iFixit has posted its teardown of the new Apple Watch Series 4.
This year’s iteration of the Apple Watch can be your trainer, doctor, guardian, and now, live-in nurse! How’d Apple fit all these personalities into one watch? Let’s find out why everyone is falling so hard for this watch—with a teardown!
Highlights: ● 40 mm (324 × 394 pixels) and 44 mm (368 × 448 pixels) ● Apple 64-bit dual-core S4 SiP (System in Package) ● 1.113 Wh (291.8 mAh at 3.81 V) power pack, labeled A2059 ● Flex cable now lies sandwiched underneath the battery and above the main board ● S4 is secured only with screws, and pops right out ● Golden donut is likely a streamlined antenna
Repairability Score: 6 out of 10 ● Watch band replacements remain fast and simple, and are even backward-compatible with previous models. ● Screen replacements are difficult but do-able—it's the first thing to come off, and detaches via simple ZIF connectors. ● Battery replacements are pretty straightforward, once you're inside. ● While not proprietary, incredibly tiny tri-point screws are a repair hinderance. And they are all over the place. ● Several component flex cables are mounted directly to the S4 package, requiring skilled microsoldering to replace. ● The resin-encased S4 system makes most board-level repairs impossible.
Take a look at a couple photos below and hit the link for the full teardown!