back to article Apple Watch Series 6 isn't a step back for repairability but in its own way that's a leap forward

iFixit, terror of the tri-point, has pulled apart Apple's latest wrist job and found that the friend of the well-heeled fitness fanatic has retained the repairability of its predecessor. The Watch Series 6 made its debut at an Apple event last week free of the usual fanboi whooping but heavy on the hyperbole. Aimed squarely …

  1. Lord Elpuss Silver badge

    6/10 - nice job Apple. Although that said; the number of people who will try to repair this themselves can probably be counted on the fingers of Cap'n Hook's bad hand - so this is really intended for the smaller repair shops. And I bet the price of the battery/screen etc will also be sky high, at least originals...

  2. Ian Joyner Bronze badge

    Hyperbole?

    "usual fanboi whooping but heavy on the hyperbole"

    That's patronising hyperbole on the part of Register.

  3. Ian Joyner Bronze badge

    Watch repairs?

    Cast your mind back to when watches were driven by tiny cogs and springs. Were they very repairable?

    No, you had to take them to a specialist who had a tool to unscrew the back, and then fiddle with the insides.

    Anyone else attempting that would end in disaster.

    1. Falmari Silver badge

      Re: Watch repairs?

      Yes they were very repairable every part could be removed and replaced.

      Just because you need specialist knowledge/skills and the right tools does not mean it is not very repairable. The problem with modern equipment is that it can't be broken down to repair it as is the case of the Apple Watch.

      BTW my old man was not a specialist but he did repair a Seiko watch when the spring broke he replaced it also repaired a couple of clocks in his time. But though it was not his trade he did restore Music boxes those large cylinder type and smaller as a hobby so I suppose he had the skills and tools.

      1. Ian Joyner Bronze badge

        Re: Watch repairs?

        "Yes they were very repairable every part could be removed and replaced"

        You have a point to an extent. But electronic components are microscopic and soldered for more reliability. Your counterexamples don't disprove the fact that most watches weren't at all user serviceable.

        1. Falmari Silver badge

          Re: Watch repairs?

          "Your counterexamples don't disprove the fact that most watches weren't at all user serviceable."

          I was not trying to disprove that fact. I said watches were very repairable which they are. Just because most users would not be able to service them does not really affect their repairability.

          The reason the Apple watch is not that repairable is that like a lot of modern equipment it cannot be broken down to be repaired even by a specialist. It is not made to be repairable.

          1. Ian Joyner Bronze badge

            Re: Watch repairs?

            "It is not made to be repairable."

            The suggestion that it is a deliberate dark tactic is wrong. It really is the only way this stuff can be built. Thus it is by nature, not by some deception.

            1. Falmari Silver badge

              Re: Watch repairs?

              "The suggestion that it is a deliberate dark tactic is wrong."

              Stop trying to put words in my mouth. All I said was "It is not made to be repairable" that's it, which is something you seem to agree with "It really is the only way this stuff can be built." Seems we both agree it is not made to be reparable.

              1. Ian Joyner Bronze badge

                Re: Watch repairs?

                "Stop trying to put words in my mouth" I didn't say you'd said that, but others would use the same words to imply just that. "Seems we both agree it is not made to be reparable." So I'm glad we seem to agree.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Force Touch gone

    Although they've removed the hardware for Force Touch on the new watch, they've also disabled it on all the previous watches too. Just noticed when I updated my series 4 watch to WatchOS7 that it's gone. Previously the easiest way to dismiss all notification was to do a hard press on the screen, no more.

    Bloody irksome, but I shouldn't really be surprised...

    1. Lord Elpuss Silver badge

      Re: Force Touch gone

      My series 5 still has it?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Force Touch gone

        To clear all notifications?

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