Roger Fingas
Apple has quietly extended free repairs for separated back covers on the first-generation Apple Watch to three years, regardless of warranty coverage.
The change should apply to any first-gen model — Sport, standard, Edition, or Hermes — even if a previous warranty has expired. To arrange a repair, people must contact an Apple store, an authorized service provider, or else Apple's remote support staff.
People who have already paid for a back cover repair may be able to secure a refund by calling Apple Support.
The loose cover issue has been known since 2015. Among affected people, the part often appears to be separating when taking a Watch off its magnetic charger. The root cause is unknown, but one possibility is that Apple's manufacturer didn't use strong or sufficient glue.
The repair extension was earlier reported by MacRumors, and confirmed by AppleInsider sources.
Apple's Series 1 and 2 Watches, launched in late 2016, so far appear to be sturdier. The Series 1 is essentially a first-gen Watch with a faster processor, but the Series 2 includes additional upgrades, such as full waterproofing — making it essential that the device stay sealed.
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
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29 Comments
Too late. I threw it out after warranty expired because the back cover came off again and again. Won't be buying another one either. Waiting to see what Fitbit releases this fall - I was only interested in health and fitness anyway and dreaded the bulk of Apple Watch.
Nice to know that warranty is extended for this issue, but I have never had a problem, didn't even know it was a problem.
Mapple is always dinged by repair-kit sellers for using too much glue. "It's too hard to service!" Most users don't give a rat's buttocks. Glue the snot out of it so it doesn't fall apart. (Series 0 acquired new October 2016. No problems yet. I have a tiny original Mac stand that Watch slips into sideways. I wonder if not pulling the charger straight back helps stay together. [I bought a knockoff band that let Watch fall on concrete. No signs of problems from that save me pitching the crap band and buying a genuine Mapple band for 50 bucks.])
My wife's has fallen off twice. Mine has never fallen off. But at least she wasn't stupid enough to throw it away.