Are watches pre-charged before they are shipped?

[G.McGilli]

My new Series 5 arrived yesterday- and after opening it, and pairing it to the iPhone which only takes a few minutes - it already had 95% battery.

I ran the serial # and see it was MFG in 3rd week January - so, are the watches charged before shipping or can they just hold their charge that long (5 months - losing 5%) when powered off?

Serial number: (Entered)
Nice Name: Apple Watch Series 5 Edition Ceramic 44mm
Family name:
Group1: Apple Watch
Group2: Series5
Screen size: 44mm inch
Screen resolution: 448x368 pixels
Colour: Please tell us what colour this Apple Watch is.
Production year : 2020
Production week : 3 (January)
Model introduced: 2019
Memory - flavour: Soldered
Factory: G9

 

[44267547]

My new Series 5 arrived yesterday- and after opening it, and pairing it to the iPhone which only takes a few minutes - it already had 95% battery.

I ran the serial # and see it was MFG in 3rd week January - so, are the watches charged before shipping or can they just hold their charge that long (5 months - losing 5%) when powered off?

Serial number: (Entered)
Nice Name: Apple Watch Series 5 Edition Ceramic 44mm
Family name:
Group1: Apple Watch
Group2: Series5
Screen size: 44mm inch
Screen resolution: 448x368 pixels
Colour: Please tell us what colour this Apple Watch is.
Production year : 2020
Production week : 3 (January)
Model introduced: 2019
Memory - flavour: Soldered
Factory: G9

The batteries are factory new when they install them obviously, the 5% discharge is completely natural. You have to look at considerations of factors when a battery discharges, {I.e-what was the ambient temperature it was stored in, what was the state of the battery % when it was installed, ect}, Some batteries only have 80% charge when they are installed From the manufacturer, it really is a give-or-take process anywhere ranging from 80 to 100%. I don’t think I’ve ever had an Apple product that’s at 100% charge From the factory, it’s usually hovering around ~80% to 85%.

Obviously, lithium ion batteries when not in use, will naturally discharge. The most important thing, is the environment they are stored in and not to allow them to fully deplete on a regular basis, as it’s not healthy for the chemical composition for lithium batteries.

Just as a quick metric, I’ve owned over [9] Apple watches, and all of them were at like 80% from the factory. So you being at 95%, I’d say that’s a really healthy battery, especially given that held a charge for over four months.

 

[G.McGilli]

The batteries are factory new when they install them obviously, the 5% discharge is completely natural. You have to look at considerations of factors when a battery discharges, {I.e-what was the ambient temperature it was stored in, what was the state of the battery % when it was installed, ect}, Some batteries only have 80% charge when they are installed From the manufacturer, it really is a give-or-take process anywhere ranging from 80 to 100%. I don’t think I’ve ever had an Apple product that’s at 100% charge From the factory, it’s usually hovering around ~80% to 85%.

Obviously, lithium ion batteries when not in use, will naturally discharge. The most important thing, is the environment they are stored in and not to allow them to fully deplete on a regular basis, as it’s not healthy for the chemical composition for lithium batteries.

I was impressed it still had so much charge left in it! ? Thanks for the info

 

[FenC]

That's surprising. Even charging to over 80% is bad for lithium batteries, and storing that much especially so, which is why the iPhone now limits when it charges the last 20% based on usage patterns. Usually things ship at about 60% charge, which is good for he battery, although the 2 S5s I've had cause to open since March were both dead flat, which is also not good for them.

While batteries are of course new when the watch is assembled, they aren't manufactured fully charged, rather they need to be charged after manufacture.

Where did you get it, and was the packaging sealed?

 

[Regbial]

That's surprising. Even charging to over 80% is bad for lithium batteries, and storing that much especially so, which is why the iPhone now limits when it charges the last 20% based on usage patterns. Usually things ship at about 60% charge, which is good for he battery, although the 2 S5s I've had cause to open since March were both dead flat, which is also not good for them.

While batteries are of course new when the watch is assembled, they aren't manufactured fully charged, rather they need to be charged after manufacture.

