Apple will process some Apple Watch battery repairs for up to 3 years

The latest version of the Apple Watch may soon be making its debut, but the first generation of the wearable is giving some of its wearers some problems. As per an email sent to Apple Authorized Service Providers, obtained by 9to5Mac, Apple has recognized that some of its earliest Apple Watches have been affected by swollen batteries, and will provide these owners with an additional two years of service that extend beyond the one-year limited warranty. Apparently, the lithium-ion battery packs that power the Apple Watch can sometimes swell and expand when they’re punctured, overcharged, or overheated, or when they sustain other damage. This is, in fact, the same issue that plagued the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7, but thanks to Apple’s careful testing and manufacturing processes, your Apple Watch won’t spontaneously combust — it’ll just become horribly disfigured. As such, Apple is taking responsibility for this problem, and will process repairs as they relate to swollen batteries beyond the one-year warranty period, up to three years. While it’s unclear just how many Apple Watch customers are affected by the issue, there are quite a few reports online across various forums like Reddit and Apple’s own support forums. So how can you tell if your battery is swelling? Affected customers say that display displacement or cracking are generally good indicators of an underlying battery problem. That said, Apple has yet to make any sort of official announcement surrounding the Apple Watch repair extension, which seems to suggest that there aren’t that many people ultimately impacted. But if you are one of the unlucky users whose wearable has been growing larger, feel free to take it over to Apple — you now have up to three years beyond your original purchase date to get that problem taken care of. Withings has announced two new colors for its ScanWatch 2, alongside a major software upgrade in the form of HealthSense 4. The hybrid smartwatch, which launched about two years ago, has been well-regarded for blending traditional watch design with advanced health features, but this update takes things a step further. What’s happened? Last month, Google announced the new Pixel Watch 4 alongside its new Pixel 10 family featuring the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The phones took center stage at the Jimmy Fallon-hosted press event in New York, particularly thanks to the new MagSafe-like Pixelsnap magnetic wireless charging feature and a 100x zoom feature designed to challenge the best smartphone cameras from Samsung and Oppo. In just over a month, Apple will introduce the world to a fresh portfolio of iPhones. Rumors have focused on a camera-centric design overhaul for the “Pro” flagships and a whole new ultra-slim sibling that will adopt the “Air” branding. It sounds like this year’s Apple Watch may not be a showstopper of the Fall launch event, but its successor might turn out to be one that I’ve been waiting for ages. According to supply chain outlet DigiTimes, the purported Apple Watch Series 12 set to arrive in 2026 could be a massive overhaul, both inside and outside. “The high-end Apple Watch model launching in 2026 is expected to undergo substantial upgrades and redesigns centered around enhanced sensing capabilities,” says the report.