AppleCare+ Justified for Once

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People know that I love to hate the Apple Watch. I have loved to hate it since I had an Apple Watch Series 3 where the screen cracked while indoor climbing. For years I had climbed with Suunto without any issues. I replaced the Apple Watch Series 3 with a Series 4 and that watch lasted for four years. I still have it but the battery dies within half a day. It's because I had to charge it twice a day that I switched to an Apple Watch SE.

Why the SE

The Apple Watch SE was selected for one reason. It was the cheapest Apple Watch. i went further. I bought the cheapest model, at the cheaper smaller size, but I did get it with 4g. This adds a little cost but if the phone battery dies, or my old iPhone died, then the watch would still be usable.

Why Apple?

Originally I got an Apple Watch because I was curious about the data it collects. Over time I have found that the Apple watch plays very well with Sports Tracker and other apps. If you explore the fitness apps, whether for running, cycling, hiking, walking and more there is a variety of choice. From Nike Run, to Komoot to Beeline to Strava, Sports Tracker and more, you have plenty of choice.

Low Power Mode

For years I did workouts in the standard mode but when cycling with various groups I noticed that some people were using Apple Watches. It made me curious to see how to make my watch survive my bike rides. In the end my solution was to charge by watch to one hundred percent right before a ride or hike. This worked, to some degree.

When I asked someone how he got the Apple watch battery to last he told me that he puts it in low power mode when working out. This helps the watch save power. If this still isn't enough you can also choose to have "fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings" and you will save additional power. This does result in the device providing fewer metrics than without this additional power saving feature.

Not Used as a Smart Watch

I barely use my Apple Watch as a smart watch so the features that some people can't live without, are not reasons for me to use the watch.

Applecare+ and Battery Replacement

When I had the Series Four watch it lasted for four years before the battery made it unusable. With the SE it seemed okay but I noticed that the battery was at 79 percent so I chose to have it replaced. This was fortuitous because I was within a month of Applecare+ running out. If my search is correct Applecare+ cost 49 CHF. Replacing the battery costs 85 CHF. Replacing the watch where I got it replaced would have cost a little more.

I took it to the shop, removed the straps. It was checked for defects and when it was diagnosed as having a battery worth replacing, it was accepted. I was then without an Apple watch for one and a half days. Yesterday I went up to pick up the new watch. I don't know if the watch is new, or refurbished. Apple usually just exchanges an old watch with a degraded battery with a "new" one. I suspect 'new' means 'refurbished'.

And Finally

Although the battery died before the end of a workout multiple times I associated it to me expecting too much from the cheapest Apple Watch model, rather than the battery being depleted. I found that by putting it in low power mode I was able to finish group hikes and bike rides, just as it was about to die.

I checked the state of the battery on a whim, on Sunday, and that's when I saw the opportunity to have it swapped before Applecare+ ran out. It's on a whim that I was lucky enough to catch an opportunity to get the watch replaced, under warranty, rather than having to pay for it.

In theory the Apple Watch will last for another two years, with ease, and four, if it behaves like the Series 4 watch.