Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

cote32mt

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 16, 2011
94
68
Deerfield NH
[doublepost=1546713658][/doublepost]
[doublepost=1546713700][/doublepost]Hey I had the exact same problem cracked top right screen half my screen doesn’t work and I know I didn’t drop it. Did you manage to get it fixed cause the price to fix it is almost as much as getting a new one
It was tossed as a lost cause. I never replaced it, an AW3, because the heart rate monitor never worked well for me during the brief time I had it, so it wasn’t doing what I wanted anyway. I did buy an AW4 late 2018, and the newer HR monitor works great for me. I now also have it in a protective case which shields the vulnerable face curved edges, which isn’t too annoying, plus AppleCare. Good luck. It isn’t nearly as durable like watches of old.
 

klmiller010

macrumors newbie
Feb 27, 2019
1
1
I have the same issue. I went to Apple and they essentially said it will be $280(I don't have apple care) and said since there is a chance it could be impact related(which I told them its not) they will not do it for free. Luckily my screen is still functional, but now I am afraid the water resistance is shot so I have to take it off all the time when I am working with water.

The flip side is I paid with my sapphire reserve and they are reviewing my claim right now. I have seen posts before about amex/chase just giving you credit to buy it again, or they will pay for the repair. fingers crossed! if I do get to buy a new one, I probably will get apple care this time around...

I have a series 3 aluminum GPS only.
what went one about this? Mine has done the same thing now and I want to know what would happen if I took to apple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jagooch

PA09356

macrumors newbie
Mar 4, 2019
1
0
I bought an Apple Watch Series 3 in September of 2018. February 2019 the screen came off. I don't play sports and I've not dropped it once. So, the screen problem has not been fixed even on series 3 models. When I spoke to the rep on the phone he quickly said that it sounded like a swollen battery issue, which I knew nothing about especially in the series 3 models. I have recently read the issues with earlier modes, but not the series 3. When I took it to the nearest Apple Store, the rep there also said it looked like a swollen battery issue. We agreed that they keep it and send it to be fixed. A couple of days later Apple sends me an email that the repair was complete, although mentioned that I had not been contacted therefore the offer to repair had expired. I was a bit confused about that so I called Apple. They confirmed that they had not fixed it and claimed the damage to be accidental. They quoted me $220 something to repair it. I paid about that much when I bought it. Why would I pay near the same for a repair when new that's what it cost me. Interesting that the pictures posted on this site and others look almost, if not exactly, the same as my watch with a detached screen. I didn't take a look at the battery to see if it looked swollen, I don't think I would have been able to tell, because when they described the issue and agreed to repair it I thought, great! They are aware of a problem and are willing to repair it. With as many complaints about screens popping off as there have been, you would think that Apple would do what is right. I plan to call back and argue a free repair. This sounds like a known issue that they have decided to overlook and rather go to court on. Shame on Apple.
 

harriska2

macrumors 68000
Mar 16, 2011
1,918
1,043
Oregon
My series 1 and son’s series 4 both have caseology bumper cases and a screen protector. We also do not use them swimming, gardening, or doing manual labor. Mine is 2 his is a few months old. The caseology cost about $12 and 6 screen protectors are about $5.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jagooch

BSG75

macrumors 6502
Jul 21, 2015
351
235
Tennessee
My wife's Series 3 LTE also had a cracked screen. We took it to the Apple Store and they said they couldn't find any signs of impact (even though my wife said that she must have hit something to cause the crack) and replaced the watch free of charge. I'm sure YMMV from store to store, but I have to say that we have a good one here. Never had any problems with our store when an issue arose with any of our Apple products.

Another example was when I had an issue with my new iPhone XS having calls going directly to voicemail. Tried everything at the store, including a fresh reinstall of the OS and still didn't fix the issue. They gave me a new iPhone and when it started doing the same thing, they stayed with me 30 minutes after closing to help diagnose and fix the issue. They've always gone above and beyond for me and my family.
 

Kevin T

macrumors newbie
Mar 24, 2019
1
1
After 2 months, my Apple Watch 3 has a cracked screen (diagonally across the top right corner), the touch function is gone so I can’t enter my passcode - so it is essentially a brick. I’m certain I didn’t drop it or whack it against anything. Apple won’t repair it under warranty and it would cost me $280 for repair. That’s not going to happen. Has anyone else encountered this problem?

