Apple Watch Battery Life: 18 Hours Mixed Usage, Up to 72 Hours on Power Reserve

[peterdevries]

You have that right. Been holding back for a while 'til today. One big back-story here is why they went this instead of a Lightning connector. Story goes, one of the reasons why they went from the wide 30-pin connector to the Lightning connector was for the watch.

I almost thought you are serious...

 

[rjlawrencejr]

This product is sure to drive reading lens sales for those over 40.

What are you talking about? The text is the same as on my phone.

 

[ke-iron]

I guess the use of this device for monitoring sleep is no longer possible.
Fail.

I'm sure there will be sleep motoring apps in the coming months. But do you realize that at some point you'd still have to take it off to charge? You should take a little more time to think things thoroughly

 

[Harmonious Zen]

Your opinion.... Mine is I'm buying at least two, one for me and one for my wife. Next Christmas this will likely be my gift to each adult child... unless they buy one first.


iPod was a predicted fail
iPhone was a predicted fail
iPad was a predicted fail

Past performance does not predict future results. There was a clear use case for each of those three devices. Not sure what the Watch's use case is other than a glorified Fit Bit

 

[szw-mapple fan]

They're obviously hiding the battery in the link bracelet.

I think the Apple watch price is going to be a long running joke.

Remember iPod (idiots price our devices) ?

 

[ds2000]

Still don't see the point of it.

Agree

"How did the Apple Watch help you run those marathons?"
"Its just great...."

Like a politician not answering a question.

 

[bobob]

I'm sure there will be sleep motoring apps in the coming months.

That sounds dangerous and irresponsible!

 

[Dilbert3b]

Wonder what the impact to iPhone battery life will be?

This is some incredible engineering, getting someone with the power of an A5 iOS device into a package this small and efficient. That said, part of the solution is the offloading a good portion of the processing to the phone. I am curious then what the impact is to the battery life of the phone will be. This could make the plus make allot more sense when one considers they could leave their phone stashed until they need that big screen.

 

[MentalFloss]

What about pulling your phone out of your backpack? Maybe carry your phone in a shirt or pants pocket??!?

Ah, sorry, thanks for letting me know that I am holding my phone wrong.

And I'm trying to imagine people on the go who have their phones stashed away in their backpacks ( and can't pull out their phone) and yet have plenty of time to monkey with a tiny 2" screen on their wrist as they move about.

What in the world does it have to do with time? It's a matter of convenience, not a matter of time. I am sorry that my way of using my phone does not match your world view and that I don't have shirt or pants pocket reserved for my phone, as demanded by you. My sincere apologies. I will try to conform to your expectations better in the future.

 

[foodog]

I have no idea wether the sleep monitor function in my Up band is accurate or not, I'm always asleep when it's being used.

Generally there is a report after the fact you can view.

 

[ke-iron]

Well, not so fast. I tried the Fitbit Charge HR with continuous heart rate monitor. It has notification and heart rate. But the heart rate monitor is not very accurate at high rates because the LED is not very powerful (to cut down on battery usage)...although it's fine at lower heart rates

The Mio Fuse has a stronger LED and is very accurate but can only do continuous heart rate monitoring for something like 4-6 before running dead. And it has no notifications function.

I would think that the iWatch has a tiny LED monitor and, therefore, will not be an accurate heart rate monitor for a true workout.

And, then Apple will say 'but who needs to monitor heart rate during a workout. We gave people what we know they wanted'. Isn't that the mantra, if Apple can't do it then you really don't need it.

But, we'll have to wait and see.

Dude you kidding me? The sensors on the apple watch is much bigger than the sensors on any competitor watch. The apple watch will be one of the most accurate wrist worn health tracker to date.

 

[TAZ911]

Dude you kidding me? The sensors on the apple watch is much bigger than the sensors on any competitor watch. The apple watch will be one of the most accurate wrist worn health tracker to date.

That may very well be the case, but given the performance of the competition that ain't saying much. My Charge and Surge perform well during every day tasks. If I compare the results between them and my Ambit HR (chest strap) the data is within beats of one another. During a work out both Surge and Charge are off by more than 50 bpm. That's a pretty huge fudge factor and unacceptable IMO. If Apple is only off by 25 bpm then they might be the best and most accurate on the market; but they would still suck.

Im hoping that apple's software and hardware are far better than Fitbit and they put out a product that can actually do what it's being advertised to do; help you with your fitness via HR monitoring. For $350 to $400 I need a factual reason to deviate from a known entity in the same price range.

 

[trip1ex]

Ah, sorry, thanks for letting me know that I am holding my phone wrong.

