WatchOS 3.1 GREAT battery life

[Bbafett]

I am on day 3 and am about 22% left so it will probably die at the end of the night about the time I go to bed as it has been using about 25% each day and then loses 7-8% each night during sleep when I have it on.

Very pleased. I will also probably go back to daily charges as there is really no point for keeping it on during the night but also wanted to find out how long it could actually last.

 

[whatdapho]

I read reports that beta users were getting great battery life under 3.1. I wasn't prepared for how big the improvement would be.

I have a Series 1, and I had 75% battery left after 16 hours yesterday. After charging it over night, I have 97% battery after 6 hours. This is with everything turned on like location services and background app refresh. So far I haven't had any strange reboots like I had under 3.0.

I would say this is an amazing update for the watch.

That is great to hear that you have all turned on and for 6 hours, you still have 97% of the battery left. It is like 1% drop for every 2 hours.

I am running into the stat like the battery drops 1%/hr. I know it is way better than i used to be but seem I am wondering if my S2 Nike+ has hardware issue. When I first got the battery, I could not even turn it on. I had to charge it for 30 mins before I could turn it on. I thought apple ships out all their devices at least charged 75-80% of the battery before they were shipped out.

 

[jimbobp2004]

18 Hours 74% left. That's with a lot of texts, WhatsApp and football updates. Don't know why I was ever worried about running out of battery.

 

[jdmagoo1]

Ive had my series 2 on for 26 hours straight and have 61% remaining. This update is amazing!

 

[douglasf13]

I've only had the 3.1 update for a couple of days, but I'm looking at about a 3% drop per hour with very light use on my S0 38mm Watch.

 

[whatdapho]

I've only had the 3.1 update for a couple of days, but I'm looking at about a 3% drop per hour with very light use on my S0 38mm Watch.

what was the drop rate prior to have the 3.1 update done? were you on 3.0?

 

[ManicMarc]

It would be funny if Apple have actually changed nothing except making the battery meter show a higher percentage for longer. It seems to me if you have over 50% left at the end of a long day, then it might as well be 20% for all i care, as it's going on the charger anyway. I'm sure they haven't done this - but the thought made me chuckle.

 

[kevinkyoo]

For anyone interested, it's been a day and 4/5's for my SS AW S0 42mm, and I'm at 5%. I've noticed a somewhat negative experience with the update, in that the battery life is not as good. But here's my thinking of why:

1) Apps open faster, and while the update helps, I'm thinking that it forces the watch to use more of its processor, at least in a faster way, to do so.
2) When you press the button to view your previously used apps, having ones like Maps hang around there would I guess negatively impact your battery life.

I think both of these things are reasons why the series 0 watches are either not seeing much change (If you are not using the watch as intensively) or a dip, while series 1 and 2 are seeing improvements (The watches being able to utilize their chips more efficiently)

 

[whatdapho]

It would be funny if Apple have actually changed nothing except making the battery meter show a higher percentage for longer. It seems to me if you have over 50% left at the end of a long day, then it might as well be 20% for all i care, as it's going on the charger anyway. I'm sure they haven't done this - but the thought made me chuckle.

i had the same thought before too. It might be the battery reading was off and not able to report the actual reading, and they just "fixed" it

It is like on my Garmin 235, the battery reading on the custom watch face can never show 100% even thought it has been charged for over night. it is the way how the custom watch face shows the battery %. May be someday I can really forget about the battery reading, and just enjoy the device, somedays, soon

 

[bbates123]

After a disappointing fall for Apple as far as I'm concerned (just OK iPhone 7 and underwhelming new MacBook Pros), the new watches were the only bright spot for me and the much improved Apple Watch battery life was a pleasant surprise. Thank you Apple for redeeming yourselves somewhat.

 

[jdmagoo1]

It would be funny if Apple have actually changed nothing except making the battery meter show a higher percentage for longer. It seems to me if you have over 50% left at the end of a long day, then it might as well be 20% for all i care, as it's going on the charger anyway. I'm sure they haven't done this - but the thought made me chuckle.

Well if this was the case then that doesn't explain why the watch isn't flat like it use to be at the 24hr mark. Im hoping I will get through midnight tonight with my watch - if thats the case then it would have been on for 42hours straight. Im currently at 56% with 28Hrs of use. Will see...

 

[tromboneaholic]

That is great to hear that you have all turned on and for 6 hours, you still have 97% of the battery left. It is like 1% drop for every 2 hours.

