Advertisement

Yes, you can replace the Apple Watch battery (through Apple)

If you've considered getting an Apple Watch, you've probably wondered about what happens when that battery eventually runs dry. Surely Apple would have a way to keep your timepiece running for more than a couple of years, right? Yes, it does. The company has confirmed to TechCrunch that the battery "is replaceable" -- by Apple, that is. There's no mention of how much a replacement costs when you're out of warranty (we've reached out to learn more), but a quick look at the fine print on product pages shows that you'll get in-warranty coverage if your battery has lost 50 percent or more of its capacity. That could be an issue if you depend on the Watch often, since the battery life may become unacceptably short before you qualify for a free fix.

The real question, though, may be Apple's support for the Watch in the long run. After all, many conventional watches last for many years if you take care of them properly -- it wouldn't do to splurge on a $10,000 Watch Edition only to realize that it'll last a few years at best. We've asked the Cupertino crew about this as well, but here's hoping that you can at least get battery swaps through Apple's usual 7-year "vintage" cycle. That wouldn't stop other components from feeling outdated (the chances of a processor upgrade aren't high), but it would beat having wristwear that serves as little more than a paperweight.