What in the world does it have to do with time? It's a matter of convenience, not a matter of time. I am sorry that my way of using my phone does not match your world view and that I don't have shirt or pants pocket reserved for my phone, as demanded by you. My sincere apologies. I will try to conform to your expectations better in the future.

I'm sorry you aren't mature enough to have a discussion.

 

[Nightarchaon]

18hrs battery life for a watch ?

go home apple, your drunk...


1 week MINIMUM, or less than $20

1 Month Desierable would pay $100-$200

6Months-12 Month, then ill think about buying at $400

18 Hrs whilst new, probably under 12Hrs when 6 months old (time will tell) and this should be given away free with any apple purchase in store.

You would think, that apple, sat on a MASSIVE cash pile, would sink some of that cash into Battery tech research rather than ivory butt scratchers or whatever it is they are actually spending the cash on, because its not innovative tech anymore

Edit : I really thought that apples watch would WoW us with some amazing colour E-Paper always on display they had been researching all these years, not a power hungry LCD screen, retina on a phone i don't need, battery life, i do... what if i want to go away where i have no access to power for a week camping or such ?)

 

[Chelin74]

30 min workout?

Who does that?

I mean after 30 min you aren't even warmed up.. Like a lot of other 1st Gen stuff Apple drops on the floor it isn't quite there yet. Just look at AppleTV, iPhone etc.

What you need in a watch is

1) that holds a charge for at least a week
2) that can be used when raining or submerged in a kitchen sink (who takes of their watch)

 

[ke-iron]

Who works out for only 30 minutes? I'm sure I would be light on the app use but I do check my watch (call me crazy) frequently and the number or emails I get is crazy.

So, yeah, I read all that and my comments, unfortunately, are still sound.

A lot of people work out for 30 minutes, could be running or lifting weights or some other physical activity. Do you check your watch more than 90 times a day? Also if you get a crazy amount of emails then maybe you should set it up so only the important ones are pushed to the watch, or if all are important just use a computer or your phone since that makes more sense. We all know the watch isn't here to replace any device but an existing watch and to be a companion to your phone. You and people like you who keep trying to convince others how terrible the watch is sound bitter and sad. If you don't like the watch don't get it, if it doesn't meet your needs don't get it.

 

[Chelin74]

A lot of people work out for 30 minutes, could be running or lifting weights or some other physical activity. Do you check your watch more than 90 times a day? Also if you get a crazy amount of emails then maybe you should set it up so only the important ones are pushed to the watch, or if all are important just use a computer or your phone since that makes more sense. We all know the watch isn't here to replace any device but an existing watch and to be a companion to your phone. You and people like you who keep trying to convince others how terrible the watch is sound bitter and sad. If you don't like the watch don't get it, if it doesn't meet your needs don't get it.

No Im not bitter nor sad, Im just stating the obvious that like both the iPhone and the AppleTV, this 1st gen is a good prototype. But it's usability in this iteration of Apple Watch isn't there yet. I think that perhaps the 2nd or 3rd will be compelling. But right now, this is more a toy. I was contemplating getting the Sport edition, but it is so far from usable that I refuse to be a product tester, and by that a paying product tester.
It needs to evolve a bit to be able to compete with fitness bracelets and other real sports watches.

 

[ke-iron]

You do realize the phone's got to be in proximity for this watch to do much of anything, right. She can't get too far from the phone for this thing to work as a more mobile(?), mobile phone substitute.

You don't have be close by because it can run off of wifi if the phone is connected to the same network.

You are correct most people don't know this

 

[ke-iron]

The most important fact is hidden in the statement that the usage included 90 time checks. This can only mean it will not stay on all the time. So we do not get 18 hours of those beautiful watch faces which are shown in every picture of the watch, but 18 hours of a, mostly, black mini monitor.

So, it is not a watch, it is a computer. Maybe Apple can make it fashionable to wear a computer instead of a watch.

It's a watch that happens to be a computer and why would anyone think the 18 hours battery life is with the screen on? The watch is always on tracking activity and other information. You do not check your time on your watch more than 90 times as day. The screen is only lit when you need it to be and that makes perfect sense. You are yet another sad one.

 

[ke-iron]

No Im not bitter nor sad, Im just stating the obvious that like both the iPhone and the AppleTV, this 1st gen is a good prototype. But it's usability in this iteration of Apple Watch isn't there yet. I think that perhaps the 2nd or 3rd will be compelling. But right now, this is more a toy. I was contemplating getting the Sport edition, but it is so far from usable that I refuse to be a product tester, and by that a paying product tester.
It needs to evolve a bit to be able to compete with fitness bracelets and other real sports watches.

