Owners of Apple Watch Series 2 with swollen batteries or that are not turning on may be eligible for free repairs, according to a new service policy by Apple.
The global wearables market is expected to double from 113 million shipments in 2017 to 222 million shipments in 2022. Apple is expected to be a large part of that growth, and free repairs will likely keep Apple Watch owners within the company's smartwatch ecosystem in the future.
Apple Service Policy Updated For Apple Watch 2
The new Apple service policy, spotted by MacRumors, focuses on Apple Watch Series 2 devices that have expanded batteries or that are not powering on. The policy was included in an internal document that was distributed to Apple Stores and Apple's authorized service providers.
According to the Apple document, eligible devices will receive free repairs to fix these two issues, and they do not need to be under warranty. The free repairs will be offered for three years from the original date of purchase, so owners will have until 2019 to 2020 since the Apple Watch 2 was sold from 2016 to 2017.
The policy was issued in at least the United States, Canada, Europe, and Mexico, MacRumors said. This means that the Apple Watch 2 free repair initiative is likely rolling out worldwide.
Apple Watch 2 Free Repairs: Are You Eligible?
Unfortunately, not all Apple Watch Series 2 models are covered by the new service policy. Only the 42mm Apple Watch 2, including the Sport, Edition, Nike+, and Hermes models, are eligible for free repairs. All other Apple Watch models are not covered.
Apple has not yet officially announced the new policy, though, so Apple Watch 2 users might want to go to their nearest Apple Store now to demand a free repair. It is still good news for owners of the smartwatch who are experiencing the problem, though, as it will keep the Apple Watch 2 on their wrist even longer.
The Apple Watch: For The Health Conscious And Teens
The Apple Watch has been carving out an identity as a health-focused device, with initiatives such as the Apple Heart Study app. The app collects data from its wearer through the heart rate sensor of the Apple Watch, looking for irregular heart rhythms.
The Apple Watch, along with other wearable devices, have also been tapped to detect diabetes early among their owners.
In addition to health conscious users, the Apple Watch is also apparently the top smartwatch choice for teens in the United States. According to a recent Piper Jaffray survey, 20 percent of the respondents own an Apple Watch, and 20 percent have plans to buy one. In comparison, those numbers were 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively, in spring 2017.
