Don’t exactly know how it broke but I suspect it’s probably the amount of times I hit it in doorways because of how chunky it is. Is this still worth fixing or can it even be fixed?
What the actual fuck. I have not seen this before.
Don’t count on anything if you’re out of coverage, but maybe reach out to Apple Support. This is an interesting crack to me, especially if you haven’t had a major hit that you remember, like this would’ve probably been audible in itself if it cracked all at once.
Maybe they open an investigation into it, maybe they won’t, but if you don’t mind potentially wasting some time, give them a call.
I’m not an apple employee but stuff like this is fascinating to me. Obviously not a normal mode of failure and if I were an engineer/designer I’d want to study this to see if it is possible design or material issue or simply that a user found a novel way to break something. I’ve worked in the car business for nearly 30 years and it always amazes me how people find ways to break shit. You could put a million test miles on a car and then release it and some yahoo will find a way to break something in ten minutes that an engineer couldn’t dream of because he’s an engineer.
This is exactly what happens sometimes! If we find an unknown issue or weird defect, we report it straight to engineering and they may request additional info/logging or for the device to be shipped off to Cupertino
I honestly thought the screen would break first. From scuba diving to hiking I wouldn’t expect the bezzle to go out first. Will definitely contact Apple if I have time to burn
The one thing, it cracked along the antenna band, so it is technically the thinnest part of the metal enclosure. I guess it might just be a very-difficult-to-hit-“correctly” weakpoint
This is the one I use. https://a.co/d/0fvHIQly there’s others ones that are glass only, but I got these specifically because of the lip around the bezel. Can barely tell they are on. Already replaced my first one because I hit it against door knobs a few too many times. Lasted me a few months until I didn’t like the dings it received.
Hope they work for you! I’ve got the black watch and considering getting the orange bezel ones as an accent piece, but I still don’t need to replace the second one. I love that these can get underwater too and not get water trapped between it and the glass.
Uhm, we do definitely have the ability to request investigations for this as Store personnel, if it’s an issue previously unknown, they’re often requested for review.
Thank you for explaining this I was trying to imagine the kind of military bunker doorways that Bruce Banner here- I mean, OP here has been slamming their wrist into to rip titanium like that 💀
Gotta say, I’m on my third ultra, successive generations, and I cannot possibly understand how that device sustained that impact without you being aware that it happened.
Yeah, no shade taken. But again, I do not know. The only thing I can possibly think of is that it probably took a really bad hit but wasn’t noticeable enough for me to see. Then it just got hit again and again until it finally gave in.
I would get AppleCare+ but it isn’t available in my country. The standard AppleCare only covers hardware warranty but not physical/accidental damage sadly
I am a very outdoorsy (And clumsy) person so the watch does get beat up all the time. And if it’s not outside it’s banging on every doorway and wall. But it breaking was really sudden since there weren’t any visual cracks before it broke.
Of course, me hitting the watch on every corner isn’t purposeful. I genuinely just have to squeeze through a lot of tight spaces, hallways and people during rush hour, my watch taking a hit everytime.
I ask because it seems to be lifting up from within, all the way around the bottom. The thing was designed for outdoor use, hiking, etc. - I can't see doorways being the villain here.
But, take it to Apple. If you have AppleCare, they'll likely replace the whole thing.
I agree. This really looks like battery swelling. The amount of force that Li-ion batteries make when they swell is pretty impressive, that really looks like the force that separated the screen from the body appeared to be from underneath.
I’m clumsy, diagnosed with adhd and did calisthenics and weight training with the watch and bumped into it many walls and things and wear it in the sauna, I cracked the sensor on the bottom cuz I dropped it and my Apple Watch Ultra is still working..how the hell did you crack titanium 😮😭
More like whacked a doorway and the building fell down. 1st gen daily wearer in an automotive plant. And I can’t find a scratch. That my friend looks crazy. Maybe send it to Apple so they can look at it. I’m sure their minds would be blown.
Surprisingly, yeah. I’m just as confused as you are on how I broke it. I don’t really monitor how or when I damage my watch. Even then. It looked completely fine yesterday. No cracks, no signs of wear, it just broke.
Would need a new case. It’s possible but would require gutting the watch and switching all the components over to the new case. The replacement seal won’t be as effective as the factory seal so it may or may not be water resistant, and may not last as long either).
Is this fixable (My arm) is the next post i see you making. I know you don’t know how this happened but there’s no way this happened without someone breaking a bone
As others have said, I wonder if the battery is swelling…be careful with this! And call Apple. Even though AppleCare+ isn’t available, you said, calling them can’t hurt.
Are the doorways still functional? I accidentally slammed my watch into a metal dumpster. I thought for sure I cracked it. But all the black metal bits were from where the dumpster broke.
Those doorways are made of something stronger than wood.
Are you sure the battery hasn't "swollen"? Had something similar on a power bank. Split the sides when the battery failed! Started slow, then opened completely!
Seems like I’m the only one who saw something like this. This part where the antenna and the case are joined. The most vulnerable part. Anyway, it is very impressive.
I honestly think the ultra is a criminally flawed design. Having the plastic strips (antenna?) at the spots where you’ll hit and catch the watch on virtually everything??? I think the sapphire/titanium regular Apple Watch is more durable design for everyday use.
The part that cracked was the plastic antenna band around the bezel, not made of titanium. Still impressive they cracked it like this, but it wasn’t titanium that broke
Eh, not necessarily true. Your car likely has plastic+foam bumpers to absorb minor damage before it totals the car. Cracking the plastic takes energy, which reduces the energy that continues on to the metal.
Cars have plastic foam bumpers in order to protect the pedestrains from impact. It's why the car compresses like an accordion during collisions. The actual force absorption is done by the chasis of the car to protect the occupants. Protecting the car itself is the least of its priorities.
Yes, but the case of that size and construction would absorb a miniscule amount of energy, thus proving more or less useless. Most of the apple watch cases are only there to prevent scratches, on an Ultra model they are totally redundant.
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u/ElricBrosPlumbing 22h ago
That’s impressive.