apple watch sudden screen shatter

The only approved repair for Apple Watch is via Apple, and they don't supply parts outside the Apple Approved Service Centers. I think you are stuck with a costly repair.

If you look through the photos in this thread you will see there are two clear patterns of damage,

1. A crack all the way around the edge of the screen, leaving the screen separated but in one piece. This seems to be typical for screens damaged by pressure from behind due to an expanding battery, but it could occur from external impact. The crack starts small and simply grows along the line of least resistance.

2. Screens with multiple cracks, running in several directions across the face, sometimes the cracks are so extensive they look more like they were hit by a truck! This is typical for external impact (including dropping) or crushing from the outside. It would be very unusual for multiple cracks to be caused by a swelling battery because the display and logic board are bonded to the front glass and act as a load spreader, so the force is concentrated around the perimeter and a type #1 crack occurs.

Your explanation sounds reasonable, however My watch screen shattered all over including around the edge and front while sitting on my charger overnight. The watch was working and was scratch and crack free when I put it on my charger. There was no external pressure or knocking bumping or even touching while my watch was on the charger yet it looked like someone smacked it with a hammer the next morning.

Update: I took my watch to the Genius Bar where they told me they would try to get the watch covered under warranty because it’s only 4 months old but that likely Apple would find nothing wrong with it and call it accidental damage.

I got the email saying I would have to pay $229 to fix my screen so I called and eventually got to a senior account person who said they were going to send my broken watch back but that I should email her when my watch was returned to me (still broken) but that I should “have hope”. Seriously—she told me several times to “have hope”. What is that even supposed to mean when Apple is denying any defect and refuses to honor their warranty? I’m waiting to hear a reply from the email I sent saying I now have my broken watch back.

In the meantime, multiple friends have said they have gone back to using their Fitbit watch either because they’ve liked it better or because something has gone wrong with their Apple Watch as well. Samsung smart watches also have several strong supporters in my group of friends. I for sure will be looking into different options and will never buy an Apple Watch again.

Yes, I'm a working engineer well accustomed to looking at electronics which have taken physical damage. Let me give you the paper analogy... try taking a piece of paper between your two hands and make it tear along more than one path to create 3 pieces. It is impossible because as soon as one path starts the line of least resistance is created. Likewise a crack in glass, I can accept there might be occasional spalling along the crack face but only one crack path unless there is external force.

I am not discounting your expertise, just explaining what happened to me. I’m not sure I would believe what happened to my watch if I didn’t experience it first-hand. That’s what makes it so frustrating. Not only am I out an expensive watch, essentially I am being called a liar as well.

Exactly same thing happened to me. I was seating in a meeting and my apple watch suddenly exploded. It sounds ridiculous but it really made a pop noise and the screen shattered. My hand was on the table and I was listening to other people when it happened and my co-workers were supersized too. I took my watch to Apple store and they said since this was a physical damage I should pay for it. I rather to throw it out rather than pay again for it. This could be a serious issue and a safety hazard for people.

I was most certainly not calling you a liar, I make no judgement on what other users say unless I have clear evidence they are wrong, in which case I will cite the documentation. In this case I was simply explaining my background to make my logic clear.

There is is one thing worrying me about your photo, but this is more opinion than fact. The only ways I can imagine for such massive cracking to occur would be external impact trauma, or a very fast rise in force from inside (rather than a slow steady rise expected from a gradually expanding battery). The most likely source of a fast transient pressure peak would be sudden rupture of the battery like the shockwave from a bursting balloon, but this should leave other evidence in the form of discharged content. There is no other contender inside the watch but nobody is reporting split or leaking batteries so this seems rather unlikely.

Well, miracles never cease. The senior Apple contact I was working with just called. After taking a closer look at my particular case including the photo I sent and I assume notes taken for when I sent my watch in the first time for repair, Apple is sending me another box and will fix or replace my watch under warranty.

This happened to me as well. Spontaneously shattered. Doing NOTHING. I've went back and forth with apple repair and senior advisors for two months with this. They want to make me pay for it when I am still under warranty. They say their technician saw damage done. I ask what damage and they can't find anything from the technician specifying it. I have read a lot on the internet of others having this issue. I am not two months into this and just found out when I was given this as a gift it came with Apple Care Plus which means I should have had a new watch sent to me immediately before even sending my watch in for repair. I had them look into my warranty and they said NONE of that. Then I called today and tell them I have it and oh now they can see that in my case details. Weird how all of a sudden it shows but didn't prior. I hope more people see this and know that these watches are made faulty.

Isn't that sooo crazy! My unscratched, perfect screen shattered overnight on the charger. I spoke with someone on the phone first who said to send my 4-month-old watch in and see if it would be covered by warranty. But, I was impatient and took it in to the Apple Store. They checked it out and said the screen had to have been damaged externally--they said the battery wasn't swollen--but they would send it in under warranty just to see. I got an email saying the techs checked my broken watch out and that I would have to pay $229 to fix the screen because it was due to external damage. I called and ended up speaking with a senior advisor who told me to "not lose hope" but that they would send it back to me damaged. Upon receiving the damaged watch, I was supposed to email the senior advisor and let her know I received it. So, I did. At that point, the senior advisor said she did some research and I could send my watch in again and Apple would fix or replace it. I got a new watch back (different serial number). I'm grateful they fixed my watch that was obviously defective. I hope Apple kept my watch and is looking at it with a fine-tooth comb to see if they can figure out what caused mine to break and fix the problem to help everyone who is having this same issue. I count myself lucky! But, I did have a nice fitbit picked out to replace my Apple watch! Haha. If my watch breaks again soon, I really am not going to buy another. Although I still like the bazillion other Apple products our family owns and uses.

I put my watch on the table the next morning the lens was popped open and the glass was cracked. I brought it in and they said it was my fault and since I have AppleCare they charged me $70. I tried to dispute this and 5 people later they said I have to go to the Apple store and take it up with them. Time to contact consumer affairs.

‘I’m very po’d at Apple now.

I’ve now talked to 10 different folks a Apple or should I now call the Crapple? They gave me the red tape run around. Sent me to Apple care the Apple care folks said I have to talk to store about refund and back and Forth so I’m stuck with a $70 charge. it not the money but the not believing my story that really got me ****** off.

Hi,

Just so that it helps us, do you still have a pic of your broken watch that you can share here. It would help us know what basis Apple decide it to be accepted for replacement/repair within warranty (free of cost).

Thanks,

Anamika

I woke up this morning, took my Apple Watch off its charger, put it on and the face cracked and fell off! I was shocked!! It looks like it was run over by a car... which it was not. I found this chat board and can’t believe how many people this is happening to and that Apple not responsive to the situation. I’m going to my local store today to speak with someone about it.

A similar thing happen to my Apple Watch (1 year old, series 3). I was charching it and when I came back the glass was totally shatterd. Looks as if someone hade stepped on it, but I know it was only laying on the kitchen counter. Salesperson on MediaMarkt would’nt take our word for it. What to do??