Apple Watch series 3 battery life

[coldwaves]

I am shopping a watch to replace my TomTom Spark 3. The major issue I have with the TomTom is mostly lack of function in the software and buggy firmware. I am thinking to either get an Apple Watch series 3 (GPS only model), or a Garmin Vivoactive HR. My main use of the watch is activity/workout tracking.

I mainly want to track running, swimming, and cycling. Daily step and heart rate are also useful. It seems both can do these things. Any insights for their ability to track these things would be useful. From what I researched, it seems both can provide enough details/statistics. And the Garmin connect mobile or the Apple activity app both seem to be very capable. Garmin probably provides more detailed pace/heartbeat graphs that the apple activity app.

One double I have about the Apple Watch is the battery life. Apple Watch is supposed to have up to five hours with GPS tracking and 10 hours for non-GPS work out. For running and swimming, I think it is enough. But if I go for a long bike ride (4-5 hours), will the battery in Apple Watch be sufficient for that? From the specification, it seems it is pushing the watch to the limit. The Garmin should have no problem for this.

I always take my phone with me when riding, does having a phone nearby the watch extend its battery life? I assume that the watch can use the GPS of the iPhone (I am not sure whether this is the case), thus last for a longer time.

Obviously, the Apple Watch is a more capable/versatile device. But I am not sure whether the battery is enough for the workout I want to track. Any experience and insights would be great.

 

[KrisLord]

If the phone is nearby then it’ll use the GPS in that so you can use the non-GPS figures... which suggests you should be fine.

I’m not taxing the battery with long workouts so can’t help with whether apples numbers are accurate. All I can say is after wearing it since 6am my battery is on 75% so there’s plenty of scope for a long workout I think.

Edit: To add, I’m in the UK so it’s 10pm now.

 

[coldwaves]

If the phone is nearby then it’ll use the GPS in that so you can use the non-GPS figures... which suggests you should be fine.

I’m not taxing the battery with long workouts so can’t help with whether apples numbers are accurate. All I can say is after wearing it since 6am my battery is on 75% so there’s plenty of scope for a long workout I think.

Edit: To add, I’m in the UK so it’s 10pm now.

Thanks for the insights. It is great to know that the watch uses the phone GPS when nearby. That should be sufficient for me as I always take the phone with me when biking. It seems the battery in series 3 is much better than the original Apple Watch.

 

[coldwaves]

The battery life of Apple Watch Series 3 is indeed impressive. I have it on the whole day and by around 6:00PM, I still have 92%. I did not play with it that heavy, nor did I track any activity today. Just use it to see the activity a few times and check heart rate. I also have my iPhone around the whole day, so that could also help a lot with the battery life.

However, this watch only survived one day. I took it to pool swimming this evening and it died in water. The screen turned purple and then shut off. I guess the seal is defective on this one.....I am going to get it exchanged.

 

[bnekic]

I got a series 3 for Christmas and the battery life is definitely an improvement over my series 0. I’ve been wearing my watch since this morning and it’s still at 100%. But a warning with LTE, the battery gets destroyed when using LTE. Even when LTE wasn’t being used battery life took a big hit so I just toggled it off.

 

[Vermifuge]

I got a series 3 for Christmas and the battery life is definitely an improvement over my series 0. I’ve been wearing my watch since this morning and it’s still at 100%. But a warning with LTE, the battery gets destroyed when using LTE. Even when LTE wasn’t being used battery life took a big hit so I just toggled it off.

I can’t believe how much they improved the battery. In a typical 16 hour day I have 75% of my battery remaining. I feel comfortable I could go 48 hours or even 72 before needing to charge.

 

[Otflyer]

I can’t believe how much they improved the battery. In a typical 16 hour day I have 75% of my battery remaining. I feel comfortable I could go 48 hours or even 72 before needing to charge.

Have had my series 3 since launch and I regularly get two days on a charge with as much as 30% charge remaining at end of second day.

 

[bnekic]

I can’t believe how much they improved the battery. In a typical 16 hour day I have 75% of my battery remaining. I feel comfortable I could go 48 hours or even 72 before needing to charge.

That’s awesome! I put my watch on this morning around 10:00 and right now I have 81%

 

[Strelok]

Still 14% left.

 

[Shirasaki]

I just use my new Apple Watch series 3 for the second day. The battery is super impressive. It lasts two full days easily. I do not use it heavily but do check time frequently. I only bought GPS model cause tight budget but consider exchanging to LTE model for a bit more functionality and larger capacity, if budget allows.
I would say, Apple Watch series 3 finally reaches the state of being useful as a smart watch, in terms of both speed and battery life.

 

[cheap_steak]

My S3 (Non-LTE) uses about 22% every 24 hours, so I could probably make it 4 full days if I tried. I wear it all the time except when I'm getting ready in the morning - that's when I charge it. I've turned off the wake on wrist raise and that seems to help a lot with battery life.

 

[Shirasaki]

My S3 (Non-LTE) uses about 22% every 24 hours, so I could probably make it 4 full days if I tried. I wear it all the time except when I'm getting ready in the morning - that's when I charge it. I've turned off the wake on wrist raise and that seems to help a lot with battery life.

Yeah. I prolly need to turn it off as well cause it is not that accurate but takes a lot of battery, similar to the “raise to wake” on iPhone.

 

[Mikeeee]

My S3 (Non-LTE) uses about 22% every 24 hours, so I could probably make it 4 full days if I tried. I wear it all the time except when I'm getting ready in the morning - that's when I charge it. I've turned off the wake on wrist raise and that seems to help a lot with battery life.