Same thing happened here. I have the Apple 4 series. Had watch for approx. 2 months, woke up, put watch on, when I looked at it while sitting on the couch, I notced the hairline crack in the corner. I do have an aftermarket crystal protector on
IMG_6071.JPG
the screen, but it made no difference. I know I did not drop or bump the watch. Years of owning iPhones and wearing collector watches dating back to the 1930's, I never cracked a face. This watch was a gift from my wife, she had purchased the Apple Care. I just dont is an Apple Care Claim. I think there is a flaw somewhere in the glass or machining of the base. Plus i dont think I should be responsible for the deductible on the repair.

The only thing I cn think may cause this damage, may be I connect my watch to the magnetic charger each night, and the charging process my cause heat, resulting in expansion of the glass or unit and crack.

Im going to Apple store Monday, Ill let yu know what they say!
 
  • Like
Reactions: jagooch

Farrellcollie

macrumors 6502a
Apr 23, 2011
703
364
I know I am hard on watch crystals - I somehow managed to bust them on both timex and victorinox watches before the apple watch came out (I really don't know how - I am a late middle aged lawyer who does not do any more yard work than I have to nor extreme sports nor...). I figure it is only a matter of time so I have apple care +.
 

Ashjudge

macrumors newbie
Apr 22, 2019
1
1
After 2 months, my Apple Watch 3 has a cracked screen (diagonally across the top right corner), the touch function is gone so I can’t enter my passcode - so it is essentially a brick. I’m certain I didn’t drop it or whack it against anything. Apple won’t repair it under warranty and it would cost me $280 for repair. That’s not going to happen. Has anyone else encountered this problem?
[doublepost=1555923279][/doublepost]Same with mine but I had it for nearly 2 years. Im out of warranty they didn’ Believe me as well. I don’t think i want to get another one. I do miss wearing it but once the screen is broken then that’s the end of it. Repair is insanely expensive.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jagooch

jagooch

macrumors 6502a
Jul 17, 2009
790
242
Denver, co
I'm feeling this now. I was watching a Soccer game from the sidelines (read, I'm on the field) and a Soccer ball came right at me and hit my arm wearing my Apple Watch 4. I thought nothing of it as it didn't hit me very hard. After the game, I looked at my watch and saw a round shattering of the screen glass with about 4-5 hairline cracks coming out of it and going all the way across the screen.

I was shocked at the amount of damage, and looked into getting it repaired. I think it's like $300 to replace the screen since I don't have AC. Actually, from reading this thread it sounds like Apple Care would not have covered it anyway.




Wow, just wow.
 

44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,642
42,492
I'm feeling this now. I was watching a Soccer game from the sidelines (read, I'm on the field) and a Soccer ball came right at me and hit my arm wearing my Apple Watch 4. I thought nothing of it as it didn't hit me very hard. After the game, I looked at my watch and saw a round shattering of the screen glass with about 4-5 hairline cracks coming out of it and going all the way across the screen.

I was shocked at the amount of damage, and looked into getting it repaired. I think it's like $300 to replace the screen since I don't have AC. Actually, from reading this thread it sounds like Apple Care would not have covered it anyway.




Wow, just wow.

It’s unfortunate. But it happens, I replied in your other thread, but I would just replace your Apple Watch with a new one, and/or if you can wait the three months until September, it might be worth seeing what Apple has in store for the Series 5.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jagooch

tl01

macrumors 68020
Jun 20, 2010
2,350
649
I'm feeling this now. I was watching a Soccer game from the sidelines (read, I'm on the field) and a Soccer ball came right at me and hit my arm wearing my Apple Watch 4. I thought nothing of it as it didn't hit me very hard. After the game, I looked at my watch and saw a round shattering of the screen glass with about 4-5 hairline cracks coming out of it and going all the way across the screen.

I was shocked at the amount of damage, and looked into getting it repaired. I think it's like $300 to replace the screen since I don't have AC. Actually, from reading this thread it sounds like Apple Care would not have covered it anyway.




Wow, just wow.

Apple Care would have covered it except for the deductible.
 

honglong1976

macrumors 68000
Jul 12, 2008
1,636
1,092
UK
I'm feeling this now. I was watching a Soccer game from the sidelines (read, I'm on the field) and a Soccer ball came right at me and hit my arm wearing my Apple Watch 4. I thought nothing of it as it didn't hit me very hard. After the game, I looked at my watch and saw a round shattering of the screen glass with about 4-5 hairline cracks coming out of it and going all the way across the screen.

I was shocked at the amount of damage, and looked into getting it repaired. I think it's like $300 to replace the screen since I don't have AC. Actually, from reading this thread it sounds like Apple Care would not have covered it anyway.




