Don’t open your Apple Watch Ultra

by · September 24, 2022

The Apple Watch Extremely has simply began arriving in prospects’ arms, and in contrast to earlier Apple Watches, it has 4 uncovered screw heads on the underside of the gadget. I like looking inside my tech, whether or not to add a thermal pad to an M2 MacBook Air to enhance efficiency or simply to see what’s inside making the tech work. The second I noticed the screws on the underside of the Apple Watch Extremely, I knew I wished to take a peek inside. However I most likely shouldn’t have …

The underside of the Apple Watch has 4 P5 pentalobe screws. These are the identical form of screws that maintain on the underside of MacBook, and whereas they aren’t as frequent as a Philips or flathead screwdriver, pentalobe screwdrivers aren’t unusual both. After I took out these 4 screws, the primary complication arose – there’s a very tiny o-ring round every screw. These are, little doubt, a part of the acute waterproof rankings of Apple’s high-end good watch. As I went to screw again in these preliminary 4 screws, it proved almost inconceivable to tighten them with out the o-ring partially slipping out of its place.

Nonetheless, I carried on, effectively conscious at this level that among the waterproofing of the watch may very well be compromised. With these screws out, the one solution to proceed was utilizing a spudger and skinny shims to separate the ceramic again of the watch from the titanium casing. It was effectively sealed, and the second it pulled away that skinny waterproofing was destroyed. As well as, there are two skinny ribbon cables connecting the again of the watch, and all of its well being sensors, to the battery, display, processor, and physique of the watch. I needed to be cautious whereas separating the 2 to keep away from damaging the cables.

Taking off the again panel didn’t reveal an excessive amount of of the internals. There was a big black part with an Apple brand, however the two buttons used to launch the Apple Watch bands got here out, and three of the 4 springs disappeared into the abyss of my carpet.

With the again panel of the watch eliminated, there wasn’t any form of fast error from the watch, but it surely, understandably, couldn’t connect with my telephone. There have been three extra screws – this time tri-wing – and small metallic plates holding down that black part, however as soon as I eliminated these and commenced to elevate it, it grew to become clear that it was a bit too huge of a job. There appeared to be a number of ribbon cables linked to the opposite aspect of it, and from the again aspect of the watch, there didn’t appear to be a great way to disconnect them. Attending to these most likely entails eradicating the show by softening the adhesive after which utilizing a gap decide to separate it. That’s how you might entry the internals on earlier Apple Watches, however the seam of the show on the Extremely didn’t appear to have an effective way to open it that I used to be assured I may do with out cracking the show. The show of the Apple Watch Extremely is sapphire, which, whereas extra scratch resistant, is probably extra liable to cracking. That’s most likely a part of the explanation Apple prolonged the metallic physique of the watch up across the flat sides of the show.

At that time, I put every little thing again collectively in addition to I may. It proved somewhat troublesome to reattach the 2 ribbon cables linked to the underside of the gadget. The buttons to take away the watch band, now missing some minuscule springs, rattle with the watch’s haptics. And, the little rubber o-rings across the screw stick out a bit. With the o-rings misplaced and the adhesive seal damaged, the waterproofing of the watch is actually nowhere close to its manufacturing unit requirements. I actually wouldn’t take it scuba diving at this level.

Little question, within the coming days we’ll see a extra full teardown of the watch from the individuals of iFixit. They’ll actually enterprise farther into the Apple Watch Extremely than I did. I’m certain somebody extra expert than I may do a greater job disassembling and reassembling the watch with out as a lot harm to the waterproofing, however alas. I would definitely suggest ready for his or her information to feed your curiosity, somewhat than taking aside your personal watch, as in any other case you might be left with a non-waterproof (or, even worse, a damaged) model of Apple’s most sturdy good watch but.

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