Decided to try that. I'm at 80% remaining after 24 hours. Normally I'd be about 60%.

 

[cynics]

Only when I used my AW3 GPS for navigation around Chicago (foreign to me) a very large portion of the day was I able to kill the battery in less then 2 days. And it was only an hour or so from making it 2 full days.

Currently I have 42% battery left on the watch.

 

[Vermifuge]

Only when I used my AW3 GPS for navigation around Chicago (foreign to me) a very large portion of the day was I able to kill the battery in less then 2 days. And it was only an hour or so from making it 2 full days.

Currently I have 42% battery left on the watch.

View attachment 744755

You used your watch’s GPS without your phone nearby? That’s impressive.

 

[cynics]

You used your watch’s GPS without your phone nearby? That’s impressive.

I should have clarified better. My phone was in my pocket and I was using the watch for walking/transit directions.

 

[Vermifuge]

I should have clarified better. My phone was in my pocket and I was using the watch for walking/transit directions.

Good to know. I have more trips in SE Asia planned and I know I can’t use the cellular function but I plan on using it for directions and public transportation.

 

[cynics]

Good to know. I have more trips in SE Asia planned and I know I can’t use the cellular function but I plan on using it for directions and public transportation.

I haven't used it for a while but my problem with it was there wasn't an arrow (just a dot) on your location. A couple of times I needed to start walking just to get my bearings right. Needless to say a couple times this was in the opposite direction than I need to go. Not a big deal really but it would be nice to see exactly which way I was pointing. Maybe this is a bug or GPS was too obstructed by large buildings, not sure.

However other than that its great because it vibrates to indicate you need to turn. So you can enjoy the sights, keep your hands in your pockets or watch under a long sleeve shirt, appear to know where you are going and not hold an expensive iPhone out for someone to potentially target you if its a bad area.

 

[Vermifuge]

I haven't used it for a while but my problem with it was there wasn't an arrow (just a dot) on your location. A couple of times I needed to start walking just to get my bearings right. Needless to say a couple times this was in the opposite direction than I need to go. Not a big deal really but it would be nice to see exactly which way I was pointing. Maybe this is a bug or GPS was too obstructed by large buildings, not sure.

However other than that its great because it vibrates to indicate you need to turn. So you can enjoy the sights, keep your hands in your pockets or watch under a long sleeve shirt, appear to know where you are going and not hold an expensive iPhone out for someone to potentially target you if its a bad area.

In portland it would show the originating colors of the bus or train i was taking and often along with the correct symbol and number / name Similar in Japan. It always had the correct train displayed for me.

 

[cynics]

In portland it would show the originating colors of the bus or train i was taking and often along with the correct symbol and number / name Similar in Japan. It always had the correct train displayed for me.

Sorry again for the poor clarification. But I meant my pin point location. The iPhone shows me an arrow pointing toward the direction I'm facing so I knew which way I need to go immediately when walking.

However on my watch it just showed me as a dot so I would need to walk a 100 feet or so to verify Imy heading by watching where I was moving on the map.

Heres a pic since that probably doesn't make sense.

iPhone maps



Apple Watch maps



Minor complaint and probably a hardware limitation (no compass?).

 

[Vermifuge]

Sorry again for the poor clarification. But I meant my pin point location. The iPhone shows me an arrow pointing toward the direction I'm facing so I knew which way I need to go immediately when walking.

However on my watch it just showed me as a dot so I would need to walk a 100 feet or so to verify Imy heading by watching where I was moving on the map.

Heres a pic since that probably doesn't make sense.

iPhone maps

View attachment 744763

Apple Watch maps

View attachment 744764

Minor complaint and probably a hardware limitation (no compass?).

Trust me I know. Even with the arrow I have started walking the wrong direction plenty of times. It takes a min for the compass to calibrate. In big cities I often have to walk a block or two before it catches on.

 

[cfc]

Minor complaint and probably a hardware limitation (no compass?).

It is indeed a hardware limitation due to a lack of a compass. I guess there are too many magnets around that could interfere with one (the charger maybe, or one of the many magnetic straps).

Some apps get around it by using GPS to plot your movement and derive a direction from that. It isn't ideal because it doesn't work until you have moved and won't change as you rotate on the spot, but it is usually usable.

It helps if the compass is displayed with a breadcrumb trail of where you have been, which makes it easier to work out where you should head, especially if the breadcrumb trail and map are oriented in your current direction:

 

[ad931]

Watch Series 1, off the charger at 6am, 12 hours later its at 90%, pretty impressive i think

 

[JackieInCo]

I'm only getting about a day on each of my three LTE watches. I keep LTE and WiFi off.

Last night at about 6PM I put on my silver aluminum S3 and went and walked for 3 miles. Went out at midnight and walked another 3 miles. Now at 11:17AM, my battery is at 49%. I have to work at five so I simply just put this one on the charger and wear another one, it's one of the reasons I have more then one watch.

 

[Mikeeee]

I'm only getting about a day on each of my three LTE watches. I keep LTE and WiFi off.

Last night at about 6PM I put on my silver aluminum S3 and went and walked for 3 miles. Went out at midnight and walked another 3 miles. Now at 11:17AM, my battery is at 49%. I have to work at five so I simply just put this one on the charger and wear another one, it's one of the reasons I have more then one watch.

I'm only familiar with Series 3 and the battery life should be much better on that watch (48 hours plus). You should check the usage details. If you see usage is very high versus standby the battery can be improved by taking some steps.
Hard reset and if that doesn't work a repairing.