The Series 8 arrived in 2022, looking almost exactly like the Series 7 but adding a temperature sensor and Crash Detection. Same edge-to-edge screen, same habit of meeting doorframes at the worst possible moment.
What Apple charges
Apple files a cracked screen under other damage. Your price depends on the case.
| Series 8 model | Apple price | With AppleCare+ |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum, GPS | $299 | $69 |
| Aluminum, GPS + Cellular | $349 | $69 |
| Stainless steel | $399 | $69 |
| Hermès | $399 | $79 |
| Battery service (any model) | $99 | $0 below 80% capacity |
Find your model
Open the Watch app on your iPhone, then General > About. You can also check the engraving on the back, which Apple says shows the case size and material. Series 8 came in 41mm and 45mm. A red ring on the Digital Crown means a cellular model.
Why stainless steel costs more
Apple says the aluminum Series 8 uses Ion-X glass on the front, while the stainless steel and Hermès models use sapphire crystal. Sapphire resists scratches far better, but it's pricier, and so is the repair.
Crack or chip?
- A small chip on the edge, screen works fine: it's cosmetic for now, but chips can spread. A screen protector helps keep it from growing.
- Cracks across the display, touch acting weird: that's a repair, and it'll likely get worse.
- Screen lifting from the case: stop. See the warning below.
Don't make it worse
- Skip the DIY glue kits. Gluing a loose or cracked screen back down can trap moisture and makes a proper repair harder.
- Don't swim or shower with it. A crack is an open door for water, and liquid damage on top of a crack won't help your quote.
- Don't keep charging a watch with a lifted screen. More on that below.
Can a shop do it cheaper?
Some independent shops replace Apple Watch screens. Ask if they've done Series 8 in your size, whether the part is genuine, whether touch and always-on still work after, and how they reseal it. Assume the watch is no longer water resistant after any screen repair unless you're told otherwise in writing.
Keep wearing it?
A little chip, sure. A shattered face, be careful with tiny glass splinters. A clear protector holds things together in the meantime, and keep the watch out of water, since a crack can let moisture in.
Before you send it in
Unpair the watch before it goes anywhere. On your iPhone, open the Watch app, tap All Watches, tap the info button next to your watch, and choose Unpair Apple Watch. Your iPhone backs up the watch as part of unpairing and turns off Activation Lock, so Apple or a shop can work on it. When you get a watch back, pair it again and restore from that backup to get your faces, settings and health data back.
Fix it or upgrade?
Say your aluminum GPS Series 8 is cracked but otherwise perfect, battery still fine. $299 gets it back to like new. With AppleCare+, $69 is a no-brainer, and if your plan includes theft and loss, Apple lists that fee at $119 for this model, which is worth knowing if the watch ever goes missing instead.
The stainless steel version is a different story. It cost more new, it has the sapphire front, and $399 to keep a watch you really like is easier to justify than $299 on a plain aluminum one.
But if the battery is also fading or you've been eyeing a newer model, that $299 to $399 is getting close to a new watch. Compare before you book with our repair or replace calculator.
Battery fading too? Read our Series 8 battery guide. All prices are on the Apple Watch Series 8 page. Apple prices checked October 14, 2026.
