Apple Watch Ultra has exposed screws, but still a difficult repair
The repair mavens at iFixit have torn down an Apple Watch Ultra, and despite access screws, the screen alone makes it a tough repair.
Apple Watch Ultra
The repair company has a video on YouTube explaining the process, and may publish a blog post later detailing the teardown. The screen looks challenging to repair, with the test model breaking even under the professional hands of iFixit.
The Apple Watch Ultra is the company's solution for users in extreme conditions. The new Apple Watch features a rugged, titanium design with a 49mm display, Action Button, dual-band GPS, and more.
This Apple Watch model has exposed screws on the back of the case, marking the first time Apple has done so with its Apple Watch series. But, because of the screen, the watch as a whole remains a difficult repair.
There is a gasket underneath the display that iFixit says behaves like glue. It was destroyed upon removal of the Watch's back plate, which means an official repair by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider may be needed to keep this part intact. During the course of the teardown, a gasket crucial to the device's water resistance was broken.
With that gasket intact, the Apple Watch is compliant with EN13319, which is an internationally recognized standard for dive computers and gauges. It works to a maximum depth of 130 feet or 40 meters. Without it, it has no resistance at all.
Other components, such as the Taptic Engine and battery, require the screen to be removed beforehand.
The teardown also confirmed Apple Watch Ultra specifications. It has a battery of 2.1 watt-hours, which is 60% bigger than the Apple Watch Series 8 at 1.19 watt-hours.
Read on AppleInsider
Apple Watch Ultra
The repair company has a video on YouTube explaining the process, and may publish a blog post later detailing the teardown. The screen looks challenging to repair, with the test model breaking even under the professional hands of iFixit.
The Apple Watch Ultra is the company's solution for users in extreme conditions. The new Apple Watch features a rugged, titanium design with a 49mm display, Action Button, dual-band GPS, and more.
This Apple Watch model has exposed screws on the back of the case, marking the first time Apple has done so with its Apple Watch series. But, because of the screen, the watch as a whole remains a difficult repair.
There is a gasket underneath the display that iFixit says behaves like glue. It was destroyed upon removal of the Watch's back plate, which means an official repair by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider may be needed to keep this part intact. During the course of the teardown, a gasket crucial to the device's water resistance was broken.
With that gasket intact, the Apple Watch is compliant with EN13319, which is an internationally recognized standard for dive computers and gauges. It works to a maximum depth of 130 feet or 40 meters. Without it, it has no resistance at all.
Other components, such as the Taptic Engine and battery, require the screen to be removed beforehand.
The teardown also confirmed Apple Watch Ultra specifications. It has a battery of 2.1 watt-hours, which is 60% bigger than the Apple Watch Series 8 at 1.19 watt-hours.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
firechat and Bridgefy? Honest question
If you are not convinced, imagine a Series 9 that is 1.5Wh and a new Ultra that is 3Wh, then without calculating you know the new Ultra is 100% bigger than the Series 9, and you calculate it that way: (3-1.5)/1.5=100% whereas the Series 9 is (3-1.5)/3=50% smaller than the new Ultra.
Hope that was clear ☺️
I'd take a swap out of a device any day, well at least to an un-opened, un-repaired replacement device than something that has been opened and repaired.
It's a bit like an auto repair. I've never had an auto repair return it to its from the factory state. Never. Bumper replacements never have a perfect fit. Exhaust repairs never get the vehicle back to the from the factory sound. There is always subtle misalignments in bolts and parts. Cleanliness of say a battery replacement is never as good as it is from the original factory state. The glass windshield just doesn't have the same hydrophobic properties.
Does the Apple Watch use a cut gasket, gasket maker, or combination? If Apple uses a gasket maker ("form-a-gasket" style sealant) or a combination cut gasket plus sealant you would fully expect that the gaskets would be ruined or seriously degraded during disassembly regardless of who's doing the repair.
Even if Apple uses cut gaskets I would absolutely replace the gaskets with new ones whenever the device is opened at a gasketed junction regardless of what the old gasket looks like.
if Apple does not have that option, or makes it extremely difficult for 3rd party dive shops then this will discourage many serious divers I think.