Where did you get it, and was the packaging sealed?

well, according to LinusTechTips, what is healthiest for the battery is charging from 45-65 percent.... but 80% is a happy medium I guess...

more importantly I think: charging in a cool environment.

 

[G.McGilli]

Where did you get it, and was the packaging sealed?

I actually ordered it from Apple online a few weeks ago. Followed its tracking all the way from China to my house myself And it was sealed in all the wrap etc.

Here's the thing... The reason I was confused was last Fall I bought the official Apple battery case for an XS Max - from the Apple store just down the road from me. And when I got home and opened it and put it on the phone - the case had 0% battery. Which was odd I thought - unless it had been sitting for a year in the store etc I thought to myself (I don't know how well batteries hold their charge over time when not in use)

Anyways - that's why when this watch was so full - I decided to check the manufacture date out of curiosity figuring it must have been manufactured just a few weeks before ?

 

[FenC]

well, according to LinusTechTips, what is healthiest for the battery is charging from 45-65 percent.... but 80% is a happy medium I guess...

more importantly I think: charging in a cool environment.

That's pretty much what I understand also - for storage charging to approximately half capacity is optimal - and that's why I have found most rechargeable devices to be shipped around 60%.

In general use only charging to 80% rather than 100% hugely reduces ageing of the battery - an option to do that is being added to the next version of Catalina IIRC for exactly that reason, and as someone who uses their MBP on power almost all the time I'm eagerly waiting to be able to turn it on. It's also an option with Tesla cars I believe.

Probably only charging to 65% would be even better, but 80% is where the degradation really starts to build and only going to 65% is perhaps too big a compromise on how long the device lasts between charges.

I actually ordered it from Apple online a few weeks ago. Followed its tracking all the way from China to my house myself And it was sealed in all the wrap etc.

Here's the thing... The reason I was confused was last Fall I bought the official Apple battery case for an XS Max - from the Apple store just down the road from me. And when I got home and opened it and put it on the phone - the case had 0% battery. Which was odd I thought - unless it had been sitting for a year in the store etc I thought to myself (I don't know how well batteries hold their charge over time when not in use)

Anyways - that's why when this watch was so full - I decided to check the manufacture date out of curiosity figuring it must have been manufactured just a few weeks before ?

Yeah, I figured being a ceramic Edition that would be the case. It just seems weird. Somewhere between assembling the raw materials to produce the battery and the Watch being packaged it has to be charged if is isn't to arrive dead flat, but given charging to ~100% is both bad for the battery, takes longer and consumes more power during the production process there is no good reason it would be done. I assume just a mistake then.

BTW envious of your ceramic. They aren't available here in NZ and I've never even seen one, but I have an SS and an SBSS S5, and I'd thoroughly enjoy having a white Watch to include in the mix as well. Maybe if they carry over to S6 I'll grab one in Australia.

 

[Regbial]

That's pretty much what I understand also - for storage charging to approximately half capacity is optimal - and that's why I have found most rechargeable devices to be shipped around 60%.

In general use only charging to 80% rather than 100% hugely reduces ageing of the battery - an option to do that is being added to the next version of Catalina IIRC for exactly that reason, and as someone who uses their MBP on power almost all the time I'm eagerly waiting to be able to turn it on. It's also an option with Tesla cars I believe.

Probably only charging to 65% would be even better, but 80% is where the degradation really starts to build and only going to 65% is perhaps too big a compromise on how long the device lasts between charges.

You know what would be sweet? If Apple gave us this option for iPHones and iPads too... to have it top charging at 80%, not even "trickle charge" like they do now.. Just straight up stop charging. That way I can stop using timers -.-

 

[Significant1]

You know what would be sweet? If Apple gave us this option for iPHones and iPads too... to have it top charging at 80%, not even "trickle charge" like they do now.. Just straight up stop charging. That way I can stop using timers -.-

They already added optimized charging to ios first

About Optimized Battery Charging on your iPhone - Apple Support

In iOS 13, your iPhone learns from your daily charging habits to improve the lifespan of your battery.

support.apple.com

 

[Sirious]

My new Series 5 arrived yesterday- and after opening it, and pairing it to the iPhone which only takes a few minutes - it already had 95% battery.

