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Apple Watch Series 3 Teardown Reveals Larger Battery and Air Vent Moved Next to Diagnostic Port

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iFixit has completed a teardown of the Apple Watch Series 3, which has a virtually identical form factor as previous models.

apple-watch-series-3-teardown-ifixit-800x462.jpg

The display is unchanged from the Series 2, with one key difference being that it now functions as a multifrequency antenna for cellular. Series 3 models support LTE and UMTS, according to Apple's tech specs.

series-3-display.jpg

The battery in the 38mm model with GPS + Cellular has a capacity of 279 mAh at 3.82V, or 1.07 watt hours, which is only a slight increase of about 3.8 percent over the 38mm Series 2 model without cellular.

Apple said Series 3 models with cellular get up to 18 hours of battery life, including four hours of LTE and 14 hours of connection to an iPhone via Bluetooth. Series 2 models are also rated to last 18 hours with mixed usage.

apple-watch-series-3-battery.jpg

iFixit was surprised that Apple managed to increase the battery size while still leaving room for the added functionality of cellular antennas, radios, power amplifiers, the embedded SIM card, and so on in the same form factor.

The embedded SIM, outlined in red, appears to be sourced from ST Microelectronics, and it is positioned next to a Wi-Fi module from Broadcom and other RF chips that enable cellular capabilities in the watch.

series-3-rf-chips.jpg

Last, we finally know what the tiny meshed hole is next to the diagnostic port: it's an air vent, since the Apple Watch Series 3's new barometric altimeter took over the vent's previous location next to the microphone.

apple-watch-series-3-air-vent.jpg
Apple Watch Series 3's relocated air vent outlined in yellow​

iFixit gave the Apple Watch Series 3 a repairability score of 6 out of a possible 10 points. Display repairs and battery replacements are both possible, albeit tricky, but replacing any of the component cables requires micro-soldering.

Article Link: Apple Watch Series 3 Teardown Reveals Larger Battery and Air Vent Moved Next to Diagnostic Port
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/25/apple-watch-series-3-teardown-ifixit/
I hope we see some real world battery life for the same watch when NOT on LTE. I want to get the GPS version. Since Apple tends to underestimate I'm hoping we get 24-26 hours of uses when not using LTE.
 
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I guess there was no room for the 4K video camera to enable selfie clips -- darn it!
 
What kind of air flow could they possibly get through that vent when it is almost constantly occluded by a watch band?
 
DynaFXD said:
What kind of air flow could they possibly get through that vent when it is almost constantly occluded by a watch band?
Click to expand...

I don’t think that’s its purpose. There’s no fan so there really isn’t any airflow at all. I’m not an electrical engineer but my guess that I think the main purpose of to just have an outlet to let the hot air out when there’re build up of pressure inside the watch housing as it’s not good to have a totally closed enclosure for any electronic device.
 
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I wonder if - in internal discussions and conversations - people across the board are more cautious about cramming in more battery capacity in as a result of Samsung fire issues. In past I'm sure their were constant struggles between the marketers and the engineers. Maybe still so, but engineer's have a little more weight behind their agreements these days - i hope. :)
 
MrXiro said:
I hope we see some real world battery life for the same watch when NOT on LTE. I want to get the GPS version. Since Apple tends to underestimate I'm hoping we get 24-26 hours of uses when not using LTE.
Click to expand...


I just upgraded from a Series 0 to the LTE Series 3.

So far I am very impressed with the improved battery life.

Yesterday I was up at 7am and used the watch all day. (included a 45 min working with the heart rate monitor on) At 11pm I still had 70% battery remaining.

I had my phone with me, so I doubt I used any cellular data that day.
So my guess is that you may be able to get 24 hours with the GPS version.
 
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TheBing1980 said:
I just upgraded from a Series 0 to the LTE Series 3.

So far I am very impressed with the improved battery life.

Yesterday I was up at 7am and used the watch all day. (included a 45 min working with the heart rate monitor on) At 11pm I still had 70% battery remaining.

I had my phone with me, so I doubt I used any cellular data that day.
So my guess is that you may be able to get 24 hours with the GPS version.
Click to expand...

I have Series 0 too. I'm going to jump on the upgrade around Xmas when they will hopefully have a discount at Best Buy... or jump on an open item one. Do you happen to know if battery is the same between GPS and LTE? I know the LTE version has double the flash storage... which actually makes it kind of worth it if Apple opens it up to things beyond Apple Music coughSPOTIFYcough... :p
 
MrXiro said:
I hope we see some real world battery life for the same watch when NOT on LTE. I want to get the GPS version. Since Apple tends to underestimate I'm hoping we get 24-26 hours of uses when not using LTE.
Click to expand...
For the first 2 days, so far, my S3 LTE is using 25% every 12 hrs, which includes activated cell service and roughly 30-45 min of daily use on cell only, plus notifications, etc. No question I can make it 24 hrs of use with plenty left over. You'd probably want to charge after 36-40 hrs, but could likely make it 2 full days. Battery life is that good.
 
TheBing1980 said:
I just upgraded from a Series 0 to the LTE Series 3.

So far I am very impressed with the improved battery life.

Yesterday I was up at 7am and used the watch all day. (included a 45 min working with the heart rate monitor on) At 11pm I still had 70% battery remaining.

I had my phone with me, so I doubt I used any cellular data that day.
So my guess is that you may be able to get 24 hours with the GPS version.
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience. I'm used to my 1st gen watch only having about 10-15% left at night, as long as I didn't use it for anything like working out, otherwise it would be dead. To see my new 3rd gen have 75% at the end of the day, was a pleasant surprise.
 
I got the S3 GPS as my first Apple Watch and so far I'm impressed with the battery, though I don't have a previous watch to compare it to. With heavy use on Day 1 "figuring it out" and heavy use on Day 2 testing workouts and other features, the phone was active from 6am - 10pm both days and I threw it on the charger at night with 68% and 71% battery life left, respectively.
 
A 32% increase in battery capacity compared to the series "0" first generation Apple Watch. Awesome.
 
I can't say that I'm surprised by the larger battery, given the power consumption needs of the LTE radio, so give Apple props on trying to help things along in that department
 
MrXiro said:
I hope we see some real world battery life for the same watch when NOT on LTE. I want to get the GPS version. Since Apple tends to underestimate I'm hoping we get 24-26 hours of uses when not using LTE.
Click to expand...

So far I've only ever charged mine for about 45 minutes each morning while getting ready. The only time it's really connected to cell is for about an hour while I'm at the gym and out of range of my phone each day. I've also been wearing it while I sleep to try some sleep monitoring apps. So far, I haven't dropped below 70%.

I'm VERY impressed with the battery. So much better than my first gen.
 
It's pretty unbelievable the amount of technology that can incorporated into such a small casing that can fit in the palm your hand. And yet it's features and capabilities have something for everybody to convenience us in fitness and communication.
 
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I was hoping we'd see signs of Qi or something to prove Apple's point that only the series 3 will work with Air Power or whatever they're calling their charging station.
 
Any word on the battery in the 42mm?

Mine isn't compatible with my iPhone 5, so it's waiting until at least November for testing...
 
DynaFXD said:
What kind of air flow could they possibly get through that vent when it is almost constantly occluded by a watch band?
Click to expand...

You don't need air flow to measure barometric air pressure. Its around you all the time, pushing on you.
You just need a port that isn't air tight. Air is like water, in that it can get through small spaces.
 
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