Repair site iFixit this week continued taking apart the latest Apple devices, this time tearing down the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has no repairability changes. There are copious amounts of glue between the casing and the display for waterproofing, and getting to the battery has to be done through the screen. It's easy to slice through the display cable when attempting to pry the device open.
The Apple Watch Series 12 is also difficult to get into, but it has a pull tab for the adhesive holding the battery in place, which iFixit says is a "modest" repairability improvement. The Series 12 also drops the ZIF connector that made repairs more difficult, which makes for a simpler process. There is no way to access the battery without removing the display, and no way to swap the display without removing the battery.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has a 2.444Wh battery, up from 2.313Wh in the Apple Watch Ultra 3. The 46mm Series 12 has a 1.461Wh battery, up from 1.403Wh for the Series 11.
With the pull tab and the improved cable layout, iFixit gave the Apple Watch Series 12 a repairability score of 4 out of 10, an improvement over the last base model iFixit scored. The Ultra 4 also earned a 4 out of 10, which is the same score iFixit has given to all prior Apple Watch Ultra models.
The site points to Google as proof that a wearable can be repairable. Google's Pixel Watch 5 earned a repairability score of 9 out of 10. The Pixel Watch 5's display and battery can be accessed by removing a few screws and a gasket, with no adhesive to deal with.
iFixit claims Apple is "out of compliance" with the Right to Repair laws in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, New York, Maryland, and Connecticut because it does not sell Apple Watch repair parts or service tools, nor does it offer repair manuals.
iFixit says it is preparing evidence to help attorneys general in states with Right to Repair laws understand that Apple is not complying with the law.
