I love the brighter Always-on Display of the Apple Watch S7!

[haruhiko]

I wish there was a test in this because I would think it does. The screen uses a lot of the power. If you think it doesn’t, then you can believe that. If you know of any test, I’m open to being wrong. I just upgraded the S7 from an S3, so it’ll take me some time to figure out my gains. The S3 wasn’t cutting it for me in terms if battery life but the S7 is significantly better and I think it’s because I turned off AOD.

The AOD mode is running at 1Hz on an LTPO OLED display. Together with the darker colour of the faces in AOD mode [the pixels in an OLED do not lit up when displaying black], it consumes much less energy than running in full colour full (60Hz?) refresh rate. In my personal experience, the difference is only about 10-15%. With AOD on, on a typical work day which I remove the Watch at around 07:30am, and when I put it back to the charger at 11:00pm or so, the battery is usually at 40%.

With the fast charger of the S7, it pumps back the watch to 80-90% in no time.

 

[bluespark]

Who's talking about a date or social gathering except you? People often check the time when they are by themselves or have to get to that date or social gathering. And if I have to get home to my kid or something more important than that date or social gathering, I don't give a rat's ass who's company I'm in I'll surely check my watch if I have to.

Good for you, but lots of us don't inhabit an environment where we can freely or politely raise our arm to check the time. AOD is a great thing for those of us in that situation.

 

[JBGoode]

Good for you, but lots of us don't inhabit an environment where we can freely or politely raise our arm to check the time. AOD is a great thing for those of us in that situation.

Whatever

I was pointing out to someone else the fact that people raise their arms to check the time quite often and have been for decades. It's literally how it's done when wearing a watch. It isn't a crime and only considered rude in certain situations that people aren't in all of the time or in some cases, most of the time. Thanks for your two cents though.

 

[perezr10]

I’ve noticed that the watch hands on the new contour watch face are especially bright when at rest. I love how my watch always looks like a watch.

Heres my “sleep” face.

 

[rishiomedia]

The AOD mode is running at 1Hz on an LTPO OLED display. Together with the darker colour of the faces in AOD mode [the pixels in an OLED do not lit up when displaying black], it consumes much less energy than running in full colour full (60Hz?) refresh rate. In my personal experience, the difference is only about 10-15%. With AOD on, on a typical work day which I remove the Watch at around 07:30am, and when I put it back to the charger at 11:00pm or so, the battery is usually at 40%.

With the fast charger of the S7, it pumps back the watch to 80-90% in no time.

Good to know. I have to say, after using AOD all day, combined with my Milanese loop and that new  Watchface that extends the corner - I’m not wanting it to go away. For me it’s not needed, but it makes the watch nicer to look at.

 

[Ram65]

Sooo should I upgrade from my series 6 then ?

 

[haruhiko]

Sooo should I upgrade from my series 6 then ?

Your choice ?

 

[sonstar]

Wasn't something I noticed before I returned mine.

 

[haruhiko]

I’ve noticed that the watch hands on the new contour watch face are especially bright when at rest. I love how my watch always looks like a watch.

Heres my “sleep” face.
View attachment 1905196

This colour actually looks good on the contour face. Let me try.

 

[haruhiko]

1. I took it off the charger at 7:37AM today. AOD on, did an outdoor run exercise for 30 minutes at 1:30pm. 41% at 11:21PM before putting on the (fast) charger.


2. 11:41pm, after being on the charger for 20 minutes, the battery is at 79%.



I’m very satisfied with this performance

 

[rishiomedia]

1. I took it off the charger at 7:37AM today. AOD on, did an outdoor run exercise for 30 minutes at 1:30pm. 41% at 11:21PM before putting on the (fast) charger.
View attachment 1905727

2. 11:41pm, after being on the charger for 20 minutes, the battery is at 79%.

View attachment 1905728

I’m very satisfied with this performance

Yes that’s great. The reason I’m interested in conserving battery life is because I’m often traveling and out of the home for long stretches of time. Plus, I use the watch extensively, probably more than most people, especially the camera remote app for photography and film-making. I use it a lot for walking navigation as well because each day I generally walk 5 miles to different places for iPhoneography. It all takes up a lot of battery power. That all said, I love how the Contour Face looks when I wear my watch - so elegant. Much nicer than a black screen. I’ll probably strike a balance and keep the screen always on when going to meet other people or non-photography days, and keep it off when I’m on my own doing photography or traveling. The simple Siri Command helps a lot with that (”Set Always On” command toggles between keeping it Always On or not Always On).

