iFixit has torn down the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, giving both watches a 4 out of 10 for repairability while raising bigger questions about Apple’s approach to Watch repairs.
The Series 12 gets at least one welcome change: a battery pull tab. After removing the battery connector bracket, iFixit found a stretch-release adhesive tab that lets the battery come free without having to pry it out with a spudger.
Apple also simplified the display connection, replacing the ZIF connector and tape with a press connector under a bracket. There is a tradeoff, though, as replacing the screen now requires removing and replacing the battery too.
The Series 12 battery is rated at 1.461 Wh, up from 1.403 Wh in the 46 mm Series 11. Those changes helped it earn a 4 out of 10, one point higher than the last base Apple Watch scored by iFixit.
The Ultra 4 brings fewer changes. Its battery grows to 2.444 Wh from 2.313 Wh in the Ultra 3, while the sensor layout now uses more LEDs spread across a wider area. Getting inside still means heating the display for about ten minutes and cutting through the perimeter adhesive. It also scores 4 out of 10, matching the previous three generations.
Both watches use Apple’s new S11 SiP. Reaching either battery still requires opening the display first, and iFixit says it remains easy to accidentally cut the fragile display cable along the way.
For iFixit, the bigger issue is access to repairs. It says 10 US states, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, New York, Maryland and Connecticut, have right-to-repair laws that should require Apple to make Watch parts, tools and documentation available to independent repair shops and DIY customers.
Apple currently sells no Watch repair parts or dedicated service tools through its Self-Service Repair program and does not provide Watch repair manuals. The program does cover iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, displays and some audio products.
iFixit has found some progress elsewhere in Apple’s lineup. It recently gave the AirPods 5 a 2 out of 10, the highest repairability score it has ever given AirPods.
Apple estimates a battery repair at $99 USD and any other service at $599 USD for a Series 12 with GPS and Cellular. As iFixit points out, that second price is higher than the $399 USD starting price of a new aluminum Series 12.
Canada has also made changes around repair rights. Bills C-244 and C-294 received Royal Assent, allowing Canadians to bypass digital locks for repairs.
The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $549 CAD in Canada, while the Ultra 4 starts at $1,099 CAD. We reviewed the Apple Watch Series 12 last week and found the upgrade makes more sense the further back you’re coming from.
iFixit also points to Google’s Pixel Watch as an example of what is possible. The Pixel Watch 5 scored 9 out of 10 thanks to a design using two Torx screws and a gasket. iFixit previously gave Google’s Pixel Watch 4 high marks for its repairable design.
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