I ran the serial # and see it was MFG in 3rd week January - so, are the watches charged before shipping or can they just hold their charge that long (5 months - losing 5%) when powered off?

Serial number: (Entered)
Nice Name: Apple Watch Series 5 Edition Ceramic 44mm
Family name:
Group1: Apple Watch
Group2: Series5
Screen size: 44mm inch
Screen resolution: 448x368 pixels
Colour: Please tell us what colour this Apple Watch is.
Production year : 2020
Production week : 3 (January)
Model introduced: 2019
Memory - flavour: Soldered
Factory: G9

Can you share how you checked/found the above info please?
Thanks!

 

[G.McGilli]

Can you share how you checked/found the above info please?
Thanks!

THis is the one I found that seems to be popular on Reddit

Klantenservice: Serienummers

 

[FenC]

They already added optimized charging to ios first

About Optimized Battery Charging on your iPhone - Apple Support

In iOS 13, your iPhone learns from your daily charging habits to improve the lifespan of your battery.

support.apple.com

That holds off charging the last 20% so it completes just before you usually take it off charge.

It’s better than nothing, but what I believe Catalina is getting, and Tesla has, is stopping at 80% and not charging any further.

 

[G.McGilli]

If this is all really as important as people make it out to be (I don't believe it is as they are consumable devices anyways) then companies like Apple, Tesla, Lenovo etc could just recalibrate all their software so that battery indicators show the battery as full when it's really at 80% and stop charging then. In effect giving people 20% less battery so that... Their batter always stays at 80% maximum charge longer?

I'd rather have the full 100% when new and have the battery hold less charge as time goes on as they've always done.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

If this is all really as important as people make it out to be (I don't believe it is as they are consumable devices anyways) then companies like Apple, Tesla, Lenovo etc could just recalibrate all their software so that battery indicators show the battery as full when it's really at 80% and stop charging then. In effect giving people 20% less battery so that... Their batter always stays at 80% maximum charge longer?

I'd rather have the full 100% when new and have the battery hold less charge as time goes on as they've always done.

I think this would turn into another battery-related public relations nightmare for anyone who did it. There will be those who insist on charging to maximum capacity in order to have maximum battery run-time. Charging to only 80% would be "crippling" the device, "paying for battery capacity I can't use," etc. Battery Gate all over again. And regardless of what the built-in battery condition software reported, independent battery performance apps would interpret the battery condition data however they pleased.

Considering the likely cost of replacing a Tesla's batteries, I might choose to manage the batteries for longer life on a day-to-day basis. If, say, I rarely drove more than 20 miles a day, I'd appreciate a charging plan that maximized battery longevity. However, on those days when I expected to drive a long distance, I'd want the maximum distance the batteries could deliver, not 80% of that distance. I'd want options. "Maximum distance at all times," "Maximum battery life at all times," "Charge fully tomorrow, because I'm going out of town." The software should be smart enough to detect average driving patterns - short distances on weekdays, longer trips on weekends for example, or checking my calendar for scheduled drives.

This kind of thing needs to be adjustable/adaptable, it can't be an across-the-board, never-used reserve. And when we consider the weight of a Tesla's battery pack, the energy cost of constantly transporting the weight of that 20% that never gets used can be substantial. For that matter, someone who carries around a laptop may also resent carrying the weight and bulk of a 20% larger battery.

 

[FenC]

If this is all really as important as people make it out to be (I don't believe it is as they are consumable devices anyways) then companies like Apple, Tesla, Lenovo etc could just recalibrate all their software so that battery indicators show the battery as full when it's really at 80% and stop charging then. In effect giving people 20% less battery so that... Their batter always stays at 80% maximum charge longer?

I'd rather have the full 100% when new and have the battery hold less charge as time goes on as they've always done.

