Battery life cellular Vs. GPS?

[Gix1k]

I had a Series 5 GPS 44mm and I never ran out of battery in a day. I upgraded to a Series 6 cellular and the battery is nearly dead at the end of a day. I’m getting low battery warnings and I can honestly say I never said one on the S5.

Is this to be expected, first cellular watch?

 

[JJL2026]

I have the S5 GPS +Cellular and by the end of the day my watch is at 20%.

 

[waw74]

the watch only turns radios on if it needs them, starts with bluetooth, if it can't find that it turns on wifi, if it can't find that it turns on cell (assuming you don't have any of those disabled) So as long as your phone is close, or you're by a known wifi network the cell should never kick on.
If you're away from your phone all day, then you might start to have issues.

how long have you had the watch? it normally takes a bit for the battery to exercise when they're brand new, could also be the watch calibrating itself with the battery.
if it's under a week or 2, give it a few more days and see if it gets better.

also seems to have shorter battery life for a few days after OS upgrades, not sure if it's doing some organizing in the background, or calibrating the battery.

I've also got a 5 with cell, and similar to JJ, I'm normally about 20% at the end of the day. But I wear it all day and night, and normally charge in the evenings, so I can wear it to sleep. Took mine off charge at midnight last night, and now at 4pm it's at 68%, which I'm actually kinda surprised by. I always put it in theater mode overnight (done with automations in shortcuts at 11p and 8a). I do have "always on" turned off at the moment, but before I was getting about 36 hours out of it, so I just had to charge sometime during the day.

The current version of watchOS does seem to be worse about battery life than previous ones. Why I currently have always on turned off.

 

[827538]

S6 44mm WiFi only, I usually finish the day at 60%+, battery life is exceptional. I'm worn and used it for two days before without is dying.

 

[Gix1k]

I’ve had the watch for less than 2 weeks. I just pulled it off the charger to sleep in it. It’s at 100% right now and it’ll most likely be around 80% when I get up by 8am.
My phone has been around the watch everyday. I haven’t tested the cell coverage yet(going without phone).
Like someone below said…my S5 GPS watch would be around 60% or so. There’s certainly a difference in the power consumption between the two.
I may try theater mode at night. I’ll report where it is when I get up.

 

[Gix1k]

I put the watch in cinema mode with it on 100%. Woke up at 7:30am and it’s on 88%. Something can’t be right here. 12% decrease in less than 8hrs with screen off and no notifications.

Suggestions on what I could/should do?

 

[bricktop_at]

I put the watch in cinema mode with it on 100%. Woke up at 7:30am and it’s on 88%. Something can’t be right here. 12% decrease in less than 8hrs with screen off and no notifications.

Suggestions on what I could/should do?

Perfectly normal if you ask me.... my S6 loses around 15-20% in about 9 hours (~6 of those in sleep mode).

 

[Gix1k]

Perfectly normal if you ask me.... my S6 loses around 15-20% in about 9 hours (~6 of those in sleep mode).

Hmmm! Im going to reset it. I did a restore from S5 watch. Going to setup fresh. You say this is normal, but is it known that cellular watches consume more power than GPS watches? This is my first one, so not sure.
My S5 could really stay off the charger for two days.

 

[bricktop_at]

... but is it known that cellular watches consume more power than GPS watches?

If cellular is actually used, yes... in that case they use more power, but only in that case. If the iPhone is nearby or Wifi is available, it's nothing different from a watch without cellular.

 

[Gix1k]

If cellular is actually used, yes... in that case they use more power, but only in that case. If the iPhone is nearby or Wifi is available, it's nothing different from a watch without cellular.

So I certainly have an issue then. My phone has been around since I got the watch a week or so ago.

 

[Expos of 1969]

The current version of watchOS does seem to be worse about battery life than previous ones. Why I currently have always on turned off.

Many people have said they do that. Not a very good advertisement for those (like myself) who have never had an Apple Watch but may be thinking about getting one. Having to turn off one of the main new features on the Series 6 in order to get ok battery life does not lead to the thought "Wow, I must get myself one of these". And from what I have read, Always On is dim most of the time anyway even when on.

 

[bricktop_at]

So I certainly have an issue then. My phone has been around since I got the watch a week or so ago.

If you ask me, you don't. What you have stated (~88%) after sleeping is quite good if you ask me and perfectly normal.

 

[Gix1k]

If you ask me, you don't. What you have stated (~88%) after sleeping is quite good if you ask me and perfectly normal.

In cinema mode though with no activity? I could see 12% in normal mode.
I just totally wiped it and starting fresh.

 

[bricktop_at]

In cinema mode though with no activity? I could see 12% in normal mode.
I just totally wiped it and starting fresh.

In sleep mode, Display off for about 6 hours.

 

[axantas]

5-6% during the night. I usually put it on the charger around 9pm and then it is fully charged until I go to bed. It does not have to stay there during the night, so I just take the watch off the charger arount midnight and start at 95% at 7am in the morning.
Usual behaviour since S3. No cinema- or flight-mode. Cellular not active. I tried the flight mode a couple of times, but did not see any change. I do not wear the watch while sleeping.

 

[bricktop_at]

5-6% during the night. I usually put it on the charger around 9pm and then it is fully charged until I go to bed. It does not have to stay there during the night, so I just take the watch off the charger arount midnight and start at 95% at 7am in the morning.
Usual behaviour since S3. No cinema- or flight-mode. Cellular not active. I tried the flight mode a couple of times, but did not see any change. I do not wear the watch while sleeping.

OK but you’re not wearing it or use sleep tracking right, so I‘d say that‘s normal.

 

[nburwell]

My S5 cellular is usually around 20-30% by the end of the day. Some days it drains a little faster and it's around 15% when I take it off to put on the charger.

I have an SE (GPS only) and I can get almost a day and half out of a charge with that. I always wondered if cellular drained more battery. Though I almost always have my iPhone on me when I'm wearing my S5.

 

[coolajami]

I have a AW6 40mm Cellular. I usually finish a very active day with about 30% charge.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I put the watch in cinema mode with it on 100%. Woke up at 7:30am and it’s on 88%. Something can’t be right here. 12% decrease in less than 8hrs with screen off and no notifications.

Suggestions on what I could/should do?

I use the Apple Sleep app which turns off the AOD (on my series 6 cellular) when I go to sleep at night. And when I wake up, my battery is usually 84 - 88%. What you are seeing overnight is normal.

 

[Gix1k]

I use the Apple Sleep app which turns off the AOD (on my series 6 cellular) when I go to sleep at night. And when I wake up, my battery is usually 84 - 88%. What you are seeing overnight is normal.

Thanks! It’s crazy the difference in battery between the two models.

 

[bricktop_at]

I use the Apple Sleep app which turns off the AOD (on my series 6 cellular) when I go to sleep at night. And when I wake up, my battery is usually 84 - 88%. What you are seeing overnight is normal.

Exactly the same for me. And it is also about the same with my S4 and S5.
Although… the S4 has a bit more juice left at the end of a day, compared to S5 or S6, but over night it‘s about the same battery usage