Apple Aiming for 19 Hours of Apple Watch Battery Life With 'Mixed Usage'

[touchdown101]

19 hours is not exceptional. At all. And the time it takes to charge is irrelevant if you're not in a place you can charge it.

Unlike your phone, it will require its own dock to charge. That means if you're stuck in an airport for 20 hours, your watch isn't getting charged. it means that this product is going to be a non-starter for many people who know they are frequently away from home base for more than a day.

The same does apply for other smartwatches too who have the same < 1 day battery life.

I was just recently on a european trip. My flight from Amsterdam to Copenhagen got cancelled. My phone battery died. I was stuck in the airport then running around amsterdam for an additional day with no hotel or home to plug anything in. My watch though, kept me going with the time. I never had to think about it. thats the purpose of a good quality watch. that and fashion.

neither the Apple watch is going to hit. This is going to put it into the same category as every other 1 day smart watch maker. Your average geek will wear it. but thats about it.

Shows how much you know, it will be a hit because that IS what Apple does, people like you said the iPhone would flop and it did not. people like you said the iPad was a bad idea and it was not, people like you said that netbooks would be here to stay and they did not.
People like you don't have a good track record really? I remember all of you saying how that when it was announced Apple had bought Authentec (the company that builds bio sensors) it would not work if added to the iPhone. Yeah and look how right you were.(end sarcasm)
99.9999% of Apple Watch users will NOT be globe trotting travellers who need a Watch that lasts for 50 days solid. Besides which if you think that you will maybe be the 0.0001% of users who may be in that situation then perhaps buy an old fashioned Watch as a backup, the same way people do who need extra power for long trips buy Battery Packs for their phones!

 

[Rogifan]

Ives is out of control on this one.

Er, he's been dead for a long time.

 

[odedia]

You MISSED the point. The point is that it will last for 4 hours if the screen is CONSTANTLY on. The screen is only on when your wrist is raised so unless you plan on walking around with your wrist up looking like an idiot all day long then it will last for a lot longer than 4 hours, probably a day.

Yes, I got that part, my point was that they targeted 4 hours of continuous use to reach the figure of around 19 hours battery life. I think 30-40 minutes is more realistic, meaning the real battery life can easily be two days.

 

[eric12345678]

Really??

It's called a e-paper display... use it.

 

[paul4339]

You seem to be completely ignoring people who actually.. kinda do. What I mean by that is what about the frequent traveler. Many journeys across the globe can take upwards of 24 hours between catching flights, the flight itself lay overs etc....

This applies to the iPhone as well, it lasts for 12-16 hours yet it's used by many travelers worldwide... And you need an active iPhone for the Apple Watch to work properly..

... so the limiting factor is the battery life of the iPhone.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

But are you going to carry your watch power dock with you?

You'll be carrying your laptop. So, yes.

 

[SMIDG3T]

Not just that but it is not waterproof. Big miss there. Any quality watch you can jump in the pool or go to the beach, etc without the need to worry about water breaking or damaging it.

It'll probably be water resistant. Not all expensive watches are waterproof, again, probably water resistant. Look it up, there's a difference.

 

[touchdown101]

But are you going to carry your watch power dock with you?

Actually it is not a dock of sorts it is a charging stand and people who travel a lot carry their phone chargers with them so why not the stand? I think it will fit easily in a suitcase or travel bag ad before you say it only douche bag idiots or criminals on the run go on long distance travels with no luggage of ANY sort!

 

[LordVic]

You'll be carrying your laptop. So, yes.

I must be getting old... I never travel with laptops or computers almost all my travelling is personal. I bring my camera. my ebook and I enjoy my flight (obv not including checked baggage)

 

[Wiesenlooser]

that is really depressing. 2.5 half hours of using, that is NOTHING!

 

[avanpelt]

Anyone expecting Apple to transcend the laws of physics has a problem bigger than a watch will solve.

19 hours is exceptional! Combine this with a battery that is so small that it will likely take an hour or less to fully recharge, and you've got a state of the art wearable computer. Pop it on the charger while you have your morning shower and forget about it till the next morning.

Have you seen anything reputable that addresses the recharge time for the watch? I definitely haven't. "An hour or less" to recharge would be nice if that turns out to be reality for a Gen 1 product.

 

[evansls]

You seem to be completely ignoring people who actually.. kinda do. What I mean by that is what about the frequent traveler. Many journeys across the globe can take upwards of 24 hours between catching flights, the flight itself lay overs etc. Point is, you can find yourself many times in situations where it is not realistic or convenient to pause to tie your arm to the closet power plug you can find to charge your watch, all the while staring at said watch in desperation as you see your boarding time drawing near.

That's just one example. Long bus trips is another.. etc etc.