 

[haruhiko]

Yes that’s great. The reason I’m interested in conserving battery life is because I’m often traveling and out of the home for long stretches of time. Plus, I use the watch extensively, probably more than most people, especially the camera remote app for photography and film-making. I use it a lot for walking navigation as well because each day I generally walk 5 miles to different places for iPhoneography. It all takes up a lot of battery power. That all said, I love how the Contour Face looks when I wear my watch - so elegant. Much nicer than a black screen. I’ll probably strike a balance and keep the screen always on when going to meet other people or non-photography days, and keep it off when I’m on my own doing photography or traveling. The simple Siri Command helps a lot with that (”Set Always On” command toggles between keeping it Always On or not Always On).

The contour face is rather dark during AOD mode and I think in theory it conserves more energy than the other Faces with more information on the screen… just in theory

 

[geepondy]

I just upgraded from series 4 and always on display is bright enough so that at least for indoor use, it could stay that way all day. Battery life is very similar to my series 4. After wearing for 22 hours (roughly 10 at night to 8 the next night), both watches are around 35-40 percent depending on how many workouts I've had. I've heard people complain about the accuracy of the blood oxygen sensor but in comparison to my finger pulse oximeter, it's dead on, both within 1 percent of each other. It's a nice update from the series 4. The larger display is definitely noticeable although I think part of it is because Apple also made the buttons bigger in relationship to the total screen size compared to earlier versions. I'm very pleased with the watch. I would love better better life but not at the expense of performance.

 

[haruhiko]

I just upgraded from series 4 and always on display is bright enough so that at least for indoor use, it could stay that way all day. Battery life is very similar to my series 4. After wearing for 22 hours (roughly 10 at night to 8 the next night), both watches are around 35-40 percent depending on how many workouts I've had. I've heard people complain about the accuracy of the blood oxygen sensor but in comparison to my finger pulse oximeter, it's dead on, both within 1 percent of each other. It's a nice update from the series 4. The larger display is definitely noticeable although I think part of it is because Apple also made the buttons bigger in relationship to the total screen size compared to earlier versions. I'm very pleased with the watch. I would love better better life but not at the expense of performance.

Since the Blood Oxygen sensor reads the blood colour on our wrist which is less translucent than our finger tip it is not as easy to measure as the finger pulse oximeter. We need to have the watch face up and the watch can't be too loose.

 

[Night Spring]

Good for you, but lots of us don't inhabit an environment where we can freely or politely raise our arm to check the time. AOD is a great thing for those of us in that situation.

I'm trying to think of how I could "glance" at a watch on my wrist without raising and/or twisting my arm, and coming up blank. Yes, the AOD helps in that you don't have to raise/twist your arm quite as prominently as you do to get the watch to turn on, but it's not like you are able to see the time while keeping your arm completely still.

 

[haruhiko]

I'm trying to think of how I could "glance" at a watch on my wrist without raising and/or twisting my arm, and coming up blank. Yes, the AOD helps in that you don't have to raise/twist your arm quite as prominently as you do to get the watch to turn on, but it's not like you are able to see the time while keeping your arm completely still.

It's just like how you glance at every other watch

 

[Night Spring]

It's just like how you glance at every other watch

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I used to wear a regular analog watch back when I was in school, and I don't recall being able to look at the time without raising my arm.

As an example, there was this controversy with Biden and his watch.

Did Biden Check Watch Multiple Times During Transfer of Fallen Soldiers?

During the dignified transfer of U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan, U.S. President Joe Biden appeared to glance at his watch.

www.snopes.com

If you look at the pictures, you can see how much Biden had to raise his arm to look at the time on his watch. And that's an analog watch he wears. So even with AOD, I think you'd need to move your arm the same way in order to see the time. Am I wrong?

 

[haruhiko]

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I used to wear a regular analog watch back when I was in school, and I don't recall being able to look at the time without raising my arm.

