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‘Always On’ Brightness and Battery Life

iRun26.2

iRun26.2

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 15, 2010
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To me, a huge feature of the new S7 watch is the brighter ‘Always On’ display. I have to wonder, though, what provides this? Is the new display more efficient or is it just brighter at the expense of a shorter battery life?

Can someone with a new S7 please comment…
 
Good morning! I have the Nike S7 45MM and have not noticed worse battery life at all. For me it is slightly better for the few days that I have had it. That is including a 5.5 mile run without my iPhone. Hope you get your watch soon.
 
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The Series 6 was 250% brighter for the AOD when outdoors - I have to think it is Apple just getting more efficient chips/screens to match battery for a better experience. Or from what I’ve heard actually improve on battery life compared to the Series 5.
 
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Leaving AoD on will chew up some battery every day. That is a fact. If battery life is a real concern during the day with workouts, notifications and complication use and you can't always charge when you want, consider turning AoD off. If charging isn't a concern because you readily have access etc. leave it on. If you want to save more watch battery, turn off background app refresh as well.
 
iRun26.2 said:
To me, a huge feature of the new S7 watch is the brighter ‘Always On’ display. I have to wonder, though, what provides this?
Click to expand...

AOD was introduced with Series 5. The basic tech is not more efficient chips but slowing the display refresh rate way down, to 1 Hz, if I recall correctly.

I think you were going to uncover some differences of opinion in response to your question.

In theory, it is not supposed to affect battery life much. I experimented with AOD on Series 6 and although I did not try to keep track of charge rates, charge times, display-on time, etc. it was pretty clear to me that battery life was reduced by having AOD on. I have experimented a little with my new series 7 watch and find the same thing.

I don’t think that pure battery life is the only question to ask, however. I think you should also ask whether AOD is going to negatively affect how you use the watch. I think the answer to that might be that it would not be a problem for you. This is especially likely given the fast charging that series 7 offers. (80% in 8 minutes with the new charge puck and an 18W or higher adapter.)
 
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For me with the Series 5 the best thing I did to improve battery life was turn off raise to wake and keep on AOD - being in control of when AOD mode goes into full power mode saves a ton of juice
 
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musicpenguy said:
For me with the Series 5 the best thing I did to improve battery life was turn off raise to wake and keep on AOD - being in control of when AOD mode goes into full power mode saves a ton of juice
Click to expand...

That's a really interesting suggestion and I can see that that might make a difference.

Part of what I was trying to say above was that I get battery runtime that's better with AOD (and RTW) turned off and it doesn't bother me - but I also probably get much better than the advertised 18 hours "typical" use runtime. And my Series 6 after 13 months is showing 99% battery health. So, that's great, but it's not like I'm in some kind of battery life competition, or trying to nurse battery life because the apocalypse just took place. :D

What I'm trying to say is that I think the question the OP should ask is not whether AOD reduces battery life but whether AOD would reduce it enough to affect his use. I bet it wouldn't, again, especially when you can get an 80% charge in 8 minutes. (BTW, I have not tested that claim!)
 
I had the exact same worry. When I heard bigger brighter display coupled with the same processor as the S6 I wondered if Apple was going to give up some battery life.

But I’m only going on Day 2 with my Series 7 and I’m already feeling like battery life is actually better than with my Series 6. I don’t know how they’re doing that.

But I’ve never found the AOD to make a significant impact on battery life. Like maybe 5% over the course of the day. If you really want to extend battery you’ll get better results by turning off heart rate and blood oxygen measurements. Either of those take a bigger toll on battery life than the AOD.
 
perezr10 said:
I had the exact same worry. When I heard bigger brighter display coupled with the same processor as the S6 I wondered if Apple was going to give up some battery life.

But I’m only going on Day 2 with my Series 7 and I’m already feeling like battery life is actually better than with my Series 6. I don’t know how they’re doing that.

But I’ve never found the AOD to make a significant impact on battery life. Like maybe 5% over the course of the day. If you really want to extend battery you’ll get better results by turning off heart rate and blood oxygen measurements. Either of those take a bigger toll on battery life than the AOD.
Click to expand...

OP, listen to this guy. I don't know if it's 5% or something else, exactly, and in terms of how it will work out for you, no one else knows or is going to be able to show you exact numbers. His point is that although he can notice the difference, it just doesn't affect how he uses the watch. And I'll hammer the fast recharge point again, because that's very relevant to a runtime discussion. I'm saying I notice the difference...Perzar10 is saying the same thing, and he's saying it doesn't matter. I'm going to add that I couldn't possibly disagree with him as far as his own use goes (only he knows how his watch works on his wrist), and I bet you'd find that you agree with him, too.

Hey, give it a shot. Apple has a two-week no questions asked at all return policy. Buy it, try it, see how it works. If you aren't happy, you lose nothing. :)
 
I always leave AOD and raise to wake on. Even with an hour of exercise tracking a day I never get close to being out of battery before I charge it at night. That's been true with my new watch and older watches.
 
