S7 battery replacement and blood oxygen - my experience

[jz0309]

My S7 Ti finally shows battery health at 79% (I've been waiting for this for like 9 months).
I do have AC+ so I contacted Apple support via phone as the webpage only gives you "bring it to an Apple Store" as an option. The nearest Apple Store is ~ 50 min away, didn't want to make that trip, twice ...
I have seen posts here indicating that Apple doesn't do an express replacement for the battery service, but they offered it so I took that option. And yes, there'll be a hold until they receive my watch back. Interestingly the hold is for $749 as replacement cost when the watch new actually cost $949, but ok.
I do have SpO2, on device, there was no mention of SpO2 during the call, so I didn't bring the topic up.
Once I receive the replacement I will check SpO2 and make sure it's on device, otherwise, contact Apple.

I know there have bee many threads re battery replacement and SpO2 during that process but didn't want to reply to one of those but rather put this up here as my own experience.

I will update this thread once I receive the replacement watch

9/4 update: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...od-oxygen-my-experience.2464043/post-34097896 post #20

9/7 update: email to TCook@apple.com sent

9/9 update: received call from executive relations https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...od-oxygen-my-experience.2464043/post-34110372

9/10 update: replacement watch is going back to Apple: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...od-oxygen-my-experience.2464043/post-34115759

9/22 update: got call from exec relations informing me that the replacement watch I received is the "current offering", basically saying if I were to replace mine again I'd get the same replacement as before with blood ox on iPhone and not on watch. https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...od-oxygen-my-experience.2464043/post-34169214

 

[BugeyeSTI]

My S7 Ti finally shows battery health at 79% (I've been waiting for this for like 9 months).
I do have AC+ so I contacted Apple support via phone as the webpage only gives you "bring it to an Apple Store" as an option. The nearest Apple Store is ~ 50 min away, didn't want to make that trip, twice ...
I have seen posts here indicating that Apple doesn't do an express replacement for the battery service, but they offered it so I took that option. And yes, there'll be a hold until they receive my watch back. Interestingly the hold is for $749 as replacement cost when the watch new actually cost $949, but ok.
I do have SpO2, on device, there was no mention of SpO2 during the call, so I didn't bring the topic up.
Once I receive the replacement I will check SpO2 and make sure it's on device, otherwise, contact Apple.

I know there have bee many threads re battery replacement and SpO2 during that process but didn't want to reply to one of those but rather put this up here as my own experience.

I will update this thread once I receive the replacement watch

I"m confident you'll receive a model ending with LL/A whether using express replacement or in-store. Warranty replacement (no cost to you) is the key...

 

[waw74]

the OS versions that came out sometime in the last few weeks re-enabled oxygen sensing. They apparently do the processing on the phone instead of on the watch to get around the patent. I think because of the the blood oxygen app on the watch doesn't work, but you can see values on the phone. (not quite sure of the details, since my watch is from before they disabled it). Have a friend with a newer watch and says it's working for him.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/1mq9xle/who_got_the_blood_oxygen_to_work

 

[QCassidy352]

My S7 Ti finally shows battery health at 79% (I've been waiting for this for like 9 months).
I do have AC+ so I contacted Apple support via phone as the webpage only gives you "bring it to an Apple Store" as an option. The nearest Apple Store is ~ 50 min away, didn't want to make that trip, twice ...
I have seen posts here indicating that Apple doesn't do an express replacement for the battery service, but they offered it so I took that option. And yes, there'll be a hold until they receive my watch back. Interestingly the hold is for $749 as replacement cost when the watch new actually cost $949, but ok.
I do have SpO2, on device, there was no mention of SpO2 during the call, so I didn't bring the topic up.
Once I receive the replacement I will check SpO2 and make sure it's on device, otherwise, contact Apple.

I know there have bee many threads re battery replacement and SpO2 during that process but didn't want to reply to one of those but rather put this up here as my own experience.

