My Series 0 might as well be a paper weight...

[mavis]

watchOS 4 decimated battery life on our series 0 watches. We both got new series 3 a few months ago. As a comparison my wife’s series 0 after OS 4 would be about 25% or less in the evening. Her new one is at 75% or better, usually better, by the same point in the evening

Same here. My S3 is currently at 79% (19:34 in the evening) whereas my launch-day S0 would be at about 15% by now. The difference in performance (opening stock apps, even) is night and day, and the battery life is great. I hope this one continues to perform well after 2-3 years.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Apple has not Throttled your Apple Watch, I think your logic is skewed thinking Apple May have otherwise. . Reason being is, watchOS 4 across the board has not been the most promising for the first generation Apple Watch. If you read across the Apple Watch threads in the forum, you will find out there are hundreds of Apple Watch users who have had similar experiences. The first generation Apple Watch needed speed refinements, which actually was addressed with watchOS 3.

From my own experiences with my first generation Apple Watch, it runs perfectly stock applications with no issues, just doesn't have the speed that the Series 3 has with the faster dual core processor . The first generation Apple Watch is just under powered compared to the latest watchOS that's available.

I agree the Watch is still useable. Battery life has degraded but most of the time I can make it through the day. I can still get my notifications, use Apple Pay. It still tracks my activity and I can still use it for all the things I’ve always used it for. I’m upgrading because I want better battery life, the speed improvements and water resistance. I would one day like to use the cellular part of the watch. My carrier doesn’t support it now but I’m hoping they will soon which is why I got the cellular version.

 

[maflynn]

Well this time I’ve just gone for the sports version.

My very reasoning on getting the sports version in the first place was the fact this watch was not going to last 5 years, and given the price tag and how I was going to use it, I felt the sport model was a better fit for my intended usage and budget.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I gave my Series 0 away. I wonder what the gold is worth as a watch?

 

[2nfinite]

My S0 is still going strong, no noticeable changes in performance or battery life after upgrading to watchOS 4.

 

[varunsanthanam]

So why exactly is my logic "skewed" when Apple just admitted they throttle iPhones with aged batteries? I never had any issues until Watch OS 4. It's crazy to think a device I bought 2.5 years ago can no longer perform functions it could less than 6 months ago.

Well, for starters, you don’t seem to understand what “cpu throttling” actually is...

 

[eyeseeyou]

I'm fine with the speed of my 0 but the battery life is atrocious to the point I've switched to a fitbit charge 2 for my activity tracking.

Start my day around 7am and by 6pm I'm at 10-15% battery life.

I really don't need any of the new features of the new apple watches I just need my watch to last at least a day.

Should I spend the $79 to get a new battery or will that not help?

 

[varunsanthanam]

I'm fine with the speed of my 0 but the battery life is atrocious to the point I've switched to a fitbit charge 2 for my activity tracking.

Start my day around 7am and by 6pm I'm at 10-15% battery life.

I really don't need any of the new features of the new apple watches I just need my watch to last at least a day.

Should I spend the $79 to get a new battery or will that not help?

If you’re having Battery issues, the replacement should do the trick. I thought batter replacements were less expensive than that tho

 

[eyeseeyou]

If you’re having Battery issues, the replacement should do the trick. I thought batter replacements were less expensive than that tho

Are you really surprised apples battery service seems higher than expected? lol

The question I have is how to confirm the battery health of my apple watch.

Is there a way to confirm what is draining the battery like there is in the settings app for the iphone?

 

[varunsanthanam]

Are you really surprised apples battery service seems higher than expected? lol

The question I have is how to confirm the battery health of my apple watch.

Is there a way to confirm what is draining the battery like there is in the settings app for the iphone?

Oh not that surprised. I just didn't realize is all, my bad!

Unfortunately, the best you've got is in the watch app > general > usage. At the very bottom, you'll see some battery statistics, but they aren't of much help.

That said, all batteries fail eventually, and all batteries lose charge gradually over time. Anyone who has had an S0 watch and has used it regularly since its release will almost certainly see an increase in overall capacity by getting its battery swapped. If you charge the watch every day, you're probably pretty close to if not already past the 1000 cycles that the battery is rated for. Even if you're at 600-800, you're well on your way and a new battery will certainly help.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Oh not that surprised. I just didn't realize is all, my bad!

Unfortunately, the best you've got is in the watch app > general > usage. At the very bottom, you'll see some battery statistics, but they aren't of much help.

