Ultra 3 runners how’s your battery?

[djn4eva]

I’ve worn garmin for years but I always liked the smart features on the Apple Watch. I’m all in on the apple ecosystem only the battery was keeping me away.

I just ran it from 100% to dead to see how it really performs with always-on display ON, daily use, sleep tracking, and GPS workouts.

My conditions

• Always-On Display ON the entire time
• Notifications + daily wear
• Sleep tracking both nights
• Sensors active (HR, HRV, SpO₂, temp)
• No music streaming
• No cellular
• GPS workouts

Timeline

• Wed 23:09 — 100% (full charge)
• Thu morning — 90% after overnight sleep tracking. Didn’t sleep long
• Thu daytime — down to ~40% after work + notifications + 3-mile GPS walk
• Fri 09:00 — 33%
• Fri 15:00 — 19% start of long run
• Fri 17:00 — 0% after 1h 44m run using Runna (9.88 mi, GPS on trail covered with trees + HR + AOD) it died right before I got 10 miles but the workout saved so no worries. I’ve had mixed experiences with my Garmin if it died on a run.

With these numbers I’ll says it’s worth keeping since I get to use all the other features and health metrics and get a long run in with low battery if needed. I’m no where near as fast as a lot of runner I’m sure.

Anyone with similar experiences? Overall I’m satisfied with the battery and loving all other features it has.

 

[Howard2k]

I did a 2:15 run and my battery went from 85% to 63%. I made a note, so 22% battery loss.
I did a 1:33 run and I didn't make specific notes but I believe I lost 20% or so.

I don't have a great grip on the battery life yet but so far I've been exceptionally impressed. I had an Ultra 1 previously. This is markedly more efficient. There's always luck of the draw when it comes to batteries and components too of course.

This is cellular on (no phone) to receive calls and notifications (though I keep most notifications off), streaming Spotify songs stored on my Watch to my AirPods (i.e., not using the cellular radio for Spotify). AOD on, brightness max.

 

[djn4eva]

I did a 2:15 run and my battery went from 85% to 63%. I made a note, so 22% battery loss.
I did a 1:33 run and I didn't make specific notes but I believe I lost 20% or so.

I don't have a great grip on the battery life yet but so far I've been exceptionally impressed. I had an Ultra 1 previously. This is markedly more efficient. There's always luck of the draw when it comes to batteries and components too of course.

This is cellular on (no phone) to receive calls and notifications (though I keep most notifications off), streaming Spotify songs stored on my Watch to my AirPods (i.e., not using the cellular radio for Spotify). AOD on, brightness max.

I’d say this is very close to what I saw except I wasn’t streaming and my AOD is on lowest. Maybe it dies quicker the lower it gets. Haven’t determined yet. Good stats!

 

[Howard2k]

I’d say this is very close to what I saw except I wasn’t streaming and my AOD is on lowest. Maybe it dies quicker the lower it gets. Haven’t determined yet. Good stats!

Thanks. I'll record tomorrow's run. Assuming I don't injure myself

 

[A1000]

I've used my AWU1 for a while and battery life hasn't been an issue as my longer runs are rarely more than 2-3 hours. I use it for navigation, fitness app, phone, payments and music (usually local on the watch) and rarely check the battery consumption as it has always been good. It's great to be able to run light and often just the watch and no phone. With the AWU1 the phone was really security when mobile coverage was sketchy but I now have the AWU3 so on the trails the only real need for the phone is now for its camera perhaps. Although I'm going to need to check the 5G coverage and satellite connectivity before I drop my phone for longer runs!

 

[Psdn]

Thursday at 17.00 fully charged, biked 5k to and from training. Ran 17k with hrm chest strap.
Friday biked to a customer and to work. 22k. Home from work 13k.
Arriving home at 17.00 with 40% left on the battery.
I have everything on my AWU3 🔋🪫

 

[Howard2k]

2:29 run and 29% battery loss.


Same - cellular on (no phone) to receive calls and notifications (though I keep most notifications off), streaming Spotify songs stored on my Watch to my AirPods (i.e., not using the cellular radio for Spotify). AOD on, brightness max.

 

[djn4eva]

Thursday at 17.00 fully charged, biked 5k to and from training. Ran 17k with hrm chest strap.
Friday biked to a customer and to work. 22k. Home from work 13k.
Arriving home at 17.00 with 40% left on the battery.
I have everything on my AWU3 🔋🪫

Awesome. With morning top ups I dont see a need to ever worry about battery! Thanks for the stats

 

[NickYanakiev]

Finally decided to move from my Fenix 8 to a new Ultra 3. Need to do more testing but the watch easily lasts me two full days with a lot of cellular only usage and outdoor/indoor activities.

I stream music or listen to podcasts in the meantime, all on 5G with EE.
Very pleased with the GPS and HR accuracy too.

 

[djn4eva]

2:29 run and 29% battery loss.


Same - cellular on (no phone) to receive calls and notifications (though I keep most notifications off), streaming Spotify songs stored on my Watch to my AirPods (i.e., not using the cellular radio for Spotify). AOD on, brightness max.

Good to know when i activate cellular I wont have an issue!

 

[Howard2k]

Good to know when i activate cellular I wont have an issue!

5G should be more efficient than LTE too, but both are terrible. I know that streaming Spotify or taking a longer call would give the battery a beating.

But notifications and stuff - should be good.

 

[djn4eva]

Finally decided to move from my Fenix 8 to a new Ultra 3. Need to do more testing but the watch easily lasts me two full days with a lot of cellular only usage and outdoor/indoor activities.

I stream music or listen to podcasts in the meantime, all on 5G with EE.
Very pleased with the GPS and HR accuracy too.

I’m also coming from the Fenix 8 and I would always want to have the ability to reply to messages and be able to run without my phone while on trails. I would charge it sometimes during morning showers so really no different for the Ultra 3. I now have the benefit of using the smart features not just read message notifications

 

[Resqu2]

I'm still on the Ultra 2 and charge it 30 min before bed each night and never get below 40%.

 

[1rottenapple]

I’m pretty demanding with my ultra 1. Today cycling 40 min at the gym, 1 hr lifting, 2 hrs hiking in the afternoon. So I’m curious about the ultra 3. I charge everyday typical at night so battery isn’t much of an issue. I do wear it to bed. I’m looking forward to the satellite messaging for my hiking primarily as I moved back to the iPhone 13 mini again. And the speaker for podcast while hiking or walking sometimes. So I think it’ll be a good upgrade from version 1.

 

[doogm]

I upgraded from an Ultra 1. So far, while I haven't necessarily tracked or written down any of these results, typically I wake up after sleep tracking with a full-charged watch with the battery at 98% or 99% charge. I usually warm up and stretch for about an hour before my daily workout; today I did a 70 minute run while listening to podcasts from the watch and the battery was at 82%. Yesterday I ran for 105 minutes while listening to podcasts on my phone - not my watch - but while having a second interval app pinging repeats of 30 seconds and 40 seconds while I did an easy long run with some gentle fartlek and the watch was at 84% when I was done.

My Ultra's battery was at 88% battery health when I upgraded and it did not come close to this. Sleep tracking with a fully-charged battery left it at about 88% when I woke up and my morning workout left it in the 50%-59% range when I finished.