Apple Employees 'Set Low Expectations' For iWatch Battery Life

[Col4bin]

To me, 1+ days of battery is fine. I charge my phone every night, I can charge a watch, too. It's when it goes less than a day that it becomes a problem.

All smart device manufacturer's may claim 1 full day of battery life, but with active use, you'll probably end up at around 1/2 a day.

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This would be better than the one MR keeps using...

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Oh great. A giant 1980's style Bengal bracelet watch. Can you really imagine wearing that thing around all day? You might as well have a sign stuck to your back that says, "kick me".

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It's not just you. I have a beautiful Rolex that I have worn maybe once in the past 7 years. Just not interested in wearing watches in general. Of course, Apple may change that.. but I'm doubtful.

You own a Rolex that you wear only once a year? That thing is nearly indestructible! You should be rocking that Roley every day--even in your shorts and flip flops. Play on playa.

 

[CausticSoda]

I really doubt Apple would release something that has crappy battery life.

Really? I would put my 5S in that category for sure.

 

[Col4bin]

You're assuming that the circle is rigid.

Or if it's Salt & Vinegar, Sour-cream & Onion, or Barbecue flavor! Your choice.

 

[Bahroo]

We shall see, bear in mind if they are creating a new chip for the watch (has that been confirmed?), it will be first gen..

Not all these watches are using snap 400s but that's beside the point

I highly doubt they stick a A7/A6 core in the iWatch, and there is no chance of a Qualcomm solution or any other solution, so yes without a doubt I am sure the iWatch will have a new custom chip

 

[StyxMaker]

Interesting... I know this sounds rather paranoid, but would it be detrimental in some way sitting at a desk with pure energy being sent through the air?

You are already being bombarded with pure energy (as opposed to impure energy?) every second of your life.

 

[taptic]

You are already being bombarded with pure energy (as opposed to impure energy?) every second of your life.

True, and, I don't know all the details of this stuff, but it would seem that energy used to charge something would be stronger than wifi or something...

 

[StyxMaker]

Checking your watch compulsively is just as rude..

You don't have to be as obvious about it as Bush the Elder.

 

[roow110]

I highly doubt they stick a A7/A6 core in the iWatch, and there is no chance of a Qualcomm solution or any other solution, so yes without a doubt I am sure the iWatch will have a new custom chip

I've been under the impression that they will be using a modified A4 chip in the watch. After the iPhone 4 they began using it in the Apple TV. A few years ago they modified the chip by downsizing it significantly reducing its power consumption even though there was no need for that in the Apple TV. I have the feeling they were getting a low-power version ready for the iWatch.

 

[imageWIS]

It would have to knock my socks off in order for me to buy one. Wearing a watch everyday just seems so... dated...

Right... that's why Swiss matchmaking is at an all time high and there are record auction prices for vintage watches... tells us more, kemosabe.

 

[twoodcc]

as long as it will last longer than 1 day, it should be ok. though 3-5 days would be better. either way, looking forward to Tuesday!

 

[StyxMaker]

The same way you can charge and play music or play a game at the same time. Monitoring is a rather low energy task, possibly the M7 chip or something similar would be doing it.

The watch needs to be on your wrist to monitor your sleep, so it would have to be charging while you are wearing it.

 

[unplugme71]

It will probably be completely outdated in two years.

Which is why I hope within 2 years the battery still lasts 1 full day.

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This is a great point. I only need all day battery life (assuming through wireless charging I can keep it on while I sleep), but it needs to a) survice a full day of heavy use and b) ...survive a full day of heavy use after 2 years...

That's true, if the watch is to be worn at night to monitor sleep then there becomes a point where you are 1) tethered to a power outlet while it charges 2) having a gap in your health report 3) it uses sunlight/artificial light to charge 4) it charges based on your activity.

I think one of the watch makers has something similar where as long as you walk, your watch battery is being charged from the motion generated.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Which is why I hope within 2 years the battery still lasts 1 full day.

There will always be AppleCare just in case.

 

[Justin33]

Hey Apple, what about a dual-kinetic charging system?

I don't know if its ever been attempted before, but I'm a big watch nut and seems to me dual kinetic system charging the battery may just make enough juice to extend that battery life out to several days. Especially, when you consider an active wearer.

:shrug:

ps if you use my idea, I want $150k, Tesla Model S, and a Mac.

 

[kis]

Battery isn't great, that's ok. The iWatch isn't coming to stores on Tuesday. In 3 months, it will have a battery life we can actually be proud of.

you don't really believe that, right? If it doesn't have more than 1 day's worth of battery life now, it won't have that in 3 months, either. If it actually hits the shelves in 3 months, it's already in production.

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There will always be AppleCare just in case.

Which doesn't typically cover batteries.