That said, all batteries fail eventually, and all batteries lose charge gradually over time. Anyone who has had an S0 watch and has used it regularly since its release will almost certainly see an increase in overall capacity by getting its battery swapped. If you charge the watch every day, you're probably pretty close to if not already past the 1000 cycles that the battery is rated for. Even if you're at 600-800, you're well on your way and a new battery will certainly help.

What I need the apple watch to do:

• Receive actionable notifications(text messages, phone calls, soc media alerts, fitness apps,etc.)
• Track activity
• Produce semi-accurate heart rate data lol
• Display my next calendar event
• Provide music controls
• Last AT LEAST a day

I don't need a newer apple watch to do any of these things except last more than 12 hours which sounds ridiculous.

I'll schedule a genius bar appointment to get my apple watch checked out.

 

[varunsanthanam]

What I need the apple watch to do:

• Receive actionable notifications(text messages, phone calls, soc media alerts, fitness apps,etc.)
• Track activity
• Produce semi-accurate heart rate data lol
• Display my next calendar event
• Provide music controls
• Last AT LEAST a day

I don't need a newer apple watch to do any of these things except last more than 12 hours which sounds ridiculous.

I'll schedule a genius bar appointment to get my apple watch checked out.

I fully agree. Sounds like a battery replacement is what you need. Just don't expect Apple to tell you it's faulty is what I'm saying: I'd imagine that most S0 early adopters are experiencing severely reduced battery by this point. I could be wrong tho.

 

[Cycling Asia]

Even without upgrading to OS4, it seems the Series 0 is headed towards the landfill. More and more app developers are dropping support for either the Series 0 or OS3. iBiker from fitdigits removed their watch app recently (note that I have a lifetime subscription to this less than useful app). Strava has "broken" their app for older watches since 5.14 when they decoupled the watch and phone apps when the S3 (or S2) came out with integrated GPS. Map my run lost the watch app in a recent update as well.

Looks like although my watch still works as well as it did when I first bought it, I'm not going to be getting much more use out of it in the future if the app developers have their way.

(Shhhh, don't tell anyone, but as I've been blessed with a "gaol borken fone" I was able to downgrade the iBiker app to a version that allowed me to have the watch app as well. Further to that, I'm sitting pretty with v5.12 of the Strava app)

 

[44267547]

Even without upgrading to OS4, it seems the Series 0 is headed towards the landfill. More and more app developers are dropping support for either the Series 0 or OS3.

This is a good point. Developers are will start, if they have not already, abandoning support for the third-party applications. And I thought I read an article about This already happening with some applications. The focus will be the Series 2/Series 3 moving forward.

 

[2nfinite]

My S0 is still going strong, no noticeable changes in performance or battery life after upgrading to watchOS 4.

I've had a couple days where battery dropped below 10% by 7pm, so yes, I am seeing intermittent issues with battery. I recently put Now Playing complication on a watch face, and used that face the couple of days I experienced battery drain issues. Going to remove Now Playing from that face and see if that stops problem.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Just sold my 38mm S0 for $100 and found an 42mm S2 on craiglslist for around $200.

So basically instead of paying Apple $79 for a new battery I “upgraded” to a newer battery and tech,and size, for about the same price.

Battery life is already passed 12 hours and not even at 50%

 

[44267547]

Just sold my 38mm S0 for $100 and found an 42mm S2 on craiglslist for around $200.

So basically instead of paying Apple $79 for a new battery I “upgraded” to a newer battery and tech,and size, for about the same price.

Battery life is already passed 12 hours and not even at 50%

Sounds like you gained plenty of use out of your first generation Apple Watch. If for whatever reason you are concerned with the battery life on the Series 2 used Apple Watch you purchased, Apple can also conduct a free battery test of your Apple Watch over the phone or in store to determine where the battery is if you have any complications.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Sounds like you gained plenty of use out of your first generation Apple Watch. If for whatever reason you are concerned with the battery life on the Series 2 used Apple Watch you purchased, Apple can also conduct a free battery test of your Apple Watch over the phone or in store to determine where the batterie is if you have any complications.

I didn’t see that on the battery replacement page. Good to know.

 

[iKnowMr.Jobs]

I got the Stainless Steel Series Zero shortly after launch and have really be pleased with it. Obviously, the first gen hardware was a little suspect in the speed department but everyone who bought one knew that going into it.