This is why Apple recommends you buy two of them. Oh, better yet, I'm sure there will be a mophie juice pack case just a few short months after launch.

 

[LordVic]

Actually it is not a dock of sorts it is a charging stand and people who travel a lot carry their phone chargers with them so why not the stand? I think it will fit easily in a suitcase or travel bag ad before you say it only douche bag idiots or criminals on the run go on long distance travels with no luggage of ANY sort!

no. Can you link a better image of it? The pres shots make it out to be larger than you are saying.

if its really small, then yes, it's less of a hassle than I originally believed.

still, its yet ANOTHER cable to carry.

 

[Rogifan]

that is really depressing. 2.5 half hours of using, that is NOTHING!

But you're not going to be using it all the time. Seriously who stares at their watch all day?

 

[autrefois]

It is for a watch that has a Retina screen and is capable of running at a fluid 60 FPS.

Call me crazy, but I think if you did a poll, you would find out that than the number of people who would prefer a watch that runs for at least a day at a time is far larger than the number of people who want it to have 60 FPS.

 

[touchdown101]

Naturally mileage is going to vary greatly based on usage. Are you working out every day and using the sensors and constantly monitoring? Do you get a crapload of emails and other alerts. Are you constantly fidgeting with your watch? If so - you're likely to run out of juice with ANY smart watch on the market.

I picked up a LG G android wear because it was ~$80 and I figured why not. Wasn't in the market for a smart watch.

I get a lot of email alerts. I don't do the fitness thing on my watch. But I would say with a normal amount of usage - I can get almost 2 full days. Sometimes it's more like 1.5. But I charge overnight regardless.

Mileage will always vary. I imagine the Apple watch will be no worse, nor all that better either.

This is where we are, forum readers. Right now, based on technology, there isn't going to be a wide variance in battery life among these devices.

PRAISE THE LORD, someone with a brain who says the same thing i've been saying. you are spot on my friend.
by the way that is meant as a compliment not sarcasm lol

 

[mdriftmeyer]

This definitely smells like a product Jobs would have killed / tabled had he been running Apple.

The device is a solution looking for a problem to solve, and the tech simply isn't ripe enough if the battery can't make it a full day without needing a recharge.

Having worked for Steve, twice, this project was in the works while he was still alive.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

20 years ago, cell phones only had a standby time of 7 hours but it didn't stop people from buying them

 

[mdriftmeyer]

I must be getting old... I never travel with laptops or computers almost all my travelling is personal. I bring my camera. my ebook and I enjoy my flight (obv not including checked baggage)

So, you bring an iPad, a camera [DSLR] and yet don't have room for a small adaptor, in the carry-on bag? Sure.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

Still trying to figure out why I'd need or even want a smart watch from Apple or another vendor when it 1) has to be tethered to 2) my phone, which already does just about everything the watch does. Seems like a solution to a non-problem.

 

[LordVic]

So, you bring an iPad, a camera [DSLR] and yet don't have room for a small adaptor, in the carry-on bag? Sure.

Ebook. kindle usually. thats about it. I try really hard not to take anything I can't fit in my pockets.

it drives me absolutely nuts sitting on a flight with people shoving, trying to get in and out of bags for things, getting up to get into overhead bins for their cables and connectors, pushing the seats around to try and get room for their laptops on their little trays.

Maybe I'm an exception. But when I fly. I want to sit, confined to my little cramped space, and affect those around me as little as humanly possible. And I wish they would extend me the same curtesy.

Bringing a large carry on bag, especially with the ridiculous cramped floor space under the seats in front of me is a pain. My cables for my phone go in my checked bag. My DSLR bag is tiny and is just for the camera and one lense itself. Maybe room for a few memory cards. The charger doesn't even fit in it

 

[billystlyes]

19 hours... pitiful...


Apple should be attacking the living room. Smart watches are over and so 2014.

 

[fallenjt]

First off it says aiming so you know its going to be more like 15 hours. This is the reason I went out and got a Pebble.. getting like 5 days on a full charge, loving my Pebble. There battery life is a joke really you want to charge that thing overnight every night? what if you are traveling?? I don't see it.

Comparing Pebble to Apple Watch is like comparing a feature phone to Smart phone. No more comments.

 

[Seannyb]

Can't imagine staring at my watch for even a couple hours throughout a normal day. Sounds like plenty of battery for most. Im just hoping it will charge in an hour or less.

Shut up and take my money already!!

 

[Rogifan]

OK this is interesting:

To test real-world performance in a variety of conditions, the company has circulated a surprisingly large number of test units of the Watch: nearly 3,000 are said to be currently roaming around, mostly the stainless steel variant.

That's a large number of test units. I wonder where they were manufactured?