Sure, the Apple Watch has amazing build quality, and any version seems to be sturdy enough to withstand plenty of accidents including drops, scratches and dunks in water to name just a few. But the device is not indestructible, and some people have already started putting it through various torture tests to gauge its resistance. In other words, any Apple Watch model is susceptible to accidental damage, and Apple already knows what it will and won’t cover under the standard and extended warranty programs.
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As 9to5Mac reports, Apple will do a visual inspection of the Watch when it’s returned for servicing, at which point it’ll determine whether it’ll cover the costs for repairs or whether you’re going to be on your own, and whether you’ll get Watch replacements or repairs (depending on your AppleCare+ purchase status).
Here’s the kind of accidents that are eligible under warranty:
- Debris under the display glass or pixel anomalies
- Back cover repairs only when no evidence of prying
- Condensation in the heart rate sensor windows
Here’s the kind of damage that’ll bring you added expenditure on repairs:
- A cracked or missing digital crown cap
- Extreme abrasion/puncture holes/damage to buttons or crown
- Chips or cracks in glass exposing internals
- Back cover with evidence of prying or enclosure damage
- Bent or split enclosures
- Missing or remove band release mechanisms
- Cracks in the back cover
Finally, here’s what kind of damage is deemed as ineligible for servicing:
- A disassembled unit or missing parts
- Catastrophic damage (destroyed or in multiple pieces)
- Counterfeit or third-party parts and unauthorized modifications (after market or non-Apple parts)
Of those, “catastrophic damage” might be covered by AppleCare+, although that’s up to Apple to decide.
A few horrifying images showing the potential damage the Watch can receive follow below, with more of them available at the source link.