Apple Watch Series 4 Models Have Nearly 20% Less Battery Capacity Despite Same 'Up to 18 Hours' Battery Life
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BB8
macrumors 6502
because now they can bump it next year and be like wow look at all this extra battery life we're getting, all while using cheaper parts.
shareef777
Suspended
For once I can agree with this. Something that sits on your wrist all day can benefit from going thinner/lighter. A phone that sits in your pocket or a laptop that sits on your desk on the other hand ... not so much benefit.
dannyyankou
macrumors G5
My series 3 Apple Watch averages probably around 30 hours.
I think apple is just taking advantage of that wiggle room.
I think apple is just taking advantage of that wiggle room.
chucker23n1
macrumors G3
Because Apple Watch is a little bit on the thick side, and because battery life is already OK.
(Battery life will never reach levels of, say, a week or a month. A day is what they're shooting for.)
I always subscribed to the idea that it's better to say "charge it every night" to establish a good routine and habit. Otherwise, you risk it going dead in the middle of the day or something.
Even if it did last beyond a day I'd still "top it off" every night, because that's the routine and I'm good with that. I don't want to have to constantly check to see if I need to charge or be like, "did I charge last night?".
Now if it lasted a week then I'd change my charging habits.
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gaximus
macrumors 68020
This would make since if they could get a full second day in. With only 20% difference you’d still have to charge it every night. I’d rather have a thinner product.
Dormammu
macrumors 65816
I agree.
I’m guessing it sounds like some people either don’t have access to a charger every night (get another cable), or never take their watch off (I doubt some NEVER take it off). I don’t get it personally.
Charging at night isn’t any more difficult than charging your phone? And if it is ... talk about first world problems.
Some use their watch for sleep tracking ,but can’t you charge while in the shower?
Going more thin with less compromises on the battery side (mechanical side) is always better in a wrist watch. If a watch needs "recharging" electrically or mechanically everyday without dying, and in this AW scenario performs all the functions it promised without dying, that is a good watch.
Thicker because of a battery that can work another half or four hours can't hide the fact that there is a bulky wrist accessory.
Charge the watch everyday, like the mechanical motion chargers of old. Still cheaper than a TWC.
Thicker because of a battery that can work another half or four hours can't hide the fact that there is a bulky wrist accessory.
Charge the watch everyday, like the mechanical motion chargers of old. Still cheaper than a TWC.
Is it really efficient if you, as the user, have to recharge the watch more frequently?
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What if you fall in the shower?
atomic.flip
macrumors 6502a
Bigger batteries aren’t the solution to the power challenges of portable devices. Infact they are rather limiting to mobility since they have limited flexibility due to simple physics/chemistry.
Improved power efficiency is absolutely what all engineers should be striving for as frankly energy/matter is finite.
chucker23n1
macrumors G3
Way back in the day when I was a kid with a regular watch, I didn't take it off for sleeping or showering.
With the Apple Watch, I do take it off for showering, partially because it's a Series 0 and that seems too risky for it. For sleeping, I do not — I use it for sleep tracking. So, I have essentially two windows to charge it: most of the charging takes place an hour before sleep, and some of it takes place in the morning while I eat breakfast and shower.
But no, it isn't as easy as with the phone.
B4U
macrumors 68040
Your mileage may vary.
Mine S3 was on airplane mode the whole day from 0800 to 2200, and the battery dropped from 100% to 56%.
I closed all 3 of my rings with the exercise ring closed by doing outdoor walk.
az431
Suspended
Makes perfect sense. First, the 18 hours is extremely conservative. I use mine at full brightness and for tracking workouts and it lasts a day and half at least.
Second, most people don't have the need or desire to wear a watch continuously for more than 18 hours. Even if you wear it to sleep, you can place it on the charger for 20 min at a time throughout the day.
Are there people who do need to wear it for 24 hours straight and lack access to a charger during that entire time? Sure, it's like .0000001% of users.
T-Will
macrumors 65816
I wouldn't worry about the actual Series 4 battery size, anecdotally, it seems at least as good or better than my Series 2 42mm.
After about 2.5 hours of workout (with heart rate monitoring on), and around 18 hours since taking it off the charger, my Series 4 still had about 60% remaining.
It is a no-brainer to pickup a Series 4 (if your budget allows) for the screen, performance, and sensors.
After about 2.5 hours of workout (with heart rate monitoring on), and around 18 hours since taking it off the charger, my Series 4 still had about 60% remaining.
It is a no-brainer to pickup a Series 4 (if your budget allows) for the screen, performance, and sensors.
Mine seems to be pretty bad so far, like my Series 3 was. I’m not paying attention to my settings yet.
On the bright side, I do think even though this one is 40 mm stainless and my last two watches have been 38 mm aluminum, that this 40 mm is the most comfortable Apple Watch I’ve worn so far.
Now I just need to see what’s using up my battery because I know I didn’t do any workouts, not with a wrecked shoulder and neck.
On the bright side, I do think even though this one is 40 mm stainless and my last two watches have been 38 mm aluminum, that this 40 mm is the most comfortable Apple Watch I’ve worn so far.
Now I just need to see what’s using up my battery because I know I didn’t do any workouts, not with a wrecked shoulder and neck.
I have a S4 40mm GPS and after 10 hours (including one workout) I’m at 54% so I can't complain.
Haven't changed any settings so I'm using whatever is default.
Although I have seen people complaining about the battery life but the majority of them seem to be using the LTE model.
Haven't changed any settings so I'm using whatever is default.
Although I have seen people complaining about the battery life but the majority of them seem to be using the LTE model.
Scottsoapbox
macrumors 65816
But we made it THINNER!
spiderman0616
Suspended
Just out of curiosity--how long have you had your Series 0?
I had been wearing my Series 0 since the second they came out--I don't think I ever skipped one day. So if I hadn't upgraded to the Series 4, my Series 0 would be approaching 4 years old in April of 2019. I noticed that all the way up through watchOS 3 it got pretty great battery life with moderate use (workout days would usually require an extra charge at some point), but then when watchOS 4 hit, things started going downhill fast. Original watchOS 4.0 made it way worse, then they'd release a dot update and it would get better, then it got worse again, then better. Kind of back and forth like that for several releases. The last two dot releases of watchOS 4 my battery life was just garbage. By mid day I'd be at 60%.
I actually don't think it was an issue with the inadequate hardware. Even though the Series 0 is super slow on watchOS 4, my wife has a pretty new Series 0 that she got replaced recently by Apple due to the battery going bad in her original, and she usually goes to bed at night with about 50% battery left. I suspect that 3-3 1/2 years is possibly about when you can expect an Apple Watch battery to start really showing its age.
Chrjy
macrumors 65816
The battery in my Series 4 is great. I put it on at 7:50am this morning, have done over 10km walking (approximately 10,500 steps), it's on full brightness and used it for a few texts, emails and apps today. It's just gone 9:30pm here in the UK and it's still saying 75% battery left. That's impressive in my book.
I have to say I am absolutely loving my Series 4 but then I did come from a Series 0....it's literally night and day. Side note: I don't have the LTE version.
I have to say I am absolutely loving my Series 4 but then I did come from a Series 0....it's literally night and day. Side note: I don't have the LTE version.
There is always a possibility of a lemon. If it isn't easily lasting all day it's probably worth troubleshooting the software or checking with Apple on the hardware.
Not me. The original Apple Watch was already thick enough in my opinion, and it just kept getting thicker and thicker every generation. I’m glad the Series 4 takes it back down to about the same thickness as the original.
I’m one of the people who always wanted a thicker iPhone with better battery life, but for a wearable, I actually care a lot about thinness.