Reserve Strap to Offer 30 Hours of Extra Apple Watch Battery Life, Launching in November

[MacRumors]

Reserve Strap this week released the official design specifications of its battery-charging Apple Watch band accessory, confirming a shipping date for the $249.99 strap to be November 3, 2015. Since its debut in early March, the Reserve Strap has gone through two design iterations, with developers Lane Musgrave and John Arrow attempting to get the look -- and functionality -- just right.

The strap's finalized design comes in with a width of 25mm, a thickness of 3-9mm, and a total weight of 65g. The designers have also ditched the rubber and metallic combination design of the Reserve Strap's second iteration with a uniform Thermoset Elastomer Silicone band that's "as resistant to water as Apple Watch." Coming in both 38mm and 42mm casing sizes, the Reserve Strap promises to fit wrists ranging in size from 130mm to 210mm.

The original Reserve Strap design (left), with the second design (middle) and the final one (right)​

​

The design wasn't the only aspect of the strap to be overhauled, however, with the strap's developers noting a 167 percent increase in battery life, compared to the original design's 125 percent boost. Essentially, if the Reserve Strap is fully charged (via included micro-USB cable), users can expect an additional 30 hours of battery life for their Apple Watch. So, as the company notes on its website, a fully-charged Apple Watch can now expect a grand total battery life of 48 hours if both devices are topped off.

The company goes into the specifics in the new blog post on what users can expect with a day-to-day usage of the Reserve Strap, detailed below. It should be mentioned that the strap's access to the Apple Watch accessory port requires users to first remove the cover to the hidden port before using the Reserve Strap, a process detailed by creators Musgrave and Arrow in a how-to video on their YouTube channel.

How Reserve Strap Works

1. Reserve Strap will connect to the Apple Watch similar to Apple bands. It will slide in laterally then you'll then push forward a small switch underneath the band to engage the accessory port connection to secure the Reserve Strap on the Watch.

2. At your discretion simply press the power button once to initiate charging. You can use the Watch as normal while it charges.

3. Once top-off charging is complete after 60-75 minutes, press the power button again to save the rest of Reserve Strap for another time. Or if you decide to leave Reserve Strap on, Apple Watch will use the Strap's power to keep the Apple Watch at 100% power until the Reserve Strap is depleted.

4. Reserve Strap uses a minimal LED indicator to let you know how much charge you have left. When you turn the charge on or plug it in, the LED will glow either red, yellow or green indicating a high, medium, or low charge.

5. Recharging the Reserve Strap and Apple Watch is incredibly easy. You can leave your Strap on the Watch and simply plug it in via micro USB. This will charge the Apple Watch and Reserve Strap at the same time!

The Reserve Strap, which the developers promise fully complies with the Apple Watch Band Design Guidelines and "doesn't violate either AppleCare warranty or Apple Terms & Conditions," can be pre-ordered for $249.99 today from the company's official website. The final design can be purchased in white, grey, or black, its creators noting that only those who pre-ordered are guaranteed a strap on the November 3 launch date.

Article Link: Reserve Strap to Offer 30 Hours of Extra Apple Watch Battery Life, Launching in November

 

[ButteryScrollin]

users can expect an additional 30 hours of battery life for their Apple Watch.

and unlimited ugly!

 

[pete2106]

Won't activating the charging on the strap force the watch into nightstand mode when WatchOS 2 happens?

 

[monaarts]

Won't activating the charging on the strap force the watch into nightstand mode when WatchOS 2 happens?

I think bedside mode is only activated when the watch is being charged via the magnetic port. They are using the actual pin set within the strap area.

 

[Waxhead138]

Apple Watch: Starting at $349.99.

For the measley expense of roughly 70% of that, you can double the battery life!

 

[Eorlas]

People complained incessantly about the lack of 24 hour battery life in the Watch, and now that someone comes up with a solution there's complaint about what you don't like of it?

If Apple made a charge band, you'd be spending more than this. Perhaps this will encourage others to enter this market, and maybe the price will go down eventually.

As for look, it's not gorgeous but it's far from hideous. It's a simple rubber design.

$250 is more than I would spend specifically for that band, but it doesn't mean that the product itself doesn't have that value.

*shrug*

 

[JackANSI]

Apple Watch: Starting at $349.99.

For the measley expense of roughly 70% of that, you can double the battery life!

Yep, with Apple's insanely priced bands you can expect prices for other bands to be insanely priced too. I don't expect to see widespread sub-$30 "cheap" bands anytime in the next 12 months.

I'd never pay $250 for that band. $79-89 tops.

 

[lobbyist]

and unlimited ugly!

The final design compared to the original one is like day and night. Very decent looking IMO. Will consider it.

But of course that's just me.

 

[pete2106]

People complained incessantly about the lack of 24 hour battery life in the Watch, and now that someone comes up with a solution there's complaint about what you don't like of it?

If Apple made a charge band, you'd be spending more than this. Perhaps this will encourage others to enter this market, and maybe the price will go down eventually.

As for look, it's not gorgeous but it's far from hideous. It's a simple rubber design.

$250 is more than I would spend specifically for that band, but it doesn't mean that the product itself doesn't have that value.

