sadly they don't replace the battery they just send you a brand new white box replacement!
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Series 7 & Cellular battery health hit 79%
- Thread starter ZebraDude
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I have been getting lazy about pulling my 7 and 3 off the charging pad. My 7 was on optimized charging and I wore it down to 11% (I run a bunch of activities on them) and placed it on the charging pad and noticed that the "service recommended" bubble was on when I checked the battery health.
Yep. And no wear and tear, not that my old one had scuffs or scratches but the replacement is like new. I had to charge couple of times a day. The new one still has plenty left after charging once yesterday.
I’m all for a replacement as long as they reuse/recycle most of it and not end up in the landfill.
I think they send all those over to the factory in China where they get “properly” refurbished, just that assembly line to do so is probably too expensive to do in the US (limited usage).
When watches get replaced under non-warranty they have the SpO2 disabled (import ban).
Just my thinking
As far as I’m aware, it’s not documented anywhere online, and given that it’s battery service only for two models of Apple Watch, the amount of people who have encountered it is likely pretty slim.
The change occurred earlier year. You may believe what you’d like.
Wife’s S5 needed battery replacement last year under AC+. Definitely a replacement refurb model as did express replacement and had both until I sent the old one back 😀
well....as of 5:43PM yesterday Apple has notified me that the replacement watch has been approved. My belief is that their is a 99% chance that I will get a Series 7 cellular (what I sent in) as a white box replacement but that 1% if they do not have any Series 7 cellulars in stock a newer one as a replacement. the chance is extremely small but better than winning at the lottery. 
I am a bit shocked that they have not replaced the watch yet. I don't really care having 2 watches still in service. I'm thinking if you only have that one watch to use you would lose days of activity data.
well....as of 5:43PM yesterday Apple has notified me that the replacement watch has been approved. My belief is that their is a 99% chance that I will get a Series 7 cellular (what I sent in) as a white box replacement but that 1% if they do not have any Series 7 cellulars in stock a newer one as a replacement. the chance is extremely small but better than winning at the lottery.
I had AC+ on my series 7 since launch three years ago. Right before the whole blood oxygen fiasco, I had it replace due to some minor issues. I found out any warrany replacement in 2024 will have older watches neutered and you’ll receive a model without blood oxygen. My replacement AW7 has blood oxygen with I believe 99% battery and I’ve now switched to a black Ultra 2 watch.
That was a fear of mine as I need the sensor (even though it’s touted as not a medical device), so I ordered a Ultra 2 online at Costco, as they still have old stock of the Ultra 2 with the sensor activated. I’ll know by Monday if it’s true. The first watch I returned for refund as I didn’t want the band it came with.
well.....I have in hand my replacement Series 7 Cellular ... looks perfect! it is low battery so it is cooking on the rapid charger. It went well.....
Ps...it is updating to 11.1...I have no idea what the software the replacement watch has currently...
Ps...it is updating to 11.1...I have no idea what the software the replacement watch has currently...
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yea, my S7 Ti has been at 82% for 4 or 5 months now, I only use it to sleep track every other night while my U2 is charging. I charge it to 100% and then let it "die", then charge to 100%, been doing this for at least 6 months now, doesn't seem to make a difference
.my 3 yr AC+ is up beginning of Dec, so will go month-to-month ti the day it is at 79%
Exactly what I am doing. I do wear it every 3 or 4 days though as I like a break from my U2 occasionally. Always run it down to zero before I charge and leave in the coldest room lol.yea, my S7 Ti has been at 82% for 4 or 5 months now, I only use it to sleep track every other night while my U2 is charging. I charge it to 100% and then let it "die", then charge to 100%, been doing this for at least 6 months now, doesn't seem to make a difference
my 3 yr AC+ is up beginning of Dec, so will go month-to-month ti the day it is at 79%
Thanks for confirming re SpO2, that is what you should get under AC+, there are a couple other threads where folks make different statements.