Series 4 battery issues with OS 9.3.1

[threesixty360]

A few weeks ago my Apple Watch Series 4 battery started seriously dying. The watch stopped holding a charge and would be finished in a few hours. I thought that it being bought in 2019, it made sense that the battery might need replacing. I checked the battery page on the watch and it said 79%. I think under 80 and it starts to give problems.

So I went to the Apple Store and the genius guy confirmed with a diagnostic test that I should change the battery. However this would cost £85 and they would likely just replace the unit. So I did that.

I get the replacement watch now and the battery drain is ridiculous! It drains in about half a day if I do any activities. If I barely do anything it won't last beyond 9-10pm. When I first got this watch it was getting a day and half battery easily. I remember this because I had the series 0 one before, and that just about lasted a day.

I then start searching the forums and notice that some people are having problems specifically with 9.3.1 in terms of battery life. The same battery drain issues as I'm having. I tried to restore to an older backup (OS 5) because all the other backups were for the same 9.3.1 version. However, that restore just gave me the same 9.3.1 version.

It's now got me thinking. Was my original watch actually that bad or was it just 9.3.1 being auto installed and killing my battery? Did Apple just make me pay £85 I didnt need to pay because they put out a crap OS update? And now I have spent £85 and still have THE SAME problem. I feel completely hustled!!!

What should I do? I cant believe they've done this to me. Its crazy.

 

[jockethebastard]

I have the same issue with my S4, maybe it’s 9.3.1 or maybe it’s my new phone..?
It all started when I switch from iPhone 12 mini to iPhone 14, I then updated the watch from watch os 9 and connected it to my new phone. Now it only holds battery about 10 hours. At least 10% drain per hour, and sleep tracking is even worse, about 15-20% per hour.
I have all background updates off, almost no notifications, no apps in the dock, no “Hey, Siri”, no fitness tracking.
I’ve tried restoring it several times, but nothing works.
Just a couple of days before I switched phone I could use my watch about 36 hours with battery health at 87%.

 

[rjw1678]

My S4 started draining the battery real quick yesterday. It was fine after the 9.3.1 update and then yesterday quick battery drain, even after a power off reboot. I installed WatchOS 9.3.1 on 2/13/2023. My battery health is 89%.

 

[threesixty360]

My S4 started draining the battery real quick yesterday. It was fine after the 9.3.1 update and then yesterday quick battery drain, even after a power off reboot. I installed WatchOS 9.3.1 on 2/13/2023. My battery health is 89%.

I spoke to apple support and they told me to install the iPhone 9.3.1 update as well. That helped with the battery but it’s nowhere near the battery life I had on the watch when I first got it. Even though this is a replacement watch with a brand new battery.

If I put the watch on at 8am with a 100% charge I’m down to 50/60% by mid day and 10% by 11pm. And that’s without doing any an activities. If I did do a workout try watch probably won’t last the day.

I saw a YT Clip where the guys S4 lasted all day and night and woke up with about 20%+. Which is what I would expect. About a day and a half.

This apple “planned obsolescence” thing is really annoying. The latest OS seems to have taken 30% of the battery life of older S4 watches. This is a new battery. Why is apple like this?

 

[pumac]

It can be a hit or miss with older watch models, my Hermes S4 still has 95% battery health and lasts all day, on 9.3.1. My S7 has 91% and my S6 87%, I rotate them all equally, all up to date, iPhone up to date. It's a lottery.

 

[G1DRP]

My December 2018 series 4 still lasts 1.5 days and the battery health is 89%. When I use the Workout app for an hour, the battery lasts about 15 hours.

 

[threesixty360]

My December 2018 series 4 still lasts 1.5 days and the battery health is 89%. When I use the Workout app for an hour, the battery lasts about 15 hours.

I just dont get what is happening. Its illogical. Why do some watches drain the battery so badly?
My problem is that if this watch cant last all day I dont see the point in wearing it. I feel like I've just spent £85 and now I'm going to have to buy a new watch just to get a watch that's practical to use.
I cant be out a midnight and my watch has died on me!

I have another meeting with the Genius Bar people tomorrow. I think I just want my money back and put that towards an Ultra or something if they cant sort it out. This is unacceptable to me.

 

[threesixty360]

Update:
I went to the Genius Bar at Apple. They showed me the diagnostics on the watch and tried to tell me that the battery life was normal. They say that "up to 18hrs" doesn't really mean 18hrs. And that it being at 10-20% by 11pm in normal. I said to them it was never that bad all through the life time of this watch, I'm expecting the battery to last until the next day.

I said that it feels like the OS update 9.3.1 recalibrated my original series 4 watch and destroyed the battery life as I probably didnt have the correct iOS/watchOS pairing. But instead of exploring that remedy they said I should pay for the replacement watch/battery. Now this replacement has worse battery life than any Apple Watch I've ever had.

They then offered to give my my £85 back + £45 trade in value towards another watch.
I feel like that was an insult. It feels like being robbed on the street with someone smiling at you whilst they do it!
So basically I give them a watch that was working pretty much ok before the last update, they give me £45 for an Apple Watch Stainless Steel edition I didnt want to trade in anyway? I would never have spent £85 quid on this had I known what they would do and that the replacement wouldn't even last a day!!

This is really disappointing from Apple. I'm kind of stunned. But not surprised sadly. It just feels so dumb. How can I lose out based on their recommendation to me?

I'm hoping the battery life improves. I did think about getting the Ultra, but I'd be doing it with 45 quid off which I can get on Amazon!! And giving up a stainless steel Apple Watch which still looks good and was working ok before they messed it up.

I feel robbed by them really..
:-(