Apple Watch 12 and Ultra 4 teardown reveals battery and repair upgrades
While the Google Pixel Watch 5 can be repaired surprisingly easily, Apple Watch repairs have been comparatively laborious in the past. iFixit has now taken apart the brand-new Apple Watch Series 12 ($399 on Amazon) and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 to see whether Apple has made any improvements compared to last year's smartwatches.
At least in the case of the Apple Watch Ultra 4, there are no significant repairability upgrades. Both the display and the back are glued in place, with the back additionally secured to the case with four screws. As before, replacing the battery requires removing the display, which is made more difficult than necessary by the stubborn adhesive. At least Apple has fitted a larger battery than last year – its capacity increases from 2.313 Wh to 2.444 Wh, meaning it stores 5.7 percent more energy than its direct predecessor.
Like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 before it, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 receives a repairability score of 4 out of 10 possible points. Surprisingly, the Apple Watch Series 12 catches up, also earning four points on the iFixit repairability scale for the first time. This is due to two specific improvements. First, the adhesive that holds the battery in the case can be removed much more easily than before thanks to a new pull tab.
And second, Apple has redesigned the connector that connects the display to the mainboard, making display replacement somewhat easier. Overall, however, the Apple Watch Series 12 is still not a particularly repair-friendly smartwatch due to its glued-in display. The battery in the smaller 40-millimeter version, which iFixit disassembled, has grown from 1.403 Wh to 1.461 Wh, an increase of 4.1 percent.
Source(s)
Add as a preferred source on Google
No comments for this article
