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Series 11 & Ultra 3 Don’t Actually Last 6 Hours Longer (Unless You’re Asleep)

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canyonblue737

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jan 10, 2005
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Like many of you, I was excited when Apple claimed that both the Series 11 and Ultra 3 gained six additional hours of battery life. On paper, that meant the Series 11 jumped from 18 hours to a full 24, and the Ultra 3 extended even further. But here’s the catch: those “extra” six hours aren’t what most of us probably assumed. If you check the fine print on Apple’s website, you’ll see the testing methodology they use to calculate battery life — things like the number of wrist raises, GPS sessions, notifications, and so on. When you compare last year’s watches to this year’s, the testing conditions are identical with one single change: this year Apple added six hours of sleep tracking. Last year, battery life was measured without sleep tracking. This year, they included six hours of “Sleep Focus” mode, which essentially shuts the screen off, silences notifications, and only tracks motion. In other words, the extra six hours Apple is advertising comes entirely from time when the watch is mostly idle. To put it another way: even a tiny bump in battery capacity (say 1–2%) would be enough to handle six hours of ultra-low-drain sleep tracking. But in real daytime use, that same capacity increase might only net you 20–30 minutes at best.

So yes, Apple’s claims are technically true per their fine print — but in practice, you’re not really getting six more hours of “normal use.” It’s worth keeping in mind if you were hoping for noticeably longer awake battery life.

Here is the Series 11 this year:

All-day battery life including sleep tracking is based on the following use: 300 time checks, 90 notifications, 15 minutes of app use, a 60-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth, and 6 hours of sleep tracking over the course of 24 hours; Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS) usage includes connection to iPhone via Bluetooth during the entire 24-hour test; Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular) usage includes a total of 4 hours of cellular connection and 20 hours of connection to iPhone via Bluetooth over the course of 24 hours. Battery life in Low Power Mode including sleep tracking is based on the following use: 530 time checks, 160 notifications, 26 minutes of app use, a 60-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth, and 6 hours of sleep tracking over the course of 38 hours; Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS) usage includes connection to iPhone via Bluetooth during the entire 38-hour test; Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular) usage includes on-demand cellular connection and 30 hours of connection to iPhone via Bluetooth over the course of 38 hours. Testing conducted by Apple in July and August 2025 using preproduction Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS) and Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular), each paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with prerelease software. Battery life varies by use, configuration, cellular network, signal strength, and many other factors; actual results will vary."

And here is the Series 10 last year:

All-day battery life is based on the following use: 300 time checks, 90 notifications, 15 minutes of app use, and a 60-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth, over the course of 18 hours; Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS) usage includes connection to iPhone via Bluetooth during the entire 18-hour test; Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular) usage includes a total of 4 hours of LTE connection and 14 hours of connection to iPhone via Bluetooth over the course of 18 hours. Battery life in Low Power Mode is based on the following use: 600 time checks, 180 notifications, 30 minutes of app use, and a 60-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth, over the course of 36 hours; Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS) usage includes connection to iPhone via Bluetooth during the entire 36-hour test; Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular) usage includes on-demand LTE connection and 28 hours of connection to iPhone via Bluetooth over the course of 36 hours. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2024 using preproduction Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS) and Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular), each paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with prerelease software. Battery life varies by use, configuration, cellular network, signal strength, and many other factors; actual results will vary.
 
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In reality, I can still get over 24 hours with my Series 6 with 79% battery health. First 1-2 years I could get over 36 hours.
It really depends on your use of the watch and if AOD is something you really need turned on and so on... Apples testing is way over how many notifications and how much I use the Watch daily.
 
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I get your point but, you are still getting 6 more available hours of use in said mode. And even out of said mode, you will still get more than the U2. One can still turn off AoD and still come close to the 6 hour sleep tracking would provide, barring one getting lots of notifications and replying to text etc.
 
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Pandyone said:
In reality, I can still get over 24 hours with my Series 6 with 79% battery health. First 1-2 years I could get over 36 hours.
It really depends on your use of the watch and if AOD is something you really need turned on and so on... Apples testing is way over how many notifications and how much I use the Watch daily.
Click to expand...
I’m not really arguing the amount of time the watch will work for an individual person etc. which of coarse varies, I’m just pointing out that the sudden increase in battery life claim of 6 hours for all the new watches has an important caveat.
 
canyonblue737 said:
I’m not really arguing the amount of time the watch will work for an individual person etc. which of coarse varies, I’m just pointing out that the sudden increase in battery life claim of 6 hours for all the new watches has an important caveat.
Click to expand...

Sure, but how many users are actually awake more than 24 hours and will be ”negatively” affected by this caveat?
Most of us actually need to sleep 😊
 
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Pandyone said:
Sure, but how many users are actually awake more than 24 hours and will be ”negatively” affected by this caveat?
Most of us actually need to sleep 😊
Click to expand...

It's the math of it and the perception. Apple has never included "sleep" time in how they measure battery life before for the Apple Watch. When for the first time... ever... Apple increases battery life in the Series watches from 18 to 24 hours it's natural that most customers will be like: "wow, a 33% increase in battery life! thats worth upgrading!" but in reality the increase comes from 6 hours of sleep focus mode that usually only burns 1-3% of battery capacity in 8 hours (so even less in 6) so the battery capacity hasn't changed hardly at all and the difference in S10 and S11 and how long they last when doing a lengthy GPS event, lots of cellular etc. (ie. way beyond how Apple tests what a watch does in a day) will be measured in minutes, not hours.
 
canyonblue737 said:
It's the math of it and the perception.
Click to expand...

But then it’s just another usage to measure battery life in, right?
For users that doesn’t use fitness and music at the same time, the measurement of ”60-minute workout with music playback” might mean less than another function.

