Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

msackey

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Oct 8, 2020
2,911
3,324
I'm seeing recent reviews that the Ultra's low power mode is soon-to-come. WatchOS 9 public release already has low power mode; I can see it and have used it on my Series 4. Is there a different low power mode for the Ultra which in fact is yet to be released?
 
I don't know, I just know Apple says low power mode on the Ultra coming soon, not sure what will be different about it.
 
I believe the mode coming for the Ultra will randomly check heart rate and gps during workouts to boost the battery hours.
Not sure how the heart rate sensor will act while not doing a workout.
 
  • Like
Reactions: andresandiego
I believe the mode coming for the Ultra will randomly check heart rate and gps during workouts to boost the battery hours.
Not sure how the heart rate sensor will act while not doing a workout.
I thought the current low power mode for the other Series watches continues to check heart rate and GPS during this mod too.
 
I was curious about this too -- I feel like the standard LPM shuts a ton of things off I like having, like heart monitoring and stuff like that. Activity tracking, too?

This new one has me very intrigued, though I can find no info on it anywhere.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wackery
I'm seeing recent reviews that the Ultra's low power mode is soon-to-come. WatchOS 9 public release already has low power mode; I can see it and have used it on my Series 4. Is there a different low power mode for the Ultra which in fact is yet to be released?
I’m hoping and hearing rumours it’s a configurable mode. Like you could run a marathon and have low power mode set up to not recieve messages and calls and not have always on display but still stream music and track your heart rate etc at full power. Basically set it to what you need and save on what you don’t. If that’s doable and completely customisable I’m going to be so happy
 
Wait…an ultra-low power mode? So we going to get even better battery life. Wow. Charged to 100% Monday night. Right now at 60%. AOD always on. I don’t sleep with watch BTW.
 
Wait…an ultra-low power mode? So we going to get even better battery life. Wow. Charged to 100% Monday night. Right now at 60%. AOD always on. I don’t sleep with watch BTW.
It actually uses more during sleep than idol use during the day I find but I wear it at night for sleep tracking. I’ve never charged to 100% and still skip a days charge sometimes
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigMcGuire
I’m hoping and hearing rumours it’s a configurable mode. Like you could run a marathon and have low power mode set up to not recieve messages and calls and not have always on display but still stream music and track your heart rate etc at full power. Basically set it to what you need and save on what you don’t. If that’s doable and completely customisable I’m going to be so happy
I see. I hope it is configurable. If I ever get back to really long runs or rides again, all I really need is just the direct tracking of my workout and nothing else. For example, I don't need notification, I don't need cellular or wifi, etc.
 
Wait…an ultra-low power mode? So we going to get even better battery life. Wow. Charged to 100% Monday night. Right now at 60%. AOD always on. I don’t sleep with watch BTW.

Apparently there will be a special low power mode later on this year that will give you up to 60 hours on one full charge. It was announced at the key note presentation when they announced the Ultra.
 
I just did a near three day LPM test with the AWU and found that it sips about 20-22% of battery daily in that mode. That is about 40% LOWER than in the regular mode. Limited sleep tracking, it does it but no HR or O2.. that was including a couple workouts and the standard daily - work week alerts, messages, reminders, notifications, GPS tracking, etc.. so not sure WHAT apple has planned for releasing in later this year, but the current LPM seems to take the usability to between 4-5 days.
 
Last edited:
I see. I hope it is configurable. If I ever get back to really long runs or rides again, all I really need is just the direct tracking of my workout and nothing else. For example, I don't need notification, I don't need cellular or wifi, etc.
You could probably just turn off cellular and always on display then. If that wasn't enough you could go into background refresh and turn off the apps you're not using. I'm just hoping I can stream music and get full workout stats but worst case I'll just download a playlist to it and do this as well.
 
You could probably just turn off cellular and always on display then. If that wasn't enough you could go into background refresh and turn off the apps you're not using. I'm just hoping I can stream music and get full workout stats but worst case I'll just download a playlist to it and do this as well.
To do that frequently is inconvenient, prone to mistakes, and also bothersome having to turn them off and on depending on when one begins and ends a workout. In a pinch, yes, that can work, but not for every time.
 
To do that frequently is inconvenient, prone to mistakes, and also bothersome having to turn them off and on depending on when one begins and ends a workout. In a pinch, yes, that can work, but not for every time.
Turning off cellular would almost definitely get you through an all day workout in all seriousness though. Without messing with anything
 
  • Like
Reactions: msackey
I’m hoping and hearing rumours it’s a configurable mode. Like you could run a marathon and have low power mode set up to not recieve messages and calls and not have always on display but still stream music and track your heart rate etc at full power. Basically set it to what you need and save on what you don’t. If that’s doable and completely customisable I’m going to be so happy
I'm in this camp -- would love a mode where I can flip various switches for a tailored low-power mode. There are many times I don't need AOD on if I'm wearing long sleeves or have heavy coats on for long periods. I always disliked how low power made it into a 1980s digital watch (not that there's anything wrong with that). I do still like having heart rate info, etc.
 
I'm in this camp -- would love a mode where I can flip various switches for a tailored low-power mode. There are many times I don't need AOD on if I'm wearing long sleeves or have heavy coats on for long periods. I always disliked how low power made it into a 1980s digital watch (not that there's anything wrong with that). I do still like having heart rate info, etc.
100%. In the end I've opted to keep AOD off almost always and I'm sticking to my cheaper cell carrier who doesn't offer Sim sharing. I just download workout playlists for when I'm out running. I'd rather not get notifications when I'm working out anyway and always hated that about taking my phone to the gym. So I now get everything I want the watch for and have background app refresh turned off on everything my phone does anyway. Looking forward to what apple does with this new low power mode but more for interests sake than anything.
 
It actually uses more during sleep than idol use during the day I find but I wear it at night for sleep tracking. I’ve never charged to 100% and still skip a days charge sometimes
I tend to put it on low power mode while sleeping tracking to help with reduced battery drain
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.