A Disappointing Score for Apple’s Latest Smartwatches
The renowned repair advocacy group iFixit recently published a comprehensive teardown video examining the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4, ultimately awarding both smartwatches a disappointing repairability score of 4 out of 10. As detailed in the iFixit Apple Watch teardown report, both timepieces feature heavily glued displays. Consequently, accessing the internal components for routine maintenance invariably requires the perilous removal of the screen first.
Inside the Apple Watch Ultra 4
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 houses a robust 2.444 Wh battery, marking a slight capacity increase from the 2.313 Wh cell found in its predecessor, the Ultra 3. Despite this upgrade, replacing the battery still necessitates extracting the fragile display. The four prominent screws located on the bottom of the chassis merely release the rear sensor array and grant access to the powerful S11 chip.
Once technicians successfully separate the display, the battery and screen press-connectors inside the Ultra 4 prove relatively straightforward to manipulate. However, the initial screen removal process demands extreme precision to avoid severing the delicate flexible ribbon cables hidden beneath; a single misstep can permanently damage the internal connectivity structure. Due to these precarious procedures, iFixit finalized the Ultra 4 with a 4 out of 10 rating.
Evaluating the Apple Watch Series 12
Transitioning to the standard model, the Apple Watch Series 12 utilizes a 1.461 Wh battery, representing a modest boost over the 1.403 Wh module utilized in the 46mm Series 11. In a welcome engineering shift, Apple integrated stretch-release adhesives and pull tabs, which significantly simplifies the actual battery extraction process.
Unfortunately, the Series 12 still forces repair technicians to pry open a stubbornly glued screen to breach the interior chamber. The iFixit teardown specialists observed that the tolerances surrounding the Series 12 display are noticeably tighter than those on the Ultra 4. Consequently, the dismantling procedure demands significantly more physical force, thereby escalating the immediate risk of shattering the glass panel.
Connector Revisions and Repair Workflows
Furthermore, Apple replaced the delicate ZIF connectors and adhesive tapes utilized in previous generations with simplified press-style connectors. However, because replacing a fractured screen fundamentally requires the total removal of the battery unit, display repairs and battery replacements remain inextricably bound together within the exact same convoluted workflow.