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Apple_Robert said:
Leaving AoD on will chew up some battery every day. That is a fact. If battery life is a real concern during the day with workouts, notifications and complication use and you can't always charge when you want, consider turning AoD off. If charging isn't a concern because you readily have access etc. leave it on. If you want to save more watch battery, turn off background app refresh as well.
Click to expand...
I absolutely love the ‘Always on Display’. I know that it affects battery life but on my S6 I have no problem going a whole 24 hours between charges. This includes monitoring my two hour daily exercise period (biking or running without my iPhone). The only time I need to do an extra charge is if I exercise later one day than I did the previous day.
 
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iRun26.2 said:
I absolutely love the ‘Always on Display’. I know that it affects battery life but on my S6 I have no problem going a whole 24 hours between charges. This includes monitoring my two hour daily exercise period (biking or running without my iPhone). The only time I need to do an extra charge is if I exercise later one day than I did the previous day.
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It looks like you already have your answer. No need to worry with the Series 7.
 
musicpenguy said:
For me with the Series 5 the best thing I did to improve battery life was turn off raise to wake and keep on AOD - being in control of when AOD mode goes into full power mode saves a ton of juice
Click to expand...
My question doesn’t have anything to do with AoD using more battery life (obviously it does). It is about how they get brighter AoD in the S7. If it is just due to using more power then it isn’t really much a feature. I’m wondering if people have noticed that it both is 1) brighter and 2) lasts the same as the S6 Apple Watch under the same use pattern.
 
iRun26.2 said:
My question doesn’t have anything to do with AoD using more battery life (obviously it does). It is about how they get brighter AoD in the S7. If it is just due to using more power then it isn’t really much a feature. I’m wondering if people have noticed that it both is 1) brighter and 2) lasts the same as the S6 Apple Watch under the same use pattern.
Click to expand...
You have been asking a lot of questions that can and will be readily answered when you receive your Series 7. :) Hands on observation and evaluation trumps subjective forum member preferences and observations, which are often times different due to varying usage differences.

Be patient and soon enough you will find the answers you seek.
 
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Apple_Robert said:
You have been asking a lot of questions that can and will be readily answered when you receive your Series 7. :) Hands on observation and evaluation trumps subjective forum member preferences and observations, which are often times different due to varying usage differences.

Be patient and soon enough you will find the answers you seek.
Click to expand...
But I want subjective forum member preferences and observations. :)
 
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iRun26.2 said:
But I want subjective forum member preferences and observations. :)
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The point was thinking about all the possible what if problems and contingencies over a watch you have already purchased and waiting to arrive will drive you needlessly to worry, especially when you have the Series 6. You already know what you are getting with the Series 7. There are no mysteries or problems to solve prior to receiving.
 
iRun26.2 said:
But I want subjective forum member preferences and observations. :)
Click to expand...

I think I misunderstood your original question. I don't think Apple has commented on how they're they got an improved AOD display, and it's probably a little early to get a respectable sample size for the battery life question. In the US, there is probably no one, or no more than a small number of people, who have had a Series 7 for even two full days (meaning 48 hours) yet...depending on when their store opened. I picked mine up at 11 a.m. on Friday and it's 9:35 a.m. on Sunday. Not trying to give you a hard time...it's a good question, but sort of early. ;) :D
 
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From a technical point of view i think this is an interesting topic and it is definitely a mystery to be solved. Worrying has nothing to do with it.
The screens being bigger and AOD being brighter is bound to use more energy. So did Apple change anything to compensate for this? Maybe the battery is just a bit bigger?

I hope iFixit does a teardown soon.
 
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newellj said:
I think I misunderstood your original question. I don't think Apple has commented on how they're they got an improved AOD display, and it's probably a little early to get a respectable sample size for the battery life question. In the US, there is probably no one, or no more than a small number of people, who have had a Series 7 for even two full days (meaning 48 hours) yet...depending on when their store opened. I picked mine up at 11 a.m. on Friday and it's 9:35 a.m. on Sunday. Not trying to give you a hard time...it's a good question, but sort of early. ;) :D
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Good point (too early). Mine won’t arrive for a few more weeks.
 
Nozuka said:
From a technical point of view i think this is an interesting topic and it is definitely a mystery to be solved. Worrying has nothing to do with it.
The screens being bigger and AOD being brighter is bound to use more energy. So did Apple change anything to compensate for this? Maybe the battery is just a bit bigger?

I hope iFixit does a teardown soon.
Click to expand...
This is precisely what I am curious about. I will decide what I want to do when I experiment with my own but I’d still like to know where this extra brightness comes fresh.

You bring up another interesting point: the fact that the screen is also bigger should also require more power.
 
Yptcn said:
What is everyones brightness setting ? I have it on minimum .For everyday use for it's quite enough
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I have my S6 set to the medium setting (2 bars). I easily get 24 hour battery life. I even have the Always on Display active while I sleep.
 
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Apple is always conservative with their battery life estimates. If the estimate hasn‘t changed, you can be very sure that it will be just as good as before.
 
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