broken screen

Has anyone had any problems with a experience a broken screen on their apple watch. I dropped my apple sports watch from about a height of 2 feet and the watch face completely cracked. This is the first time I dropped it and I was very surprised how easily it broke. The cost of repair is $229, (almost 60% of the original cost) and I am wondering whether it is really worth it because of all the other teething problems with the watch. Is this something that others are experiencing? Also is the only way to replace it through Apple.


Nadeem

Apple Watch

Posted on Sep 1, 2015 3:01 PM

Reply
12 replies

Jun 16, 2017 4:26 PM in response to nadbev

I have had quite a problem with my screen breaking. I have a fairly calm life and have never dropped the watch ( although I have dropped my iPhone and iPad numerous times over the years with no issue) but the screen broke unexpectdly one day. I didn't realize it was even broken until the screen would not respond to touch. I paid for a replacement watch that I got last Friday and I noticed last night the screen is broken AGAIN. In an upper corner and it is not effecting touch function. This phone is the Nike sport version but sport for me is chasing kids (no none that teeth or even touches it) It goes on my arm in first thing in the morning and off at bed time (over a carpet or even on my bed as was suggested by someone else.
I do not know why the screen is breaking. As I said I have never had a watch screen of any kind break on me in 50 years. I just wanted to reassure you, it can and does happen and not only if it is dropped.

Sep 1, 2015 8:21 PM in response to nadbev

It is amazing how all broken electronics are always dropped from a height of 2 feet. Are there really that many little people dropping things. Of course all inebriated drivers have only had 2 beers. But I digress.


The Watch isn't any more breakable or not than any device that has a glass screen. If you broke any other watch it would either cost you full price to replace or a lot of money for a new crystal. And the only way to do so is through Apple. Only you can decide if it is worth it.

Sep 1, 2015 8:33 PM in response to deggie

deggie wrote:


It is amazing how all broken electronics are always dropped from a height of 2 feet. Are there really that many little people dropping things. Of course all inebriated drivers have only had 2 beers. But I digress.

I think it used to be 18 inches. Maybe people have gotten a bit taller. And all iPhones and iPads are dropped onto carpeted surfaces but crack anyway. At least that's what reading the forums would lead one to believe.

Sep 1, 2015 8:33 PM in response to deggie

The magic behind the two feet is that the only time that I took my watch off was in the morning when it was by my bed side table. It fell from the bedside table with the charger attached.I expect that this is the time of day that most people remove the watch to charge...but I digress.


On what basis are you saying that the watch is no more breakable than any other devise.


I have scratch many items but never had to pay 60% of the price of the watch just to fix the a simple scratch. So I disagree with you. What I object to is that a) the watch seems to be easily scratchable or that I was just very unlucky and that b) APPLE have determined that the only way I can fix it is through them and set the price at a level when it is not based on replacement cost but at a level that extracts maximum profit for them because I have no alternative.

Sep 1, 2015 8:45 PM in response to nadbev

Most beside tables are almost 3 feet tall.


The basis that almost all current electronic devices are using similar glass as there are only so many makers.


If the scratch is fixable go on Google and try to fix it. Looking at the Watch it appears it would be difficult to replace just the screen hence the out-of-warranty replacement price.j


Given your views I would advise you to not repair it and wait for one of the Android watches that will work with an iPhone. Of course if you break it they will want full price to replace it, they don't offer an out-of-warranty repair.

Sep 1, 2015 8:57 PM in response to deggie

Thank for the advice. The bedside is actually 2 1/2 feet so let's split the difference. My experience is that I have dropped my phone 100s of times and only broken my screen once.


I don't mind repairing it myself but it does not seem there is any supply of replaceable screens out there at the moment which means all paths lead back to apple. Anyway lessons learnt. I won't be buying a V1 of an apple device again. I drop my watch once and I get a major scratch. Bad luck or bad design, only time will tell. The watch currently has limited utility and probably a good way to learn that I am not the early adopter I aspire to be.

