Your Apple Watch Ultra may be more repairable than previous Apple Watch models, iFixit said Tuesday in a teardown of the new smartwatch. The repair guide website pointed to visible screws on the outside of the $800 wearable as an indication that the Apple Watch Ultra will be more suitable for repairs than the company’s devices.
On the back of the device are four pentalobe screws that secure the back case, which covers what iFixit revealed to be Apple’s “system in a package” — a sealed capsule that contains the sensor and all of the device’s internal guts. watch As these are the only screws on the outside of the device, it means that the sensor can be replaced relatively quickly and easily, but also that the battery can only be accessed by opening the screen on the front of the device.
Opening the screen is difficult and there is a high risk of separating the screen from the glass while doing so, iFixit said in its report. Behind the screen, the battery itself is protected by a metal housing that is secured with four screws, rather than adhesive, which makes replacing the battery much easier.
If you want Apple to repair your Watch Ultra, a battery replacement will cost you about $100. Apple will repair “other damage” to the device (which iFixit suggests would be for sensor replacement) for about $500.
Apple did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.
The Apple Watch Ultra was announced at Apple’s “Far Out” event in September. It’s the latest addition to the Apple Watch line, and it’s the largest and most durable Apple Watch available. Apple designed the watch primarily for people who engage in extreme activities such as mountain climbing, diving, and marathon running. But it’s also a viable option for “anyone who wants a bigger, sturdier Apple Watch with a battery that lasts twice as long as other models,” CNET’s Lexy Savvides said in her Apple Watch Ultra review.