As an example, there was this controversy with Biden and his watch.

Did Biden Check Watch Multiple Times During Transfer of Fallen Soldiers?

During the dignified transfer of U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan, U.S. President Joe Biden appeared to glance at his watch.

www.snopes.com

If you look at the pictures, you can see how much Biden had to raise his arm to look at the time on his watch. And that's an analog watch he wears. So even with AOD, I think you'd need to move your arm the same way in order to see the time. Am I wrong?

I’m not familiar with Biden’s vision but I totally get your point.

It’s just that for me if it is on par with a traditional watch, it’s excellent for me

 

[rishiomedia]

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I used to wear a regular analog watch back when I was in school, and I don't recall being able to look at the time without raising my arm.

As an example, there was this controversy with Biden and his watch.

Did Biden Check Watch Multiple Times During Transfer of Fallen Soldiers?

During the dignified transfer of U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan, U.S. President Joe Biden appeared to glance at his watch.

www.snopes.com

If you look at the pictures, you can see how much Biden had to raise his arm to look at the time on his watch. And that's an analog watch he wears. So even with AOD, I think you'd need to move your arm the same way in order to see the time. Am I wrong?

For me, AOD is more about the watch looking better for other people who see you wearing the watch. It’s less about function and more about form.

 

[haruhiko]

For me, AOD is more about the watch looking better for other people who see you wearing the watch. It’s less about function and more about form.

True to a certain extent too.

 

[perezr10]

I'm trying to think of how I could "glance" at a watch on my wrist without raising and/or twisting my arm, and coming up blank. Yes, the AOD helps in that you don't have to raise/twist your arm quite as prominently as you do to get the watch to turn on, but it's not like you are able to see the time while keeping your arm completely still.

I use it mainly when I’m sitting in an armchair or at my desk with my hands out on the desk.

or if you’re standing, when your arms are crossed. As someone else said, it’s no different than an analog watch.

 

[perezr10]

For me, AOD is more about the watch looking better for other people who see you wearing the watch. It’s less about function and more about form.

Exactly! Nothing says geaky computer gadget more than a black rectangle.

I remember when I was a kid I didn’t wear a watch but I would get the time by looking at someone else’s watch. I want my Apple Watch to give the time at all times and I want to be able to design watch faces that fit the occasion.

 

[Night Spring]

Nothing says geaky computer gadget more than a black rectangle.

I, for one, see Stephen Colbert or Nancy Pelosi wearing their Apple Watch with the screen blank and think it looks classy. I think it'd be distracting if they had AOD and had some kind of watch face on all the time. I think they also have their watches set so it doesn't turn on when they raise their wrist, because their watches stay blank no matter where their arms are. And that's how I'd set my watch if I were to make public appearances. I'd want people to focus on what I have to say and not on my choice of watch face.

 

[rishiomedia]

I, for one, see Stephen Colbert or Nancy Pelosi wearing their Apple Watch with the screen blank and think it looks classy. I think it'd be distracting if they had AOD and had some kind of watch face on all the time. I think they also have their watches set so it doesn't turn on when they raise their wrist, because their watches stay blank no matter where their arms are. And that's how I'd set my watch if I were to make public appearances. I'd want people to focus on what I have to say and not on my choice of watch face.

That’s why I think it’s great to have choice. I didn’t know how to set the apple watch AOD to on & off without going into Settings until someone told me I can do it with Siri. Best of both worlds and we all get what we want. Both have benefits, without AOD - there is also better battery life so if you like if off, even better for you. I like it on, but battery life is valuable for me so I find a balance.

 

[haruhiko]

I, for one, see Stephen Colbert or Nancy Pelosi wearing their Apple Watch with the screen blank and think it looks classy. I think it'd be distracting if they had AOD and had some kind of watch face on all the time. I think they also have their watches set so it doesn't turn on when they raise their wrist, because their watches stay blank no matter where their arms are. And that's how I'd set my watch if I were to make public appearances. I'd want people to focus on what I have to say and not on my choice of watch face.

Trust me, whether people want to listen to you does not depend on your watch face or the lack of it. It’s whether your speech catches them and whether you have the correct gestures.