What is better: keeping a watch perpetually "On" or switching it "Off" when not in use

[uandme72]

If watch is perpetually kept "On" even when not in use, its battery has to be recharged which consumes its battery recharge cycles and thus decreases its usable life.
However if we switch "Off" the watch when not in use and put it "On" when required, it increases the usage of its Power button and perhaps thus decrease its useful life.
Which of the two approaches is better for longevity of the watch as a whole.

 

[dukebound85]

I don't think there's any difference...

power cycling the watch takes away its conviencnece

 

[uandme72]

I don't think there's any difference...

power cycling the watch takes away its conviencnece

I did not get it. Can you please elaborate.

 

[axantas]

If you do not use it for several days - switch it off. I have two watches, the "old" one is not that often in use anymore. Keeping it "off" saves 100% power for nearly a week.

Switching it of only during the night is not really useful - takes away its convenience, needs time to restart, needs energy to restart. You will lose about 5% of charge during the night.
And, no: The power button will not become damaged, if you decide to use it regularly...

 

[uandme72]

If you do not use it for several days - switch it off. I have two watches, the "old" one is not that often in use anymore. Keeping it "off" saves 100% power for nearly a week.

Switching it of only during the night is not really useful - takes away its convenience, needs time to restart, needs energy to restart. You will lose about 5% of charge during the night.
And, no: The power button will not become damaged, if you decide to use it regularly...

What about battery life (maximum capacity) loss over time due to recharges?

 

[jbachandouris]

I power off every night when it reaches 100% charge just because.

I am not all worried about battery degradation. When the battery dies, I will replace it. I refuse to obsess over it.

 

[uandme72]

I power off every night when it reaches 100% charge just because.

I am not all worried about battery degradation. When the battery dies, I will replace it. I refuse to obsess over it.

But if you are not bothered about battery degradation, then you should not switch the watch off every night.

 

[jbachandouris]

But if you are not bothered about battery degradation, then you should not switch the watch off every night.

Habit and the fact that the software on these things isn't always so great, so a fresh boot may actually help.

 

[axantas]

What about battery life (maximum capacity) loss over time due to recharges?

Using it on a daily basis, I charge it about every second day. Apple talks about 1000 cycles until the watch has still about 80% of its original battery capacity. 80% does not mean, your watch is dead.
So: charging it on a daily basis, you need about three years to get to that point.

As it is not a 1 Million $ Lamborghini, you might consider to replace a) the battery by Apple then - or b) just buy a new watch, because you like the new features...

Just enjoy your watch. Use it the way you use your stuff, but do not let it waste your life.

 

[uandme72]

Using it on a daily basis, I charge it about every second day. Apple talks about 1000 cycles until the watch has still about 80% of its original battery capacity. 80% does not mean, your watch is dead.
So: charging it on a daily basis, you need about three years to get to that point.

As it is not a 1 Million $ Lamborghini, you might consider to replace a) the battery by Apple then - or b) just buy a new watch, because you like the new features...

Just enjoy your watch. Use it the way you use your stuff, but do not let it waste your life.

I like your philosophy. 👍👍

 

[bp328i]

I have two Series 5 and which ever one I'm not wearing at the time is powered off. Not so much worried about battery degradation, more so it holds the charge longer so I know when I switch and put it on it's charged.

The one I'm not wearing I charge to 100% and then power off.

 

[dukebound85]

I have two Series 5 and which ever one I'm not wearing at the time is powered off. Not so much worried about battery degradation, more so it holds the charge longer so I know when I switch and put it on it's charged.

The one I'm not wearing I charge to 100% and then power off.

Why have 2?

 

[iamasmith]

I totally get it.

The watch will need upgrading due to enhancements and need for more power/features though before the battery gives up in this way ...unless you are really going to go way beyond 3 years of use and live with something that might not be getting upgrades or feel responsive.

 

[bp328i]

Why have 2?