Buying AppleCare did prove to be worth it because it did cover a battery replacement in the middle of last year and it definitely did breath a bit more life into the product. It does still get me through a whole day with little issues. The only thing that seems to be a drain is Workouts. An hour run with music going uses a little over 40%.

 

[eyeseeyou]

I got the Stainless Steel Series Zero shortly after launch and have really be pleased with it. Obviously, the first gen hardware was a little suspect in the speed department but everyone who bought one knew that going into it.

Buying AppleCare did prove to be worth it because it did cover a battery replacement in the middle of last year and it definitely did breath a bit more life into the product. It does still get me through a whole day with little issues. The only thing that seems to be a drain is Workouts. An hour run with music going uses a little over 40%.

Did a battery replacement bring the life back up to 18 hours?

 

[bubsdaddy]

I got the Stainless Steel Series Zero shortly after launch and have really be pleased with it. Obviously, the first gen hardware was a little suspect in the speed department but everyone who bought one knew that going into it.

Buying AppleCare did prove to be worth it because it did cover a battery replacement in the middle of last year and it definitely did breath a bit more life into the product. It does still get me through a whole day with little issues. The only thing that seems to be a drain is Workouts. An hour run with music going uses a little over 40%.

I had the opposite experience. i took my Stainless Steel Zero in right before my Apple Care expired because my battery life was degrading. The Genius ran diagnostics and said my battery was not in the replacement range. It's a bit aggravating but I just usually charge it again in the middle of the day. I must say, it does seem to charge up pretty quickly so it is not a major hassle. I do look forward to my next Apple Watch getting much better battery life. And you are right about the workout being a huge drain on battery life.

 

[satchmo]

Even without upgrading to OS4, it seems the Series 0 is headed towards the landfill. More and more app developers are dropping support for either the Series 0 or OS3.

I wish developers wouldn’t do this.

It’s iOS all over again. Where older phones that don’t need the latest and greatest features becomes that paperweight. I would love to run basic radio apps on my iPhone 3G, but they require iOS 7.

I get developers need to move where the money is (new watches). But surely there’s a large customer base of early AW adopters who want to use basic features originally meant for S0 watches.
Add extra features to v2.0 of your app for S2 and S3 watches.
Although, I admit I don’t know how Apple views this and if the App Store allows for multiple versions.

 

[Altis]

I wish developers wouldn’t do this.

It’s iOS all over again. Where older phones that don’t need the latest and greatest features becomes that paperweight. I would love to run basic radio apps on my iPhone 3G, but they require iOS 7.

I get developers need to move where the money is (new watches). But surely there’s a large customer base of early AW adopters who want to use basic features originally meant for S0 watches.
Add extra features to v2.0 of your app for S2 and S3 watches.
Although, I admit I don’t know how Apple views this and if the App Store allows for multiple versions.

Apple seems to be all for this with all their product range.

I'm not the least bit shocked that a watchOS update ruined the series 0. That's what happens with all of Apple's devices these days.

Are you able to revert back to the previous watchOS version? Or is it permanent like iOS?

It's too bad. Even my iPhone 6 now struggles to do things that weren't a problem on my 3GS, 4S, or 5, despite being many times more powerful. Amazing how much software can just bring a device to its knees... though I really don't get why.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Apple seems to be all for this with all their product range.

I'm not the least bit shocked that a watchOS update ruined the series 0. That's what happens with all of Apple's devices these days.

Are you able to revert back to the previous watchOS version? Or is it permanent like iOS?

It's too bad. Even my iPhone 6 now struggles to do things that weren't a problem on my 3GS, 4S, or 5, despite being many times more powerful. Amazing how much software can just bring a device to its knees... though I really don't get why.

My series 0 was sluggish and had poor battery life long before Watch OS 4 came out. In fact although the battery life is still poor after the update it’s improved somewhat, so now it can get 12 hours on most days. Before Watch OS 4 for most days I was lucky if I got 6 hours out of it.

 

[ZebraDude]

I fully agree. Sounds like a battery replacement is what you need. Just don't expect Apple to tell you it's faulty is what I'm saying: I'd imagine that most S0 early adopters are experiencing severely reduced battery by this point. I could be wrong tho.

Yep, I have a Series 0 SBSS 38mm that lasts about 4 hours on a charge (updating 3 party apps take a lot of power from it.) I sent it in and Apple says it way fine. (of coarse it's sent in unpaired in a factory reset condition ) with nothing on it it runs fine..