Apple Watch Ultra repairs could possibly be ultra-expensive

On Wednesday Apple launched the Apple Watch Ultra, a $799 wearable meant for individuals partaking in excessive actions like climbing mountains, operating ultra-marathons, or diving. But as MacRumors points out, breaking its display, button, sensors, or different numerous components whereas doing any of those actions could possibly be very costly: repairs for the watch will value $499 if you happen to don’t have AppleCare Plus (we’ll get to that in a minute), in line with an estimate tool on Apple’s website. That’s considerably greater than the $299 restore for an entry-level Series 8.

Getting the battery changed on an Ultra can even value greater than it will for Apple’s much less excessive watches, coming in at $99 as an alternative of $79. That does make some sense; the Ultra possible has a a lot larger battery than the Series 8, on condition that Apple estimates it’ll final twice as lengthy.

While I do get that it’s all the time enjoyable to poke enjoyable at Apple’s typically out-there pricing — I nonetheless typically have a giggle on the $19 sprucing fabric — I do considerably perceive why the Ultra’s repairs will value a lot. Apple Watches are normal tiny and glued collectively, and neither of these components make for straightforward repairs. That extra or leaves leaves Apple with two choices if you ship it your damaged watch; it will possibly simply recycle it and ship you a refurbished one, or it will possibly rent people with severe expertise to truly restore it. Neither of these choices are precisely low-cost.

Fair or not, the Ultra’s excessive restore value isn’t distinctive. Apple estimates you’d must pay the identical $499 to get a Titanium Series 7 Edition repaired, which tracks on condition that the Ultra is constructed from the identical materials. (A footnote does say that delivery is free for Apple Watch Editions, the place it’s a must to pay for it in any other case. Apple didn’t instantly reply to The Verge’s request for touch upon whether or not it’d cowl delivery for the Ultra too.) Those aren’t even the most costly repairs although; if you happen to break your ceramic Series 5, you could possibly be out $800 if you’d like it fastened with out AppleCare Plus.

Speaking of AppleCare, although, that’s actually the answer right here. Apple’s safety plan for the Ultra is $100 up entrance (or $4.99 a month), and that’ll knock repairs all the way down to a way more manageable $79. If you get your Ultra repaired even as soon as — and let’s face it, if you happen to’re one of many “outdoor adventurers” Apple’s marketing the watch to, you’ll most likely must in some unspecified time in the future — you’ll come out method forward with AppleCare. Plus, Apple simply made it so the coverage covers limitless repairs as an alternative of simply two a 12 months, which is a boon for individuals who’ll be pushing themselves and their gear to its limits.