I bought the Silver Stainless Steel S5 and felt it was too dressy for working out and physical activities. So for the gym, boat, beach, hiking and things like that I bought the Nike S5.

Stainless = Work / Going out
Nike = Physical activities

 

[bingeciren]

I have two watches; the one that I’m not wearing sits on the charger all the time. The charger shuts off charging automatically when the battery is full and when I exchange watches I always have a fully charged watch that I don’t wait for it to boot if it was powered off instead.

 

[uandme72]

I have two watches; the one that I’m not wearing sits on the charger all the time. The charger shuts off charging automatically when the battery is full and when I exchange watches I always have a fully charged watch that I don’t wait for it to boot if it was powered off instead.

Is your charger the standard Apple charger supplied with the watch ?

 

[PugMaster]

The charger shuts off charging automatically when the battery is full and when I exchange watches I always have a fully charged watch that I don’t wait for it to boot if it was powered off instead.

Not so sure about this. I recently measured power draw, current, resistance etc. of my watch while charging (hoped to find out about battery health but I don't have a brand new watch to compare values), and the charger will still draw power to keep the watch at 100%. I don't think it's a good idea to keep the watch on the charger for days.

 

[axantas]

Take the watch off the charger, when it is fully charged. Plus switch it off, when not using it for days.
If the watch is "on", just stiting on the desk, it uses about 5% in 6 hours (my observation). At around 90% it starts to charge again, every day...

That way, you degrade the battery in no time...

 

[uandme72]

Take the watch off the charger, when it is fully charged. Plus switch it off, when not using it for days.
If the watch is "on", just stiting on the desk, it uses about 5% in 6 hours (my observation). At around 90% it starts to charge again, every day...

That way, you degrade the battery in no time...

What do you mean by “starts to charge again”? How can it charge while on your wrist ?

 

[Otflyer]

If you do not use it for several days - switch it off. I have two watches, the "old" one is not that often in use anymore. Keeping it "off" saves 100% power for nearly a week.

Switching it of only during the night is not really useful - takes away its convenience, needs time to restart, needs energy to restart. You will lose about 5% of charge during the night.
And, no: The power button will not become damaged, if you decide to use it regularly...

I switched my S0 watch off every night for over two yrs without a incident and have done that with S3, S4, S5 Watches.

 

[uandme72]

I switched my S0 watch off every night for over two yrs without a incident and have done that with S3, S4, S5 Watches.

What’s the battery capacity now? Has it deteriorated less than it would have if not switched off at night daily ?

 

[bingeciren]

Is your charger the standard Apple charger supplied with the watch ?

At home I use the white Apple charging dock that is sold as an accessory. While traveling I use the adapter that came with the watch.

 

[uandme72]

At home I use the white Apple charging dock that is sold as an accessory. While traveling I use the adapter that came with the watch.

None of the chargers mentioned by you has auto stop feature, which stops charging of the watch when battery level reaches 100%.

 

[bingeciren]

Not so sure about this. I recently measured power draw, current, resistance etc. of my watch while charging (hoped to find out about battery health but I don't have a brand new watch to compare values), and the charger will still draw power to keep the watch at 100%. I don't think it's a good idea to keep the watch on the charger for days.

I believe the watch has a charger circuit that cuts off charging just like the phones do. The charger may continue to draw current as it is always on by design however that doesn’t mean that the watch is still being charged. While being charged the watch becomes slightly warm but when I pick the fully charged watch from the charger in the morning, it is cold. That makes me believe that the charging has been turned off.

 

[44267547]

I bought the Silver Stainless Steel S5 and felt it was too dressy for working out and physical activities. So for the gym, boat, beach, hiking and things like that I bought the Nike S5.

Stainless = Work / Going out
Nike = Physical activities

Same here. I actually had multiple Apple watches, which obviously Apple allows for multiple pairings if you want. I had one watch for like my ‘every day use’, and then I had one specifically that I would dress up with the black/regular stainless Link band. [My favorite band has to be the leather loop, so comfortable with the quilted leather.]