I will update this thread once I receive the replacement watch

Curious to hear how this goes since I also have a S7 Ti sitting at 80% (amazing how long it can stay at that exact value, isn’t it??). But I don’t have AC+, so I wonder if that’ll make a difference.

 

[jz0309]

Curious to hear how this goes since I also have a S7 Ti sitting at 80% (amazing how long it can stay at that exact value, isn’t it??). But I don’t have AC+, so I wonder if that’ll make a difference.

Yea, I think I saw 81% back in December of last year...
Originally it was like this: if under warranty (and AC+ is an extended warranty) then your refurb will have SpO2. If out of warranty, SpO2 will be disabled just like all the Saws sole after Jan 2024.
Now of course we have SpO2 back, just not on watch but calculated/displayed on phone.
Numerous users have confirmed they indeed got a refurb with SpO2 enabled with AC+, and then some have reported that SpO2 was disabled on their refurbs without AC+.
And then we saw some people saying they got SpO2 disabled even under AC+, incl 1 user saying they had to sign a waiver in-store that their replacement watch will have SpO2 disabled...
It's all buried in multiple threads so I started this one.

This S7 is my secondary watch, primary is an Ultra 2 that I got at original launch almost 2 years ago, so I had SpO2 all along.

Oh, and then there were some folks reporting that Apple wouldn't do express replacement anymore with AC+, but I have proven that not being the case, for now

 

[jz0309]

I"m confident you'll receive a model ending with LL/A whether using express replacement or in-store. Warranty replacement (no cost to you) is the key...

That is my expectation.

 

[jz0309]

the OS versions that came out sometime in the last few weeks re-enabled oxygen sensing. They apparently do the processing on the phone instead of on the watch to get around the patent. I think because of the the blood oxygen app on the watch doesn't work, but you can see values on the phone. (not quite sure of the details, since my watch is from before they disabled it). Have a friend with a newer watch and says it's working for him.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/1mq9xle/who_got_the_blood_oxygen_to_work

That is correct, but watches sold before Jan 24 had SpO2 anyways since the S6.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Yea, I think I saw 81% back in December of last year...
Originally it was like this: if under warranty (and AC+ is an extended warranty) then your refurb will have SpO2. If out of warranty, SpO2 will be disabled just like all the Saws sole after Jan 2024.
Now of course we have SpO2 back, just not on watch but calculated/displayed on phone.
Numerous users have confirmed they indeed got a refurb with SpO2 enabled with AC+, and then some have reported that SpO2 was disabled on their refurbs without AC+.
And then we saw some people saying they got SpO2 disabled even under AC+, incl 1 user saying they had to sign a waiver in-store that their replacement watch will have SpO2 disabled...
It's all buried in multiple threads so I started this one.

This S7 is my secondary watch, primary is an Ultra 2 that I got at original launch almost 2 years ago, so I had SpO2 all along.

Oh, and then there were some folks reporting that Apple wouldn't do express replacement anymore with AC+, but I have proven that not being the case, for now

You can add me to the list of receiving a replacement S6 under AppleCare+ with SPo2 enabled. I turned in a watch ending with LL/A and received a refurbished unit ending with LL/A..

 

[QCassidy352]

Yea, I think I saw 81% back in December of last year...
Originally it was like this: if under warranty (and AC+ is an extended warranty) then your refurb will have SpO2. If out of warranty, SpO2 will be disabled just like all the Saws sole after Jan 2024.
Now of course we have SpO2 back, just not on watch but calculated/displayed on phone.
Numerous users have confirmed they indeed got a refurb with SpO2 enabled with AC+, and then some have reported that SpO2 was disabled on their refurbs without AC+.
And then we saw some people saying they got SpO2 disabled even under AC+, incl 1 user saying they had to sign a waiver in-store that their replacement watch will have SpO2 disabled...
It's all buried in multiple threads so I started this one.

This S7 is my secondary watch, primary is an Ultra 2 that I got at original launch almost 2 years ago, so I had SpO2 all along.

