If your Apple Watch isn’t holding a charge for very long despite showing a full charge, it may be time to consider getting a new battery. But how do you go about replacing an Apple Watch battery, and what will it cost you?
In order to replace an Apple Watch battery, you’ll likely need to mail your device to Apple. You can expect this to cost somewhere between $70 and $100. If you have AppleCare+ and your battery retains less than 80% of its original capacity, however, the replacement will be free.
Let’s take a closer look at the replacement process, how it works, and what it’ll cost. That way, you can decided if changing your Apple Watch battery is the best way to proceed.
Can You Replace the Battery in an Apple Watch?
It’s certainly possible to replace the battery in an Apple Watch, but you will mostly likely need to do it through Apple.
Apple’s devices aren’t known for being customizable, and it’s not an easy process to replace an Apple Watch’s battery yourself. It’s not impossible, but it’s an extremely delicate process that involves carefully removing your Apple Watch’s screen using a thin knife.
For this reason, only the most tech savvy Apple Watch owners should pursue the manual repair option.
For everyone else, Apple has created a service system where you can send your watch to them in the mail, and they can fix it and send it back. This process isn’t free, however, so the costs need to be taken into account.
How Much Does an Apple Watch Battery Replacement Cost?
The exact cost of using Apple’s battery replacement service depends on a number of factors, including the model you have. Thankfully, Apple has created a page on their website where you can get an estimate for how much a battery replacement will cost you.
To use this page, go to Apple’s Watch Service and Repair page and scroll down to the “How much will it cost?” section. Here, you should see a gray box that says “Get an estimate.”
In this box, you can enter the information pertaining to your Apple Watch, including what you would like serviced (either your battery or other damages), what product you would like serviced, and which model you have.
If you don’t know which model of Apple Watch you have, you can find this information by using the Watch app on your iPhone:
- In the app, tap the ‘My Watch‘ tab, then ‘General‘, and then ‘About‘.
- In the About page, you should see a field that says Model with a number next to it.
Once you have your Model number, head over to this Apple support page and find your model number on the page. This will tell you exactly which model your Apple Watch is.
Now you can return to the Watch Service and Repair page and enter your information for a price estimate. This price is typically somewhere between $70 and $100.
However, if you’re signed up for AppleCare+, then your watch replacement might be free. Apple will test your device, and if the battery retains less than 80% of its original capacity, they’ll give you a new one at no cost.
Should You Replace Your Watch Battery or Get a New Watch?
If your Apple Watch is having battery problems, you’re probably considering getting the battery replaced. But before you do so, it’s always a good idea to compare the price of a repair with that of an entirely new watch.
Typically, getting your Apple Watch’s battery replaced by Apple is significantly cheaper than buying a new Apple Watch. New Apple watches generally cost somewhere between $250 and $1,200, depending on which model you want.
That’s a lot of money compared to the average $70 to $100 it costs to have your battery repaired.
However, if you want your battery repaired by Apple, it may take a longer amount of time, since you have to wait for the device to be mailed to Apple, fixed, and then mailed back. And if you were thinking to replace your phone in the near future anyways, it might not make sense to go through the repair process.
Give it a think and see which option works best for you!