S5 Ceramic AppleCare+ battery servicing... Am I getting a new one?

[DeanL]

I have an Apple Watch S5 Ceramic AppleCare+ needing battery servicing and I still have the monthly AppleCare+ on it. Do you think I'm getting a newer Apple Watch or will they actually replace it?

If getting a new one, how will they decide what I get given that Apple hasn't made a Ceramic watch in years? Anyone got through this?

 

[lolkthxbai]

Considering the age, they’ll probably offer you a newer model. They will usually choose a comparable color. As for the model, they usually offer you an Apple Watch case with Stainless Steel/Titanium. In some cases they do something called a CRU but thats usually a last resort after multiple failed repairs or other extenuating circumstances (i.e. theft/lost in-transit). In the case of a CRU its actually a new Apple Watch, not a replacement or remanufactured device.

 

[jz0309]

I have an Apple Watch S5 Ceramic AppleCare+ needing battery servicing and I still have the monthly AppleCare+ on it. Do you think I'm getting a newer Apple Watch or will they actually replace it?

If getting a new one, how will they decide what I get given that Apple hasn't made a Ceramic watch in years? Anyone got through this?

Talk to Apple support, they might still have refurb S5 ceramic in stock … if not, they should be able to tell you right away, and not sure what they might offer instead

 

[okkibs]

They do have to replace it. The store cannot perform a battery replacement on your exact unit. They don't promise to give you anything ceramic though. The replacement terms say that Apple will give you either the same model or one with whatever Apple deems to be equivalent specs. Of course there is always that one lucky customer who walks out with the newest Titanium model because of some stocking issue but most customers won't see that happen.

And be careful with the Applecare payments on the replacement. Applecare will transfer and you should keep it for a while because if something is wrong with it like the water seals not working and the watch dies during the first shower Apple won't help you out if you already stopped the Applecare coverage.

So if you do get another S5 make sure to either keep Applecare for 2-3 months or as long as it takes to get the watch into the hands of a buyer and they confirm it works fine.

But if they do give you a brand new S11 then you need to keep Applecare+ if you want any coverage at all. Because such a replacement does not carry the regular 1 year warranty so the Applecare+ will transfer and it will be the only warranty you got.

 

[Eric_WVGG]

I would be so bummed out if I turned in a ceramic watch and got a titanium back… those ceramics were gorgeous

good luck

 

[DeanL]

So I went in store and they are offering a Titanium S7.
I think I’m better off waiting because since S8 and S9 did not come in titanium, the next generation they would likely be offering after S7 is S10.
Going from S5 to S10 is much more worth losing my gorgeous Ceramic case than S5 to S7.