Wow, just wow.
Were you expecting the ball to hit the watch and then burst due to the strength of the Apple Watch Gorilla Glass? :)
 

Kczaplin

macrumors newbie
Aug 31, 2019
1
1
After 2 months, my Apple Watch 3 has a cracked screen (diagonally across the top right corner), the touch function is gone so I can’t enter my passcode - so it is essentially a brick. I’m certain I didn’t drop it or whack it against anything. Apple won’t repair it under warranty and it would cost me $280 for repair. That’s not going to happen. Has anyone else encountered this problem?
[doublepost=1567290041][/doublepost]After. 5 months from buying I went swimming to the lake. I set my Apple Watch 3 to swimming outdoors. When I came out from the water I couldn’t end the program of swimming. Over time of next 12 hrs the watch’s battery died and it turned into the brick. Apple store told me that there is a linear crack around the whole screen and that I caused it by impact. The repair will be almost for the price of the new watch. I know I didn’t drop my watch or jammed it against anything. Come on Apple! Don’t blame me for your faults! replace the faulty watch!
 
  • Like
Reactions: jagooch

44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,642
42,492
[doublepost=1567290041][/doublepost]After. 5 months from buying I went swimming to the lake. I set my Apple Watch 3 to swimming outdoors. When I came out from the water I couldn’t end the program of swimming. Over time of next 12 hrs the watch’s battery died and it turned into the brick. Apple store told me that there is a linear crack around the whole screen and that I caused it by impact. The repair will be almost for the price of the new watch. I know I didn’t drop my watch or jammed it against anything. Come on Apple! Don’t blame me for your faults! replace the faulty watch!

How can you be so sure that you didn’t cause the crack? You’re claiming that you didn’t ‘drop it or hit it on anything’, but you never noticed this crack on the display _before_ the water intrusion? At what point did you notice the crack before Apple did? {That would be my question.}
 

44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,642
42,492
I wonder how many people paid out for the repair and now this has happened:
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/08/30/apple-watch-series-2-3-repair-program/

You’re going to find out that that ‘crack’ listed in the article has to be very specific, and Apple has to investigate it if it’s actually cracked how they explained it in the article. Just because someone has a crack on the display, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily because of what Apple is describing, it _could_ be from their own doing, but the only one that makes that decision, is Apple itself.
 

Ascen5ion

macrumors newbie
Aug 1, 2018
3
0
I broke mine a week ago.. Just happened to look down and saw a hairline crack on the perimeter of the bezel. I have hit the watch in the past and not a scratch, was shocked when I didn't appear to hit it and it was broken. I was just like oh well guess I'm doing a screen swap. I have swapped several iphone screens. Didn't expect the screen to cost $200 dollars alone... I have bought iphone screens for $30-$40. So then I went to Apple's site and saw that it was $280 to repair a $400 watch.. What the H. Then while researching part replacement options I'm reading of others who have broken their watches without immediately knowing. I would feel a lot better at least knowing when I did this. That's the disturbing part to me. If it broke without me knowing I suspect the watch is not as scratch/break proof as advertised. I'm seeing a class action lawsuit too in CO. So with that info I was like I'm going to see what Apple says. I brought the watch into the local store and they sent it out to their service center. Got a denial email yesterday. Not surprised but definitely disappointed. I have never broken a watch while wearing it in my life (40 yrs old). I bought another Apple watch when I sent the original out for repair. I didn't think Apple would step up. Idk I'm torn, feel like it may be a defect and then again maybe I hit it while walking around my house and didn't feel it? Maybe it's like waking up with a bruise on your leg and not knowing how it happened. It would have been nice to know though!

Still fighting Apple on my watch... I don't care, I'm convinced I didn't break it. I was denied last year due to impact damage jargon.. After that, I took the watch apart to look inside at the battery. Didn't look especially bad, ended up putting the thing in a box until I read about the hairline crack "recall" or whatever you want to call it. Well now that I went ahead and took it apart Apple is telling me the hairline crack won't apply to my case. I told them to look at the photos from last year they had when the watch was still intact... After arguing with a specialist at the store they told me they would submit my watch back to Apple under the swollen battery issue because now that the watch screen was fully off they can tell the battery is swollen.. You don't effing say? This whole round around BS is old. How can so many adults just break their watches without noticing? I call BS, the glass is either prone to expansion and breaking or If I did hit the watch it broke way too effing easy, because I never even felt it!

I wouldn't even be pissed if the replacement screen was $30 bucks like the iPhone... But at 75% the cost of the watch new it's BS.

I've dropped and broken two iPhones in the past.. I owned it because I knew I caused it. This watch is too fragile.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.