I am running into the stat like the battery drops 1%/hr. I know it is way better than i used to be but seem I am wondering if my S2 Nike+ has hardware issue. When I first got the battery, I could not even turn it on. I had to charge it for 30 mins before I could turn it on. I thought apple ships out all their devices at least charged 75-80% of the battery before they were shipped out.

It's a new watch, not one that was sitting on shelves for a while. I would have expected it to be at least 80% charged out of the box. My Series 1 was around that when I got it on launch day.

1% per hour is pretty good if you think about it though. That would theoretically be 100 hours.

That said, keep on eye on the battery and see if it levels off once your Watch settles in.

 

[metblack328i]

My s2 has lasted 63 hours even with 2hour bootcamp sessions before it went into power reserve mode. I have used the nest, auto sleep tracker and mail apps with all notifications enabled.

 

[cullenl87]

which does better these days, the S1 or the S2? (it seems like the S0 still is rough)

 

[StachStach]

which does better these days, the S1 or the S2? (it seems like the S0 still is rough)

As an S1 owner my answer would be "it depends". Since the S2 has a larger battery and the same processor, I think that the S2 will last longer, as long as you don't use the GPS (outdoor workout). So it depends upon how you use your Apple Watch IMHO.

-Stach

 

[tromboneaholic]

As an S1 owner my answer would be "it depends". Since the S2 has a larger battery and the same processor, I think that the S2 will last longer, as long as you don't use the GPS (outdoor workout). So it depends upon how you use your Apple Watch IMHO.

-Stach

I also think the brighter screen on the S2 could cause additional battery drain, but they both seem to have similar brightness indoors. So again it boils down to how you use it...

 

[cullenl87]

I'm starting a career in news producing, I was wondering how I could use it to help me with my job? How do you guys use it?

 

[BlueMoon63]

I can't describe how pleased I am with the battery life. Last night I put my Hermes Watch on about 30 minutes before going to bed. Shut off wrist raise, turned on silent alarm and pillow and slept 7 hours and 25 minutes. Battery was at 95%. Immediately did a 1 hour 2 minute tracked workout lifting weights and the battery was at 90% upon completion.

 

[jdmagoo1]

Just am update with mine, I'm at 47.5hrs continuous and at 19%. I will see if I get another 8hrs out of it! Highly impressed!!!

 

[dk001]

can anyone else speak to original gen with 3.1?

that stinks but

3.0 has been working well for me, better than 2 ever did battery and performance wise

38SS S0 - with 3.0 broke it back out to try it.
Hit and Miss on 3.1. Did 5 miles yesterday and it died by dinner .
Yet I did 3 miles previous day and was around 40% by bed time.
Something is not right...

 

[whatdapho]

It's a new watch, not one that was sitting on shelves for a while. I would have expected it to be at least 80% charged out of the box. My Series 1 was around that when I got it on launch day.

I agree. I returned it to the store since the watch is only few days old. I got the "snake error" and as well as the error msg saying my original charge cable which it comes with the watch is not a supported accessory.

 

[jdmagoo1]

I also think the brighter screen on the S2 could cause additional battery drain, but they both seem to have similar brightness indoors. So again it boils down to how you use it...

The bright screen only becomes a factor outdoors as it automatically adjusts brightness depending on the conditions. Indoors they should be the same brightness

 

[douglasf13]

I've only had the 3.1 update for a couple of days, but I'm looking at about a 3% drop per hour with very light use on my S0 38mm Watch.

Argh. Today my S0 38mm watch is at 50% after 8 hours of use, so more like 6% per hour. I've barely used the thing, outside of reading and sending a few texts.

 

[tromboneaholic]

The bright screen only becomes a factor outdoors as it automatically adjusts brightness depending on the conditions. Indoors they should be the same brightness

I pretty much agree with that. I don't think its a huge factor unless you spend a lot of time outside. It's odd that we haven't had an actual review of the two watches yet. I only started this thread because I was surprised I didn't see any reporting about it already. I'm more than a little disappointed with Macruqmors, 9to5, and Appleinsider when it comes to reporting anything besides things that affect the stock price....

 

[Not A Fanatic]

42mm. 2nd day on 3.1. I am getting around 6 hours per 10%. Untill using GPS on workout - then it dropped a fair amount more. Still appears no risk in going flat now if forget to charge for 1 night.