Typical battery drain using AW3 LTE???

[Abstract]

I just purchased an AW3 with LTE 2 days ago, and have noticed that while battery life is OK when my iPhone is nearby, it gets murdered while on LTE.

Yesterday, I went to a meeting and left my phone at my desk. LTE on my Apple Watch was being used, an during my 45 minute meeting, battery life dropped from 95% to 70%, just sitting on my wrist. It's not like I was playing with the watch.

After that, thinking it may have been one of the gazillion apps and things I installed when I received my shiny new toy, I did a complete reset of my watch.

Since then, I haven't installed any apps. Signal strength is solid (4 stars/bars).

I just tested my battery life when using only LTE , and the battery drained 8% in 20 minutes, and I did nothing but have the watch sitting on my wrist. I checked the time on several occasions, but that's it.


Is this typical? There's no point in having LTE if that's the sort of battery drain that's typical!!!!


Can someone else tell me their own battery life experience when using LTE?

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

Sounds about right. My 35 min runs on pure LTE without the phone while running GPS for workout app and getting a few emails, etc. while running generally depletes the battery around 20%. So, I only use the watch this way for runs and short errands. This was not a surprise to me though as there is plenty of information out there about the battery life while on LTE.

 

[Abstract]

Sounds about right. My 35 min runs on pure LTE without the phone while running GPS for workout app and getting a few emails, etc. while running generally depletes the battery around 20%. So, I only use the watch this way for runs and short errands. This was not a surprise to me though as there is plenty of information out there about the battery life while on LTE.

I could accept that while running and using GPS and the heart-rate monitor, but I expected a bit better while idling!

I did read about the LTE battery life, but those people were going on runs, streaming Apple Music, etc. I'm just trying not to doze off during meetings.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

I could accept that while running and using GPS and the heart-rate monitor, but I expected a bit better while idling!

I did read about the LTE battery life, but those people were going on runs, streaming Apple Music, etc. I'm just trying not to doze off during meetings.

I don't use the internal HR monitor while I run--I use a Scosche, and I'm guessing that BT connection is less taxing than running the HR sensor. GPS and LTE should be draining enough though.

Edited to add: I almost forgot. I am also listening to music from the watch to some Plantronics Back Beat Fit over BT. I know BT is very efficient these days, but that's another thing going on with runs.

I'll have to fully charge the watch and then wear it around for a few hours without the phone to see how it does. Problem is the phone needs to be on to relay certain things like texts, so I'll have to test this way when the phone can be away, but not too far away that I can't go get it when the watch dies!

Having traveled to rural south Texas to visit the in-laws over Thanksgiving--and they don't have internet---I was reminded how much quicker my 7+ drains when on LTE vs. on WIFI. Significantly faster. I'm not sure what we can expect out of the tiny watch battery.

 

[Abstract]

I don't use the internal HR monitor while I run--I use a Scosche, and I'm guessing that BT connection is less taxing than running the HR sensor. GPS and LTE should be draining enough though.

Edited to add: I almost forgot. I am also listening to music from the watch to some Plantronics Back Beat Fit over BT. I know BT is very efficient these days, but that's another thing going on with runs.

I'll have to fully charge the watch and then wear it around for a few hours without the phone to see how it does. Problem is the phone needs to be on to relay certain things like texts, so I'll have to test this way when the phone can be away, but not too far away that I can't go get it when the watch dies!

Having traveled to rural south Texas to visit the in-laws over Thanksgiving--and they don't have internet---I was reminded how much quicker my 7+ drains when on LTE vs. on WIFI. Significantly faster. I'm not sure what we can expect out of the tiny watch battery.

Yet if your phone is sitting in your pocket, and not sending or receiving any data (or voice, I suppose) of any sort, it would run for days on end!! LTE isn't so inefficient, even on a weak signal, that it would drain while sitting idle.

I wasn't expecting long battery life, and would accept a 20-30% loss in battery life if I were running with GPS, streaming music, or both. However, sitting at a table, no screen on, no downloaded apps sucking up juice in the background, and I'm losing battery at a rate of 30% per hour??

Before purchasing the AW3, I read all these anecdotal stories on how great it was to be able to walk the dog, buy groceries, or simply leave their work desk without their phone. Now I just don't believe them, not unless they don't mind recharging every night.

 

[warburg]

I wear my Series 3 AW at night. If my phone is on, I lose 3%-4% of battery life while sleeping. If the phone is off, I lose about 30%.

 

[Abstract]

I wear my Series 3 AW at night. If my phone is on, I lose 3%-4% of battery life while sleeping. If the phone is off, I lose about 30%.

Mine lost 3% last night. It’s great when I’m on my Wifi network, or near my iPhone.

Anyway, I have a feeling the problem is one of the standard AW3 apps, possibly the Activity or Workout apps. Does clearing certain apps off the Dock help close the app completely?