Both new watches score 4 out of 10, the battery still sits behind a glued screen, and iFixit says Apple may be breaking repair laws in 10 states.
iFixit has taken apart Apple's newest watches, and both the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 scored 4 out of 10 for repairability. The battery, the part most likely to wear out, still sits behind a glued screen that can crack during repair.
Apple estimates $99 for a Series 12 battery service but $599 for other damage, more than a new $399 aluminum model. iFixit says Apple's refusal to sell Watch parts, tools or manuals puts it out of step with right-to-repair laws in 10 US states. For a weak battery, Apple's service is the safest fix.
The part of an Apple Watch most likely to wear out is the battery. And on both of Apple’s newest watches, it still sits under a glued-down screen that can crack if you pry too hard. That’s the core finding of iFixit’s teardown of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, which both earned a repairability score of just 4 out of 10.
Why should you care about a teardown score? Because it decides what happens in two or three years when your watch won’t last a day. A watch that’s easy to fix can get a cheap new battery and keep going. One that isn’t means a trip to Apple, a bill that can top the price of a new watch, or a drawer full of e-waste. iFixit also claims the way Apple handles Watch repairs clashes with laws in 10 US states, which could eventually change your options.
The Series 12 is a little easier to fix than the Series 11. That’s why its score rose by one point.
Two changes helped. First, Apple added stretch-release adhesive with a pull tab under the battery, so it comes out by pulling a tab rather than prying with a tool. Second, Apple dropped the fiddly ZIF connector and tape used for the display on earlier models, replacing them with a simpler press connector under a bracket.
The catch hasn’t moved. There’s still no way to reach the battery without first removing the display, which is glued in place. And because of the new connector, swapping only the screen now also means taking out the battery. iFixit also found the Series 12’s display fits so tightly that prying it off took enough force to worry the technician about breaking it.
The battery itself grew slightly, to 1.461Wh in the 46mm Series 12 from 1.403Wh in the 46mm Series 11.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 earned the same 4 out of 10 as every earlier Ultra model. Its design is basically unchanged.
The four screws on the back look like an easy way in, but they only reach the sensor assembly, not the battery or main components, and removing them can weaken the waterproofing. To reach the battery, iFixit had to heat the display for around 10 minutes and cut through a thick layer of adhesive used to keep water out. It’s easy to slice the display cable during that step, so the team used a metal pick with depth markings.
Once the screen is off, the battery and display connector come out fairly easily. The Ultra 4’s battery is now 2.444Wh, up from 2.313Wh in the Ultra 3.
Since you can’t buy parts, most owners have one route: Apple or an authorized service provider. Apple estimates $99 for battery service on a Series 12 GPS and cellular model. That’s reasonable.
The number to watch is for anything else. Apple estimates $599 to fix other damage, such as a cracked screen. That’s more than the $399 price of a new aluminum Series 12 and close to the $699 of a titanium model. AppleCare+ cuts that risk, but only if you bought it.
If you have an older watch with a fading battery, the $99 service is usually the sensible choice. Opening one yourself risks a cracked display, which would push you into that much bigger bill.
iFixit’s biggest complaint isn’t the glue. It’s access. Apple sells parts, tools and manuals for iPhones, iPads and Macs through its Self Service Repair program, launched in 2022, but none for the Apple Watch.
Ten states now have electronics right-to-repair laws: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Oregon’s, for example, requires makers to offer independent shops and DIY fixers the same parts, tools and documentation they use in-house. iFixit says Apple is out of compliance in all 10 and is preparing evidence for state attorneys general.
Apple didn’t comment on the findings. It has previously said it meets Minnesota’s law and that it was the first smartphone maker to back a federal right-to-repair push. iFixit’s CEO Kyle Wiens has called the Watch a fixable design problem, arguing Apple doesn’t need to redesign anything, only to start selling the parts and tools.
For everyday owners, the practical takeaways are simple:
The Watch isn’t the only weak spot. iFixit gave the new AirPods 5 just 2 out of 10, though that’s up from 0 for the previous model.
Its battery can only be reached by removing the glued display, which risks cracking the screen, and replacing the screen now means removing the battery too.
It’s possible but risky, and Apple sells no Watch parts or tools. Apple’s estimated battery service is $99, which is the safer option.
No. It scored the same 4 out of 10, with an unchanged design that still puts the battery behind the screen.
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