iFixit has completed teardowns of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, assessing internal hardware revisions and real world repairability. While the Series 12 introduces stretch release adhesive for simpler battery extraction, both devices still require technicians to pry open the glued front display to access internal parts. Both smartwatches ultimately earned a low score of 4 out of 10 on the repairability index.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 maintains an internal structure nearly identical to its predecessor. Replacing the 2.444 Wh battery requires removing the glued display first. Technicians can remove 4 screws on the ceramic back cover, but this rear opening only grants access to the biometric sensors and the S11 processor. Because battery replacement cannot occur through the rear opening, repair technicians face a high risk of tearing fragile ribbon cables located directly beneath the screen. This persistent service barrier resulted in a repair score of 4 out of 10, matching the rating of the previous generation.
Apple introduced minor mechanical updates inside the Apple Watch Series 12. The 1.461 Wh battery now features stretch release adhesive and a dedicated pull tab to make extraction easier once inside the casing. Apple also replaced the older ZIF display connector and retention bracket tape with a direct press fit connection. Despite these internal improvements, opening the device remains difficult. The physical gaps around the display casing are narrower than before, demanding greater physical force during opening and raising the risk of cracking the OLED panel. These entry hurdles resulted in a 4 out of 10 repair score, which represents a 1 point increase over the previous model.
