Following a similar situation with first-generation units, Apple has amended its service policy for 42mm variants of the Apple Watch Series 2 which either fail to power on or have a swollen battery.
Apple is certainly no stranger when it comes to battery-related issues concerning its products, ranging from battery shortages impacting the company’s ability to repair older MacBooks to an iPhone battery overheating and smoking in an Apple Store, forcing its evacuation. The Cupertino giant has also come under fire after it became apparent that it was slowing down older iPhone models to deliver battery life consistency, prompting an apology and discounted battery replacements for eligible iPhones.
Now, the Apple Watch Series 2 is under the microscope, specifically 42mm models, after the firm amended its service policy, which said:
Owners of affected eligible devices can gain access to free servicing by visiting the Contact Apple Support page and clicking through the options for „Apple Watch“ > „Battery, Power, and Charging“ > „Bring in for Repair“ in order to book an appointment for an assessment. At present, it is believed that the change to the service policy has been published in Canada, Europe, Mexico, and the US and may likely have been issued worldwide but your mileage may vary.
Of course, it’s not the first time that the Apple Watch has suffered from swollen batteries after reports last year surfaced that some first-gen watches were afflicted by the same issue, prompting the company to offer an extended service coverage period for affected units.
Source: MacRumors
