# The ceramic Apple Watch costs more to fix than the Ultra 4

Source: https://idevice.com/the-ceramic-apple-watch-costs-more-to-fix-than-the-ultra-4
Published: 2026-09-11

> If you want the ceramic Series 12, budget for AppleCare+, because an out-of-warranty accident costs more than it would on the rugged Ultra. Repair prices for the new iPhones and AirPods still aren't out.

Apple's service estimates, [first reported by MacRumors](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/10/ceramic-series-12-repair-costs/), put a ceramic Apple Watch Series 12 at $599 to fix "other damage" without AppleCare+, meaning anything besides a battery, which is $99 on its own. An Apple Watch Ultra 4 with the same kind of damage costs $549, up $50 from the prior model, and a same-size cellular aluminum Series 12 costs $349. So the ceramic watch, which starts at $899, costs more to fix than the $799 Ultra. AppleCare+ changes the sums: the damage fee drops to $69 on ceramic and $79 on the Ultra 4, and the plan with theft and loss costs $4.99 a month for Series 12 and $5.99 for Ultra 4.

For the new iPhones and AirPods, [The Mac Observer found no screen, battery or back-glass price](https://www.macobserver.com/tips/round-ups/apple-2026-repairability-no-published-repair-pricing/) at all, and the [iPhone Duo](https://idevice.com/phones/iphone-fold/roadmap) has no fold-cycle rating either. Apple often adds those prices to its support pages after products ship. AppleCare One covers up to three products for $19.99 a month, and a family plan at $49.99 a month for up to six people arrives September 14.

## Sources

- [MacRumors](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/10/ceramic-series-12-repair-costs/) (MacRumors)
- [The Mac Observer](https://www.macobserver.com/tips/round-ups/apple-2026-repairability-no-published-repair-pricing/) (The Mac Observer)