If you estimate that 6 hours sleep measurement is 20-30 minutes ”other usage”-time, then what would 60 minutes workout and music playback be? (rhetorical)

It’s just an average number Apple gives with their testing and it’s basically impossible to give a number without some people complaining.
 
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Pandyone said:
But then it’s just another usage to measure battery life in, right?
For users that doesn’t use fitness and music at the same time, the measurement of ”60-minute workout with music playback” might mean less than another function.

If you estimate that 6 hours sleep measurement is 20-30 minutes ”other usage”-time, then what would 60 minutes workout and music playback be? (rhetorical)

It’s just an average number Apple gives with their testing and it’s basically impossible to give a number without some people complaining.
Click to expand...
Just take a quick look at his post history. Basically just complaining.
 
maxpipersid said:
Just take a quick look at his post history. Basically just complaining.
Click to expand...
Well my post history dates back more than twenty years here at Macrumors (you've been here a month) so I like to think I created some value. I do agree my recent posts about Apple's marketing spin on "6 hours more battery life" for the watches and the rumors of a hardly updated Powerbeats Fit earbuds (for the old Beats Fit Pro models) have been negative. I love Apple and I love Macrumors but there are too many influencers at the event yesterday screaming about 6 extra hours for the Series 11 when in reality that 6 hours doesn't represent what most think it does and won't add up to anything close to 6 extra hours of use in practice unless like my post title said "you are asleep."
 
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canyonblue737 said:
screaming about 6 extra hours for the Series 11 when in reality that 6 hours doesn't represent what most think
Click to expand...

The new Watches has not been released yet, so maybe the complaining can wait until then. It’s more interesting with reports from users experience rather than theories.
 
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Last year, I said this year was going to be a "lost year," as happened with the Series 8, and that's exactly what happened.

I said I saw the marketing ploy of increasing the official battery life figure because, basically, an Apple Watch has lasted 24 hours for many years. It just had to be made official. Anyone who thinks they'll notice an improvement in that regard will get hit hard...
 
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I get all day battery on my S9 but I never sleep with it.

Ordered the Ultra 3 for my new hobby: aviation.

Screenshot 2025-09-10 at 6.44.36 AM.jpeg
 
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I get where you're coming from. Another example is Apple's statement the Series 11 is their "thinnest Apple Watch" yet. I saw that even repeated in headlines.

If you look at the measurements, the Series 11 is the exact same size as the Series 10. And that was the thinnest Apple Watch.

So, yes, technically the Series 11 is the "thinnest Apple Watch", because there's no thinner one. But it's not thinner than last year's model.

The only actual changes between Series 10 and 11 are:

  • 5G
  • More scratch resistant glass
  • There's a Space Black version for Aluminum
So you can just pick up a refurbished Series 10 and get the exact same experience minus these items with (from my point of view) minimal everyday value.
 
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dasjati said:
minimal everyday value.
Click to expand...

Well, the scratch-prone glass of the Alu Watches was a reason for many people to get the more expensive steel/titanium Watches with sapphire crystals. If the new glass mitigates this issue, it is kind of a big „everyday value“ deal, actually.
 
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I think we need to see a tear down of the S11 before we jump to too many conclusions about the battery. I’d be pretty surprised if it was the same battery and they nonetheless claimed a 33% improvement; that would border on fraud.
 
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Take it with a grain of salt, but I did speak with somebody at the apple store today about this as I am interested in upgrading my Series 8 but was undecided between the Series 10 and 11. There is internal language (not displayed on the website) that the actual capacity of the battery has increased versus the Series 10. It does not specify how that is done, whether its creating more space in the case by moving around or changing the size of say the sensors, or a new type of battery altogether that is more efficient. But it is a capacity increase.
 
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For the first year, year half of my launch day Ultra 2, I got 40-42 hours of life. Wear it 24/hr day, less shower/charging.
Each day is typically 2 or 3 20-30 min workouts with either a podcast or audiobook via APP2.

Cell on, AOD on. WiFi the majority of the day (WFH) but get notifications, etc.

Charge prior to bed - wear. Get up, workout. Work/day activities. workout. Optional 3rd workout. Bed.
Repeat. Except charge on the second day.

I guess not a heavy user, it's a watch. But probably more so than the avg user.

Currently, the battery health sits at 88% - and I've noticed the battery life around 34-36 hours now.
 
Just noticed that for low power mode, it is 530 time checks, 160 notifications, 26 minutes of app use vs. 600 time checks, 180 notifications, 30 minutes of app use. The two more hours of low power mode use comes with less interaction. So the battery is likely only marginally larger, if any.
 
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Tdevilsg said:
Take it with a grain of salt, but I did speak with somebody at the apple store today about this as I am interested in upgrading my Series 8 but was undecided between the Series 10 and 11. There is internal language (not displayed on the website) that the actual capacity of the battery has increased versus the Series 10. It does not specify how that is done, whether its creating more space in the case by moving around or changing the size of say the sensors, or a new type of battery altogether that is more efficient. But it is a capacity increase.
Click to expand...

I believe it, the weight is slightly up on the watches so maybe its a larger battery... but I guess what I'm nearly certain of is that it is NOT 33% greater capacity which perhaps we might have thought seeing 18 hours go to 24 hours in the headlines but maybe something considerably lower like 5-10% (or even less) which would be more than enough to account for 6 hours extra in the sleep focus mode.
 
I’m quite curious about this. I ordered a Series 11 and planned to give my wife my Series 10 to replace her older Series 7. I mostly made the choice because of the improved battery life claim.

If reviews end up showing it’s no better than the 10, or minimally better, I’ll be canceling/returning.
 
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