Sep 1, 2015 9:01 PM in response to nadbev

In your first post you describe that the device fell and completely cracked. Then you post that the charger was still attached, which would increase the weight of the watch when it fell, but then say that all that happened was that it was scratched. Then you make a comparison of replacing an Apple Watch screen, which is a digital screen with Force Touch, to replacing the crystal on a watch. No comparison.


The decision to replace the device is yours. I'm not sure everything you are referring to with the statement, "other teething problems" but there are certainly a number of individuals very satisfied with their devices and are not experiencing any issues. I really find your conspiracy theory regarding the price point for replacement interesting, considering they are replacing the device, not the screen. Maybe the Apple Watch is not for you?


Now looking at your last post, you would void your warranty and post-warranty support on a device you mention is costly by attempting to replace the screen? Apple does not sell parts, for the watch or any other iOS device. Any screens for phones are knockoffs, salvages, or stolen parts. The devices are not user serviceable.

Sep 1, 2015 9:12 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

I did not realize. Why do they need to replace the watch. Can't they just fix the screen. My watch is still working normally, its just the screen is scratched / cracked so much so that unlike a phone the scratched screen is makes it basically non functional. Good point about the force touch. I did not appreciate that. Something to watch out for when they bring out the same force touch features in the next iphone. The cost of screen replacement is going to go up.


Other teething problems I have had .... it frequently takes ages to sync with my iphone and, the force touch is not very responsive, I can't use the watch unless I am within 10 feet of the phone. It reminds me of the very first ipod which would take ages to load songs if at all. Anyway you are probably right, the current version of the iwatch is not for me. I'l wait until its working much better and has greater utility.

Sep 1, 2015 9:25 PM in response to nadbev

nadbev wrote:


I did not realize. Why do they need to replace the watch. Can't they just fix the screen. My watch is still working normally, its just the screen is scratched / cracked so much so that unlike a phone the scratched screen is makes it basically non functional. Good point about the force touch. I did not appreciate that. Something to watch out for when they bring out the same force touch features in the next iphone. The cost of screen replacement is going to go up.


Other teething problems I have had .... it frequently takes ages to sync with my iphone and, the force touch is not very responsive, I can't use the watch unless I am within 10 feet of the phone. It reminds me of the very first ipod which would take ages to load songs if at all. Anyway you are probably right, the current version of the iwatch is not for me. I'l wait until its working much better and has greater utility.

Look at the way the device is put together. Much different than a phone, so replacing the screen is not something easily done. Besides, there is no listing on the service site for replacing the screen.


Regarding the screen replacement cost going up. I would expect that, if you make significant changes to the screen, adding additional electronics, of course the price could change. But since Apple has not announced anything, speculation is prohibited here.


If you were having issues with the device, why did you not take the time to make an appointment at the Genius Bar to have it examined? Once the device is paired, then you have to stay within Bluetooth range for many of the features to work. Optimal Bluetooth range is 25 feet. Given your 10 foot, it is possible there was some type of interference, but since you did not have the device examined, then there is no way of telling.


Given that you were experiencing issues, I'm not sure why you would not have had the device looked at, and if there was a problem, it might have been replaced. However, now that you have cracked the screen, then you would have to pay for repair/replacement. Had you purchased Apple Care Plus for the device, the cracked screen would have only cost you $79.

Sep 3, 2015 11:04 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thank you for your note. I went to the genius bar at apple store and unfortunately it did not turn out to be helpful. They threw out lots of reasons why there could be a problem with the range of my phone but none of them seem to apply to me. I also had to wait over an hour past my appointment time to have an apple watch specialist see me just because there are few experts at the moment. In the end there was not much they could do for me but as you state their answer they reiterated the same point, make sure you buy the Apple Care Plus or die by the consequences. I have just never had an issue with all the other apple devises I have bought so did not think it was a critical part of the purchase. Lesson learnt!

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

broken screen

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.