Oh, and then there were some folks reporting that Apple wouldn't do express replacement anymore with AC+, but I have proven that not being the case, for now

Ok so most likely my eventual replacement will have SpO2 only on phone? I guess that’s fine.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Ok so most likely my eventual replacement will have SpO2 only on phone? I guess that’s fine.

Yes it will not show SPo2 on the watch, it will be on iPhone. You should receive a replacement watch with a model # ending with LW/A.. When the patents expire in 2028, your reading will be on the watch again.

 

[jz0309]

an update: Still says "replacement will be shipping soon", contacted support and kinda like the roundabout way was told that the part is not available, but should be within 7 biz days from when the repair was opened (8/25).
So going to wait til next week Wed (9/3) and if no update will escalate.

Have read before that Apple sometimes runs out of refurb of your exact model but usually offers an "upgrade", can't remember reading that people had t wait that long though.
It's ok though as it is my backup watch, for now

 

[QCassidy352]

an update: Still says "replacement will be shipping soon", contacted support and kinda like the roundabout way was told that the part is not available, but should be within 7 biz days from when the repair was opened (8/25).
So going to wait til next week Wed (9/3) and if no update will escalate.

Have read before that Apple sometimes runs out of refurb of your exact model but usually offers an "upgrade", can't remember reading that people had t wait that long though.
It's ok though as it is my backup watch, for now

What would an upgrade be for a Ti S7? There was no Ti S8. So a SS S8? I’d rather have the Ti S7!

 

[jz0309]

What would an upgrade be for a Ti S7? There was no Ti S8. So a SS S8? I’d rather have the Ti S7!

yea, good question, no Ti S8 or S9, and from that perspective, material-wise, I'd consider a S8/9 SS a downgrade. And for all I recall, the various posts where folks said they got an upgrade, it was the next model #.
Then there is the S10 ... So I don't know, if it turns to that decision, I'll like bargain for a S10 ...

 

[jz0309]

Update 8/31: replacement watch has been shipped.
Wan't expecting to receive that email on a Sunday . I has the serial # and IMEI of the replacement watch but not the model #, so will see.

 

[jz0309]

Update 8/31: replacement watch has been shipped. Shipping from Carlisle, PA
Wasn't expecting to receive that email on a Sunday . It has the serial # and IMEI of the replacement watch but not the model #, so will see.

 

[jz0309]

Got the replacement today, model # ending in LW/A. Can't deal with that today but will be calling Apple tomorrow...

 

[goldmac2006]

Got the replacement today, model # ending in LW/A. Can't deal with that today but will be calling Apple tomorrow...

View attachment 2543255

Did you test it and it had blood oxygen feature back?

 

[jz0309]

Did you test it and it had blood oxygen feature back?

The blood ox app is not on the watch.
The watches that were sold after the ban had model number ending in LW/A and while it is available now, blood ox value on phone, not watch.
My original has model number ending in LL/A.

Need to dig into this tomorrow, had no time today, also need to update OS, currently 11.5

 

[goldmac2006]

The blood ox app is not on the watch.
The watches that were sold after the ban had model number ending in LW/A and while it is available now, blood ox value on phone, not watch.
My original has model number ending in LL/A.

Need to dig into this tomorrow, had no time today, also need to update OS, currently 11.5

lmk when you speak with AppleCare on this. even when you update the replacement to 11.6

 

[jz0309]

9/4 update
spoke to a senior advisor, bottom line message from her was that Apple discontinued that blood oxygen feature (from my original S7, taking SpO2 on the watch itself) and therefor cannot guarantee that any other replacement watch have that original feature. She did mention that I could return this watch for another one.
She also told me that she does not have an escalation point for this issue.
She also acknowledged my dissatisfaction, which is/was made worse as the advisor I talked to 10 days or so ago did not mention that I might not get the original SpO2 feature.
I left it that I have to think about what I will do next.

I'm thinking about writing an email to tcook@apple.com, at the same time I'm thinking about replacing my U2 with a U3 but only if there is blood pressure monitoring. And if I were to go the U3 routs, I'd get blood oxygen via watch/phone.
So not sure where I'm going with this.

