iFixit: Apple Watch is only partially repairable

The Apple Watch is difficult to repair, concludes iFixit after a teardown of the smartwatch. Only the battery is relatively easy to exchange for a new one and those who put in a little more effort could also replace the display. The system-in-a-package is not upgradeable.

IFixit has dissected the Apple Watch A1533. It is a Sport model with a 38mm housing. Removing the display should be done carefully. Once in the housing of the watch, it turns out to contain a 3.8V 0.78Wh lithium-ion battery. The 205mAh battery therefore has a smaller battery capacity than the 300mAh batteries that can be found in the Moto 360 and Samsung Gear Live, the repair service notes. Furthermore, the battery could be replaced relatively easily for a new one. A battery should be replaced after three years on average.

To make the watch waterproof, Apple has chosen to use a so-called o-ring. This means the watch meets the IPX7 standard: the Apple Watch should survive submersion up to 1 meter over a period of half an hour. Apple itself advises not to use the watch underwater, but wearing the smartwatch in the rain should not be a problem.

IFixit further notes that the used S1 system-in-a-package cannot be replaced in their eyes. There were rumors that the S1 sip, which is ‘hidden’ in a layer of plastic, could be upgraded, but that seems almost impossible: the S1 is soldered and the connections would be irreversibly broken if replaced, according to iFixit.