iFixit says Apple is “out of compliance” with Right to Repair laws in 10 US states. Those laws oblige a manufacturer to make repair parts, tools and documentation available. Apple does not sell Apple Watch repair parts or tools, and it does not publish repair manuals for the line. iFixit says it is preparing evidence for state attorneys general in states with Right to Repair laws.
The 10 states iFixit names are:
- Washington
- Oregon
- California
- Nevada
- Colorado
- Minnesota
- Texas
- New York
- Maryland
- Connecticut
The claim comes out of iFixit’s teardowns of the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Both scored 4 out of 10 for repairability. That score only describes how awkward a repair is. The compliance claim is about whether Apple is meeting an obligation to supply the parts, tools and manuals those laws require.
Apple Watch Series 12 Repairability: What Actually Changed
The Series 12 does post two small gains over the previous base model iFixit scored. Apple added a pull tab for the battery adhesive, which iFixit treats as a modest step rather than a fix. The watch also drops the ZIF connector that made earlier repairs harder.
The structural problems are untouched. There is still no way to reach the battery without removing the display. There is still no way to swap the display without taking the battery out first.
Ultra 4 Repairability Did Not Move At All
iFixit found no repairability changes on the Ultra 4 compared with the Ultra 3. Heavy adhesive still seals it for water resistance. The battery is reachable only through the screen. The display cable is easy to slice while prying the watch open, which turns one repair into two.
Both models did gain a little battery capacity this generation:
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: 2.444Wh, up from 2.313Wh on the Ultra 3
- Apple Watch Series 12 (46mm): 1.461Wh, up from 1.403Wh on the Series 11
The Pixel Watch 5 Comparison Is The Awkward Part
iFixit’s own benchmark here is a competitor. The Pixel Watch 5 earned a provisional 9 out of 10 from the same team. Its display and battery come out after a few screws and a gasket, with no adhesive to heat and peel back.
For a buyer, the gap shows up as a bill. Replacing a worn-out Apple Watch battery means going back to Apple, because Apple sells no parts or tools and publishes no manual. That is a repair path Apple controls end to end, on a device plenty of people wear every day for years.