 

[goldmac2006]

9/4 update
spoke to a senior advisor, bottom line message from her was that Apple discontinued that blood oxygen feature (from my original S7, taking SpO2 on the watch itself) and therefor cannot guarantee that any other replacement watch have that original feature. She did mention that I could return this watch for another one.
She also told me that she does not have an escalation point for this issue.
She also acknowledged my dissatisfaction, which is/was made worse as the advisor I talked to 10 days or so ago did not mention that I might not get the original SpO2 feature.
I left it that I have to think about what I will do next.

I'm thinking about writing an email to tcook@apple.com, at the same time I'm thinking about replacing my U2 with a U3 but only if there is blood pressure monitoring. And if I were to go the U3 routs, I'd get blood oxygen via watch/phone.
So not sure where I'm going with this.

you should write an email to Tim Cook on that. Especially since the higher ups of AppleCare did not even clarify it beforehand when you requested express replacement for battery replacement

 

[BugeyeSTI]

9/4 update
spoke to a senior advisor, bottom line message from her was that Apple discontinued that blood oxygen feature (from my original S7, taking SpO2 on the watch itself) and therefor cannot guarantee that any other replacement watch have that original feature. She did mention that I could return this watch for another one.
She also told me that she does not have an escalation point for this issue.
She also acknowledged my dissatisfaction, which is/was made worse as the advisor I talked to 10 days or so ago did not mention that I might not get the original SpO2 feature.
I left it that I have to think about what I will do next.

I'm thinking about writing an email to tcook@apple.com, at the same time I'm thinking about replacing my U2 with a U3 but only if there is blood pressure monitoring. And if I were to go the U3 routs, I'd get blood oxygen via watch/phone.
So not sure where I'm going with this.

Use the email and talk to the executive relations team. Receiving a watch that doesn't have on device testing when you're original watch did directly contradicts what Apple said they would do if the watch was serviced under warranty. If they didn't have any LL/A watches available to replace yours, they should of notified you to see what you wanted to do. I hope you iron this BS out because your experience was the opposite of what mine was. If their policy has changed in the last year, they need to explain why. Sorry you have to go through this crap....

 

[jz0309]

Use the email and talk to the executive relations team. Receiving a watch that doesn't have on device testing when you're original watch did directly contradicts what Apple said they would do if the watch was serviced under warranty. If they didn't have any LL/A watches available to replace yours, they should have notified you to see what you wanted to do. I hope you iron this BS out because your experience was the opposite of what mine was. If their policy has changed in the last year, they need to explain why. Sorry you have to go through this crap....

I know I’ve read articles here about warranty replacement, do you happen to have links to actual Apple documents stating that? I will do some searching on that …

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I know I’ve read articles here about warranty replacement, do you happen to have links to actual Apple documents stating that? I will do some searching on that …

It was in a MacRumors main page article when the ban was first announced. I'll have to take a look to see if I can find it. Last November I sent my S6 in for battery service under AppleCare+ and I received a replacement S6 model ending with LL/A. Unless something has changed, I don't understand why you received a replacement with LW/A..

 

[goldmac2006]

It was in a MacRumors main page article when the ban was first announced. I'll have to take a look to see if I can find it. Last November I sent my S6 in for battery service under AppleCare+ and I received a replacement S6 model ending with LL/A. Unless something has changed, I don't understand why you received a replacement with LW/A..

Thanks for the tip. Is it possible that certain series’s, depending on the color or size, may receive a LL/A replacement stock? The OP has an Apple Watch Series 7 edition silver titanium, while you have a series 6.

I don’t mind if the watch gets SPO2 from the watchOS 11.6+ releases that do it differently (by showing the results only on the iPhone). However, I’m also considering getting AppleCare and doing an express replacement when my watch feels like it’s time for a battery replacement. I’d hold off on upgrading until it starts to malfunction significantly.