Apple Watch Series 3 Teardown
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 12 Steps
The Apple Watch Series 3 steps up its game with built-in phone call features—spy movie style, but real. Ever wondered what happens when Apple fits a phone into a watch? We're about to find out, one step at a time. Ready for the latest tech adventure? Let’s check out the ins and outs of this tiny communicator!
Step 1
Just like the original Apple Watch, the Series 3 keeps things simple with two size options: 38 mm (272 × 340 pixels, 290 ppi) and 42 mm (312 × 390 pixels, 302 ppi).
- Curious about what powers your Apple Watch? Let's take a peek under the hood:
- Bright and responsive OLED Retina display with Force Touch for those smooth swipes.
- Runs on Apple’s custom S3 SiP (System in Package)—the brains of the operation.
- Optional LTE and UMTS connectivity, built-in GPS/GLONASS, NFC, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), and Bluetooth 4.2—stay connected wherever you go.
- Loaded with sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, microphone, speaker, barometric altimeter, and ambient light sensor.
- Water resistant up to 50 meters—splash, swim, or sweat without worry.
- Powered by WatchOS 4 for all those cool features and updates.
Step 2
Here's an inside look at your device, thanks to the X-ray wizards at Creative Electron. Pretty cool, right?
- Before we dive in, grab your imaginary X-ray specs for a little sneak peek!
- Although the general setup remains similar to the original Apple Watch we explored back in 2015, it seems there might be a couple of bonus solder pads hiding under the speaker (check the top right of this image).
Step 3
And yes, we've got our hands on the LTE version too!
- Let's take a moment to peek at the back and ensure we snagged the right watch.
- Ah yes, here it is—the Apple Watch Series 3! It's the crème de la crème of Apple wrist gadgets, delivering top-notch computing power and style for the next 51 weeks.
- Right by that sneaky diagnostic port, we've identified our shiny new model number: A1889.
Step 4
- Time to get this watch open! Since its shape hasn't changed, we're betting our usual opening moves still work like a charm.
- Step one: heat gently and slice carefully. Take your time—slow and steady wins the race. Keep your eyes on the prize, even if that hypnotic red dot keeps staring you down.
- Aside from that signature red dot, this feels almost like opening a Series 2 again. It’s a familiar sight, and with patience, it’ll come apart just fine.
Step 5
We're checking to see if these displays are a perfect match, so go ahead and test compatibility to confirm they can swap seamlessly.
- With the cables released from their ZIF connectors, we're ready to check out the display.
- On paper, the display specs match the Series 2—except for one cool upgrade: it now doubles as a multifrequency (LTE?) antenna.
- This year's display is missing an IC compared to last year. Guess it didn’t make the cut.
- Analog Devices 343S00092 is handling the touch controls.
- NXP Semiconductor PN80V keeps the NFC magic alive.
- Texas Instruments TPS36372 likely manages display power.
- There's an empty solder pad—maybe for a 20211CP TD1628A? Who knows!
Step 6
Battery swaps aren't exactly a pit stop job—take your time and don't try to do this while on the move!
- Just like before, a tiny tri-point screw is still blocking your way—one of those 64 little surprises we've prepared for. Next up, the top third of the watch is labeled 'Taptic Engine,' which is mostly accurate, but that label also hides a bracket guarding the battery connector you're after. Now's the time to carefully peel away the power pack and see what’s really powering this watch all day long. If you need a hand along the way, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 7
- Even though iPhone batteries are slimming down, the Apple Watch battery has gotten a subtle upgrade:
- We're excited to see how Apple squeezed in a bigger battery, plus the extra parts for cellular—antennas, radios, power amps, SIM card, you name it—all without changing the watch's look.
- The Series 3 comes with a battery labeled A1848, which holds 1.07 Whr (that's 279 mAh at 3.82 V).
- That’s about a 4% bump from the 1.03 Whr battery in Series 2—which, for reference, was already a massive 32% bigger than the original Apple Watch’s 0.78 Whr cell.
Step 8
- Looking good so far! Let’s gently remove the trusty Force Touch sensor/gasket, which is sporting the same Analog Devices AD7149 capacitance sensor controller we spotted in the Series 2.
- Next up on our parts adventure, we carefully lift out the Taptic Engine, which seems to be sticking around just like the good old days.
- And voilà! Out comes the antenna array, featuring what we think is the GPS antenna. Keep it up!
Step 9
When Apple introduced the Series 3 at the Steve Jobs Theater, they highlighted a new barometric altimeter—though we couldn’t help but wonder, since last year's model already packed a barometer. Just goes to show, sometimes tech features get a little upgrade hype, even when they’re already in the mix.
- Keep it going as we gently take out the self-emptying speaker, which is cleverly designed to blast away any water after your watch has enjoyed a swim.
- After a rather familiar Series 2 experience, we finally stumble upon something fresh—a brand new cluster of RF chips that are definitely in charge of the shiny LTE features.
- In a fun twist, the air vent hole next to the microphone has now welcomed a new guest that appears to be a barometric pressure sensor.
- Let's get this board out of there!
Step 10
Looks like we’ve found the Apple Watch’s secret identity card—its built-in eSIM. Tiny, sneaky, and always ready to hop on a network.
- Hey there! Ready to dive into this tech adventure? Let's check out the stars of our show:
- ST Microelectronics ST33G1M2: A slick 32-bit MCU rocking the ARM SecurCore SC300.
- Meet the Avago AFEM-8057: Your trusty Wi-Fi front-end module!
- Say hello to the Skyworks SKY78109-12: The power amplifier that's got your back.
- We've got the FY LEE C7P: A combo of Bosch gyro + accelerometer, STMicroelectronics pressure sensor, and a mysterious MEMS microphone.
- And don't forget the FF1A02: Probably the envelope module you didn’t know you needed!
- Last but not least, the USI 339M00035: Your go-to RF transceiver module.
Step 11
- Alright, time to tackle the back cover! It's snugly fitted over a teflon-like O-ring, but with a little thumbs-up and a solid push, you can send it off to its next adventure.
- The material has been upgraded across all watch models to a sleek ceramic, bidding farewell to the old Ion-X and Sapphire styles.
- Inside, you'll find the PPG sensor array working hard to keep tabs on your heart rate.
- Plus, the wireless charging coil got a little makeover to play nice with most Qi wireless chargers.
- And just when you thought it was all settled, the new barometric altimeter has taken up residence next to the microphone—so where's the air vent hiding? Surprise! It's right here, cozying up next to the diagnostic port.
- It would have been neat to see some updates from the Series 2, especially after some feedback on accuracy in earlier models. But when it comes to wearables, the Apple Watch still stands out as the best of the bunch.
Step 12
- Here's the magic behind the scenes!
- A huge shoutout to the team for dedicating some weekend hours to lend a hand!
- And once more, a big thank you to the folks who brought the X(-ray) to the party!
