Product quality has SEVERELY deteriorated while prices have exponentially INCREASED! Probably the end of my loyalty to Apple.

I am intensely angry and bitterly disappointed with Apple products and the rate at which the quality of their products have deteriorated. I got into Apple because their hardware would outlast the software upgrades and that made it trustworthy and worth buying!

Both my Apple watch Series 6 (after 14 months, 2 months out of warranty) AND my iPhone SE2 (11 months out of warranty) just suddenly broke due to NO FAULT OF MY OWN.

Both are in pristine physical condition, have been charged with Apple chargers and have had full protective cases and tempered glass protectors on to ensure they last as long as I've experienced in the past (4-5 years with both products in the past!).

My iPhone started resetting every few minutes and my Apple watch stopped holding charge just one month later. I sent the phone and later the watch in to Apple technicians through iStore, who quoted me on new products in both cases, but with no real indication as to what is wrong!?! The only description given is that there is a 'component failure' and that the entire unit needs to be replaced - at MY EXPENSE for POOR QUALITY HARDWARE that has nothing to do with wear & tear or use.

At the price you pay for their products with a brand that is advertised and sold to offer superior quality products they should NOT be breaking! Moreover, if they break, the onus cannot just fall on the customer to just buy a new one every time! Not even my insurance will cover it because it's not meant to happen - even accidentally,.

I have been told it's just 'bad luck' - but that bad luck is now costing me R16 000? Unfortunately, I cannot just keep pushing my hard earned money into a company that treats their most loyal customers this way. If nothing can be done in order to compensate me for these it may be the last Apple products I purchase.