So it's a prototype because it doesn't meet your wants and needs is what you're saying. I've had both the first iPhone and apple TV. I used them both every day and enjoyed very much. Didnt seem like a prototype to me or all the tens of thousands or millions who bought and kept it

 

[clukas]

And what do you think Apple will get the battery life up to. 30 hours? 40 hours? Who cares? My Navy Seals Watch battery lasted five years before I replaced it, as did my Movado battery. And these watches will last a lifetime or more and the technology will not be outdated in a year when a new model comes out, like the iWatch.

I simply have no need for a watch that I have to plug in at least once a day. I already have my iPad and iPhone. And everyone I have spoken to feels the same way. i don't get it. Why would I replace one of these for my Navy Seals Watch, which I can wear in the woods and on vacation, where I might not have electricity to plug it in?

The nicest thing about the iWatch, is the metalurgy technology put into the gold edition. But I am not convinced this is a product I will ever want.

I agree. If you need a watch, then don't buy an apple watch. Thats not what this product is about. Its about the health aspects and extending your iPhone capability to your wrist. There is a lot of potential here, they will continue to develop the watch enabling it to monitor more health aspects and thats where the value lies. If I can get a device which monitors my sleep, movement, heart rate, glucose levels and other parameters, then it becomes valuable to me. In addition, the less I have to reach into my pocket to view notifications/ apps which I need in any moment in time, the better. The airline I fly with frequently has already announced support for the apple watch. I will be able to check-in and board the aircraft without having to get and unlock my phone. Thats convenient. You have to look beyond the name "watch", its not just a timekeeping device. Its there to make your life easier, and monitor your health. The apple watch is the humbling beginnings of bringing computing to your wrist. For me personally, the first gen is not compelling enough to buy, however I can see myself wearing a smart watch, whether its an apple watch or another, in the future.

 

[CFreymarc]

I almost thought you are serious...

I am serious and quit calling me Shirlee.

 

[Jvanleuvan]

18 Hours is about right for "full-feature" smart-watches right now:


Just for comparison:
Moto 360: 12 Hours "typical Usage"

LG Watch R: 20 Hours "typical Usage"

Samsung Gear S: 16 Hours "typical Usage"

The one standout is the Pebble: it lasts up to 7 days!
However it has a LOW RES digital Ink display, which saves a TON of power.

Plus it's the lowest powered of the bunch; by a LONG SHOT!
It only has 128KB of ram thats KILOBYTES! thats LESS than a PC XT! Thats less than a TI89 Calculator.
People complain that 1GB is too small for good apps on a Iphone, on the pebble, apps have access to only 24KB! (Again KILOBYTES) That's less than 1/20th DOS Low Memory! (640KB)

It has only a 120 MHZ arm main processor, that's Megahertz, just twice the hertz of a 486DX!

It has a WHOPPING 8MB (yes MEGABYTE) of total storage, and as far as I can tell only 800KB is available for user storage, which is LESS than a 3.5" FLOPPY DISK!


Now, I DO Think the pebble is good for what it is, it has a specific design that enables it to last a week, but comparing it to any of the other smart-watches available is like comparing a Vespa to a Civic, yes they bot provide transportation, just in completely different classes.

 

[Max(IT)]

18 Hours is about right for "full-feature" smart-watches right now:


Just for comparison:
Moto 360: 12 Hours "typical Usage"

LG Watch R: 20 Hours "typical Usage"

Samsung Gear S: 16 Hours "typical Usage"

The one standout is the Pebble: it lasts up to 7 days!
However it has a LOW RES digital Ink display, which saves a TON of power.

Plus it's the lowest powered of the bunch; by a LONG SHOT!
It only has 128KB of ram thats KILOBYTES! thats LESS than a PC XT! Thats less than a TI89 Calculator.
People complain that 1GB is too small for good apps on a Iphone, on the pebble, apps have access to only 24KB! (Again KILOBYTES) That's less than 1/20th DOS Low Memory! (640KB)

It has only a 120 MHZ arm main processor, that's Megahertz, just twice the hertz of a 486DX!

It has a WHOPPING 8MB (yes MEGABYTE) of total storage, and as far as I can tell only 800KB is available for user storage, which is LESS than a 3.5" FLOPPY DISK!


Now, I DO Think the pebble is good for what it is, it has a specific design that enables it to last a week, but comparing it to any of the other smart-watches available is like comparing a Vespa to a Civic, yes they bot provide transportation, just in completely different classes.

The Pebble isn't comparable to an Apple Watch

 

[kdarling]

Heck, a lot of us had home computers that ran at 1 MHz, with 16K RAM, and we thought a 5 MB hard drive was impossible to fill up.

I think a mere watch, with a small display, can do fine with anything more than that... as long as the OS isn't a pig.