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The watch needs to be on your wrist to monitor your sleep, so it would have to be charging while you are wearing it.

I just fail to see why everyone seems to believe that a watch's ability to tell you that you can't sleep is such an important feature? If I can't sleep, I usually know that without my gadget telling me so.

 

[AppleScruff1]

you don't really believe that, right? If it doesn't have more than 1 day's worth of battery life now, it won't have that in 3 months, either. If it actually hits the shelves in 3 months, it's already in production.

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Which doesn't typically cover batteries.

AppleCare doesn't cover batteries?

 

[kis]

I really doubt Apple would release something that has crappy battery life.

Really? I would put my 5S in that category for sure.

Yes, you need to charge the 5S on a daily basis - however, the battery life still isn't crap. Mine easily lasted a whole day even when tethering for hours, listening to music for hours etc. My Nexus 5 is dead at 6 p.m., if I use it for tethering, its battery's dead by noon. Now that's bad battery life.

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AppleCare doesn't cover batteries?

"However, the AppleCare Protection Plan for notebook computers does not cover batteries that have failed or are exhibiting diminished capacity"

natural "wear and tear" isn't covered. Only manufacturing defects are.
I believe, however, that you can get it replaced slightly cheaper if you have AppleCare+

 

[Bahroo]

I've been under the impression that they will be using a modified A4 chip in the watch. After the iPhone 4 they began using it in the Apple TV. A few years ago they modified the chip by downsizing it significantly reducing its power consumption even though there was no need for that in the Apple TV. I have the feeling they were getting a low-power version ready for the iWatch.

They will not go back and use a quite old ArmV7 processor. No chance at all. It could simply be a modifiex Cortex A53 core at 20nm or something along the lines of there, super power efficient and solid performance (Cortex A53 is slightly faster then a Cortex A9 core which can be found in the 4S etc, and is so much more power efficient as well)

This SoC in the iWatch is going to be quite capable watch.

 

[AppleScruff1]

"However, the AppleCare Protection Plan for notebook computers does not cover batteries that have failed or are exhibiting diminished capacity"

natural "wear and tear" isn't covered. Only manufacturing defects are.
I believe, however, that you can get it replaced slightly cheaper if you have AppleCare+

It looks like AppleCare doesn't cover batteries in the iPhone either, just the iPad and iPod touch. I wonder why?

 

[Parasprite]

Rumors may be picking up, but good mockups aren't. It seems as though MR's strategy is to rotate through each of the 3 awful mockups someone made with each post. *gag*

As long as it isn't made out of packing tape again.

 

[dannyyankou]

Huh, my Rolex has 'infinity' battery life.

Is taking your phone out of your pocket so hard?
Or is the goal to have a bunch of morons yelling into their wrist while walking down the street?

I doubt it because people usually don't have their calls on speakerphone in the street. But at home or in the car, why not?

 

[kds1]

There definitely is a generation gap when it comes to many things, in this case, wearing watches. I find watches uncomfortable, redundant (I have my phone) and in the case people spend hundreds and hundreds (maybe thousands) on them...pretentious.

A well made time piece is a beautiful thing.

Like I said, the clueless generations....

 

[lowercaseperson]

As an owner of a Pebble for almost 2 years. One day is enough for me most of the time. When I got to bed I charge it, just like my iPhone. The biggest problem is when traveling. It's just another cable, and if you forget it. Well your screwed. Not to mention day/over night trips or camping. Everyone has a car charger so realistically you don't HAVE to remember a phone charger for an over night road trip. But if you want to wear a watch you do.

Like I said one day would be OK, 24-36 hours would be much better.

Also for those of you can't understand why someone would wear a watch - Ill tell you my main reason. I work in the OR and believe it or not a lot of intraOR communication is done via SMS or iMessage. So I get a lot of txts. Many as simple as "coming out of 18" where no reply is warranted. It's fantastic to just glance at my wrist instead of pull my phone out especially if I'm trying to start an IV or Aline or something. I know I'm in the extreme minority here, just adding to the conversation.

 

[Erasmus]

An iPhone, plugged into a 12 watt adapter, takes about 30 minutes to charge to 90%.

I wouldn't call that slow.

You would call it slow if your iOS device had been tracking your sleep all night, woken you up at the optimum time for you to be refreshed, and with just enough time to get to work, then suddenly runs out of power when you're about to leave the house.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to charge your watch while you're still wearing it? Without having to stay within 2 feet of a power adapter for >30 mins???

If a device is useful during the day, AND provides functionality during the night, when exactly are you supposed to charge it? What if you forget one afternoon, or need it constantly for ~48 hours? Would you really ignore the possibility of charging in less than a minute, because 30 mins is 'fast enough'?

 

[grenhall]

No parts leaks, no product.