Did you miss the whole “Apple throttled my older iPhone” thing? It’s a huge deal.

And if you’re good with a battery losing capacity as it ages then you clearly don’t need 100% of the new capacity to support your usage, so why wouldn’t you want the battery to only go to 80% and last longer? What am I missing, because your last statement doesn’t make sense to me?

I think this would turn into another battery-related public relations nightmare for anyone who did it. There will be those who insist on charging to maximum capacity in order to have maximum battery run-time. Charging to only 80% would be "crippling" the device, "paying for battery capacity I can't use," etc. Battery Gate all over again. And regardless of what the built-in battery condition software reported, independent battery performance apps would interpret the battery condition data however they pleased.

Considering the likely cost of replacing a Tesla's batteries, I might choose to manage the batteries for longer life on a day-to-day basis. If, say, I rarely drove more than 20 miles a day, I'd appreciate a charging plan that maximized battery longevity. However, on those days when I expected to drive a long distance, I'd want the maximum distance the batteries could deliver, not 80% of that distance. I'd want options. "Maximum distance at all times," "Maximum battery life at all times," "Charge fully tomorrow, because I'm going out of town." The software should be smart enough to detect average driving patterns - short distances on weekdays, longer trips on weekends for example, or checking my calendar for scheduled drives.

This kind of thing needs to be adjustable/adaptable, it can't be an across-the-board, never-used reserve. And when we consider the weight of a Tesla's battery pack, the energy cost of constantly transporting the weight of that 20% that never gets used can be substantial. For that matter, someone who carries around a laptop may also resent carrying the weight and bulk of a 20% larger battery.

I like what the iPhone does, but it needs to have an option to stop at 80% as well. I’d do that with my 11 Pro Max as I went Max for the screen size, not because I needed extra battery capacity. I’ll also do it with my 16”MBP and I’d do it with my iPad Pro, because they rarely get used for long away from power.

I don’t have a Tesla, but someone on here must do. I doubt they try to learn your patterns to automate charging, if only because you wouldn’t charge one every night like you might with your iPhone, and you obviously don’t drive them always connected to power like a lot of MacBooks are. I believe they have a setting to limit how far they charge when you connect them, and you can override it.

Actually the non-Tesla EV fast chargers I have used locally default to 80% now I think of it - you need to ask for a 100% charge if you want that and the idea is you only do that if you need the full range.

Its a bigger deal for car batteries, but in general charging to under 80% and charging before the level gets below 20% is recommended to maximize the life, and if you need to store it then around 40%-60% is best.

 

[G.McGilli]

Did you miss the whole “Apple throttled my older iPhone” thing? It’s a huge deal.

And if you’re good with a battery losing capacity as it ages then you clearly don’t need 100% of the new capacity to support your usage, so why wouldn’t you want the battery to only go to 80% and last longer? What am I missing, because your last statement doesn’t make sense to me?

You just didn't see the correlation when taking both of my statements together - as they both compliment each other.

First I said I don't believe it's as important as people make it out to be - only charging to 80%.

Second I said I'd rather just have my device charge to 100% as they have always done.

So, both statements are in fact - supportive of each other. And they both make sense.

To answer your italics question: Because in my experience a battery that charges to 100% lasts longer, per charge, than a battery that only is charged to 80% - and every 2 or so years when I upgrade my devices - my battery capacity still seems to be above 80%. So, why would I want less charge - having to charge more frequently - over the life of my device while I am using it? I wouldn't. Final answer.

But -this is just my personal experience, yours may differ.

Anyways - this forum is for fun IMO. I try not to take it too seriously by confronting and challenging people when they voice their opinions. I find it pointless when we're all just random people with a shared passion for Apple products from around the world throwing around ideas and guesses and hopes.

Your question was good though ?

 

[G.McGilli]

As a side note I picked up an iPad Pro yesterday - upon turning on the battery is at 94%

Production week : 20 (May)
Model introduced: 2020

So it seems they do charge new devices to full before shipping them out.