*shrug*

I can't imagine what people are doing with it. I put mine on at 7am, use it during the day, go to the gym for a few hours in the evening (using it to track workouts), and put it back on charge at 11pm. I usually have 50%-70% still left.

 

[bbeagle]

I can't imagine what people are doing with it. I put mine on at 7am, use it during the day, go to the gym for a few hours in the evening (using it to track workouts), and put it back on charge at 11pm. I usually have 50%-70% still left.

I have more of a problem with the battery life on my iPhone now. I'm always forgetting to charge it.

I routinely charge my watch at night. It's a routine - something I'm used to. My watch is always charged to 100% every morning. It lasts all day, no problems. The problem is the phone, I'm never looking at it anymore. I'll look at it randomly one day and it will have like 20% battery left. Then I'll have to remember to charge it. So, since I charge it once every 3-4 days, it's something I forget to do. And when I see it at 80% at the end of a day, I see no reason to charge it because it's only lost 20%. Sigh....

 

[Gasu E.]

The final design compared to the original one is like day and night. Very decent looking IMO. Will consider it.

But of course that's just me.

It's not just you. It's anyone who actually uses judgment and taste; as opposed to people with a reflex arc that causes them to type out "that's ugly" in response to any product photo posted here.

 

[Zxxv]

Will laugh if apple comes in with its own cheaper version. Just to teach the greedy a thing or two.

 

[Gav2k]

Takes apple watches waterproof rating to 0

 

[Z400Racer37]

Is it just me or is there not really a problem with battery life? I put it on at 7AM and take it off at like 9 or 10 pm an its still at 50%..

Will laugh if apple comes in with its own cheaper version. Just to teach the greedy a thing or two.

... What?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I have more of a problem with the battery life on my iPhone now. I'm always forgetting to charge it.

I routinely charge my watch at night. It's a routine - something I'm used to.

This makes no sense... You routinely charge a watch but not your phone? Prior to smart watches, you never charged your watch. It came with a battery that lasted 5+ years, or used solar charging. Cell phones, on the other hand, have always needed to be charged. It became more frequently needed with smart phones, but still, I never knew of a cell phone that lasted more than a month without charging, and most got a week at best.

 

[2457282]

Yep, with Apple's insanely priced bands you can expect prices for other bands to be insanely priced too. I don't expect to see widespread sub-$30 "cheap" bands anytime in the next 12 months.

I'd never pay $250 for that band. $79-89 tops.

I guess I shouldn't mention my link band that I bought with my SS watch.

During the month long wait for delivery (since Apple botched the launch), I kept thinking that maybe spending as much on the band as the watch was too much. Now that I have had it on my wrist for a month, I have no regrets. It is beautiful, functional, and comfortable.

I have thought of buying a rubber band (no pun intended) for when I am exercising, but this band is not that good looking in my opinion. Functionally, this seems like a great product.

 

[Zxxv]

... What?

see quoted post bellow. Its just a watch strap with a battery in. The pricing is stupid. They act like they designed a ****ing rocket ship.

Apple Watch: Starting at $349.99.

For the measley expense of roughly 70% of that, you can double the battery life!

 

[NightFox]

[snip]... I don't expect to see widespread sub-$30 "cheap" bands anytime in the next 12 months.

I take it you've not visited eBay recently...

 

[palev]

IMO this looks pretty good for a rubber watch band. It looks as good as the sports band. Certainly serves a function if you have an extra long day or are traveling.
Perhaps, if this does well enough they will come out with some different designs. I can see something like the link band down the road.

 

[crazee928]

see quoted post bellow. Its just a watch strap with a battery in. The pricing is stupid. They act like they designed a ****ing rocket ship.

1) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bellow
2) i implore you to design your own version of a marketable battery strap and see how much r&d, marketing, manufacturing, and profitability will cost when all's said and done
3) i will never trust a rocket ship that costs $250

 

[Zxxv]

1) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bellow

proving once again how **** auto correct in OS X and iOS has gotten lately

 

[darcyf]

proving once again how **** auto correct in OS X and iOS has gotten lately

It's a poor craftsman who blames their tools. Proofread.

 

[Zxxv]

It's a poor craftsman who blames their tools. Proofread.

sure I agree a poor craftsman blames his tools but I was just on a shop site where when I hit search it changed the word so not always applicable. I type fast and hit post reply and move on. I have little time to proof read on a forum where people can generally fill in the blanks and understand whats being said. Its not a life or death moment where every word is the difference between life freedom or death.

 

[darcyf]

This makes no sense... You routinely charge a watch but not your phone? Prior to smart watches, you never charged your watch. It came with a battery that lasted 5+ years, or used solar charging. Cell phones, on the other hand, have always needed to be charged. It became more frequently needed with smart phones, but still, I never knew of a cell phone that lasted more than a month without charging, and most got a week at best.

Thought he explained it pretty clearly in that it's because his phone lasts for several days while his watch needs charging every night that he slips up and forgets about the phone. Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[GFbob]

Is it just me or is there not really a problem with battery life? I put it on at 7AM and take it off at like 9 or 10 pm an its still at 50%..




... What?

I'm not having any issues with battery life either. I take it off around 9 PM, let it charge for an hour and put it back on before bed. I've never run out of battery charge and I've had it on during several 1 hour+ cycling rides (which are supposed to drain the battery doing heart rate checks).