ hold on my credit card, sent me the replacement, I sent my old watch back, they removed the $$$ hold.

 

[loybond]

Change the battery, sell it, then get the new one!

 

[jz0309]

This is why I went with the advance replacement.

They put a $$$ hold on my credit card, sent me the replacement, I sent my old watch back, they removed the $$$ hold.

That is a feature of AC+, OP does not have that so that’s not an option

 

[deeddawg]

That is a feature of AC+, OP does not have that so that’s not an option

Interesting, wasn't aware of the differentiation. Thanks.

 

[arsimoun]

I am in the exact same position. Titanium 6. 78% battery. I am going to get the Ultra 2, then hold onto it for about three years on the theory that when the X comes out next September there will be a shakeout period since there is so much projected new stuff that can (and will) go wrong.

One man's .02 and all that.

Adam

 

[okkibs]

I'd also wait for the AW X or the next Ultra. The 6 isn't old yet and will easily last until an exciting new model is released and with a newer battery it will sell well too.

 

[Spindel]

Got it now and all set up.

As some one mentioned earlier in the thread it is kind of nice since I basically got a new watch with a pristine case (no scuffs and marks) and a fresh battery.

The mechanicals will go back into the box!

 

[cubodado]

I have AppleCare+ on my AW6. Just got a free battery replacement, so I think I will wait for another series for the upgrade.

 

[Kermit262]

Can’t comment on the AW6 but I was in a similar quandary re AWU or wait for AWU2 (presumed, as you say). I decided not to wait and got an AWU at the weekend - what a fabulous watch.

I doubt very much whether the AWU2 will bring any significant improvements so I feel comfortable with my decision. At the moment anyway!

Hey Wozz - just read your comment. Just curious - how do you feel now, after seeing the U2 improvements?

 

[xraydoc]

I'm doing both. Keeping my Series 7 silver stainless Hermes edition and will replace the battery as soon as Apple gives me the go (currently at 83%), and I've ordered an Ultra 2.

No. Not the economical solution....!