Oliver Haslam·

Apple Watch Series 7 Has Ditched The Diagnostic Port Found On Earlier Models

Apple’s new Apple Watch Series 7 doesn’t feature the infamous hidden diagnostic port anymore, making it the first Apple Watch to be without it. The port, hidden where the band would normally slide into one side of the watch, allows Apple technicians to connect to the watch for diagnostic purposes.

The removal of the port is an interesting move but it’s one that shouldn’t be all that surprising.

As MacRumors notes, the 60.5GHz wireless module found in the Apple Watch Series 7 is likely the reason for this move — because the port simply isn’t needed any longer.

The lack of a diagnostic port on Apple Watch Series 7 models likely explains the addition of the 60.5GHz wireless data transfer module. FCC filings indicated that the module is only activated when the Apple Watch is placed on a proprietary magnetic dock with a corresponding 60.5GHz module, so it sounds like Apple might use this dock to perform diagnostics or restore watchOS wirelessly on Series 7 models.

Even with the port, Apple Watchers were not user-serviceable and people with faulty devices tended to have them swapped out rather than repaired. Regardless of however these watches are diagnosed, the fix tends to be a new one.

The Apple Watch Series 7 goes on sale tomorrow with orders having already shipped to those who got their pre-orders in early.

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