Last month we showed you what exactly Apple would cover under warranty for Apple Watch customers and now images of the replacement box for the device have emerged. As shown in the images above, Apple does not want Apple Watch straps shipped during the warranty process and requires only the device itself.
The images, posted to Twitter by Max Weisel, show the Apple Watch in a nice white box with Watch branding. It’s essentially a smaller version of the box that the Apple Watch comes in at the time of purchase.
Apple has said that for issues such as debris under the display, condensation in the heart rate sensor windows, and back cover repairs, it will give you a replacement unit for free, assuming you are still in complimentary one year of hardware repair coverage window. More details on what is and isn’t covered by warranty are available here. Apple has also warned that you should expect discoloration and deformation of Apple Watch bands over time, which could relate to the fact that it does not want users to ship bands with faulty Apple Watch units during the exchange process.
The box for replacement straps is similar to that of an Apple Watch Sport. The images below are of a replacement black sport band for a stainless steel Apple Watch. Thanks Kyle!
A video unboxing of the Apple Watch replacement box can be seen below:
https://twitter.com/mxweas/status/595713217344712704/photo/1
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I wonder how this applies to Apple care+. If I’m paying a $70 deductible, I’d expect both the watch and straps to be replaced (if the strap is deformed or discolored).
I don’t think they replace bands for disfigurement, or discoloration. Probably because thats what most watch bands would look like after extended use.
I get that with the standard warranty, but if I crack my watch or destroy in any way that requires a deductible, I’d just destroy the band to get a new pair of those as well.
A replacement?????? I’m still waiting for my watch that I ordered at the very minute the ordering went live. I got my confirmation email at 3:07 am April 10 Eastern time and it said it delivers May 13-May 27. I ordered a 42mm Space Gray Aluminum with a Black Sport Band. Still waiting.
Shouldn’t be much longer for you. I ordered at 3:06 and it was delivered today. Unfortunately I’m away at a conference so now I have to wait till Friday to actually use it :-( You’ll probably get it before I do.
Shareef, was yours the same exact model? Cause that gives me hope. Then again, mine still hasn’t updated that it’s even preparing to ship. I had the exact same model as Nick and the exact same time. East coast too.
Did you see your order status change or did it go straight to “shipped?”
Thanks
Yep, 42km SG, though going to Chicago. I was charged on Saturday at 12p and updated to preparing to ship an hour later at 1pm. I didn’t get tracking info until Sunday, and that tracking info wasn’t updated till Monday morning with a delivery of Tuesday.
Awesome news, my 42mm SG watch was changed to “Preparing to Ship” overnight. It’s 10:44am here and it stills say that, hasn’t yet shipped. I’m hoping it ships out today to be here in Florida at least by Friday. Assuming it ships from Kentucky, which is the big shipping Hub.
When did it say you would get it originally? Mine shows May27-June 11
@Scott I believe Shreef and myself both had an “arrival” date of May 13 – 27th. This was my original, it’s never changed. However, overnight last night, it changed from processing to “preparing to ship” and they charged my credit card. So I expect that it will ship out either sometime today or tomorrow. As to how it’s shipped, I have no clue.
Most likely, it will be shipped from Kentucky, which is the massive shipping hub. It could be UPS, FedEx, DHL and even USPS. That’s according to the Apple Care Rep I spoke with last night (I contacted them after I heard this story, I was little peeved). They ship with whomever will get it to your door the fastest.
My fingers are crossed for a Friday delivery, as I hate waiting over weekends. Here’s hoping O.o
Mine was actually shipped from Ontario California. If it’s still showing preparing, then I’d expect you to get a label by the afternoon or early evening tomorrow and have it go out for delivery on Friday.
Just an update, but mine will be here in about 2 hours. (Right now, it’s May 7, 2015 – 1:27pm EST)
What was the original date on yours? Mine is 5/29 – 6/11. There may be hope for me yet.
I got confirmation for the exact same model at 3:04 am and mine just arrived today. Yours should be shipping soon enough.
Nick, that’s the exact same thing as me, I mean exact. Same time, same watch, same size and the same lame shipping time. I’ve been checking every day, multiple times a day for it to even “prepare to ship” with no luck.
I’m so freaking pissed at this point. Because we choose the most popular version, we have to sit and wait. Did they not do custom testing to see what would be the most popular and make the most of that model???
AGGG! This sucks!
I’m with you. I ordered my SG with black band just a few minutes after midnight and I’m also anxiously waiting for my order status to change from “Processing Items” to, well, anything besides that.
The good news is that the estimated shipping time of May 13 is next Wednesday so the clock officially starts that day.
The wait is painful but we’ll live.
They send it in a box? Really? That’s the next big thing, right?
This is how they all should have shipped, alongside a separate pack with your chosen band in it. They are treating them as separate entities anyway.
Idiotic to blow out the number of SKUs and be unable to sell someone a watch with a Milanese loop while there’s leather loop watch and a Milanese band sitting in the store room.
You can still BUY them together, they should just come in separate boxes.
Putting on the band is tricky. Maybe they were concerned about damage. Or they felt the unboxing without the band on would not have been the same drumroll experience. Meh…
My faith is rapidly being restored in Apple after the initial Apple Watch which I received had an inoperative touch screen! A quality service and product appear to have resumed! I think my initial disappointment was a bit of an over reaction … it is just a watch! #realitycheck
a great box – i would like to have such, too (looks like paper / cardboard(?)
– haha, looks like a “pocket watch” (would be cool 3rd party equipment :D instead of bands)
I ordered mine at 3:05, it is a 42mm, Space Gray Aluminum black band sport and it shows May 27 – June 11. What the heck….. I am hoping to see shipping soon but keeps seeing delays due to possible issues. Fingers crossed.
8 days from reporting a screen fault on my Apple Watch to receiving a new replacement … and that included a weekend and a public holiday! Quality service to rectify a most uncommon product fault! Thank you Apple! 👍🏼
My watch has a defective crown so I got a replacement too. I am wondering whether the replacement is brand new or refurbished though… Its manufacturing date is from March 29 to April 4th…