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Accessory makers plan to tap Apple Watch’s hidden port for battery straps, faster charging

Reserve-Strap

One of the first companies to announce plans to make a battery strap for Apple Watch— allowing you to charge the device while on the go while continuing to wear it— has confirmed plans to tap into Apple Watch’s hidden port to charge the device and offer faster charging.

Apple utilizes a magnetic, inductive charging solution to charge Apple Watch, but a wired connection to the device’s hidden 6 pin port will make designing battery straps much easier, according to maker of the upcoming Reserve Strap accessory, and even allow for faster more efficient charging compared to Apple’s own solution.

Reserve-Strap-02While the company initially planned on using a magnetic, wireless charging solution like Apple’s, after getting hands on with the Apple Watch confirmed that the hidden port will be a better option:

Our engineers have been able to independently confirm that the 6 pin diagnostic port underneath the Apple Watch case can be used for charging. The Reserve Strap will take advantage of this using a simple, retractable connector instead of the previous inductive charging cradle design… By utilizing this port instead of wirelessly charging, we’ve been able to achieve a higher charge capacity and quicker, more efficient charging times while also improving durability and eliminating any interference with Apple Watch functionality including taptic feedback and heartrate sensors.

The port, hidden inside of the slot where one side of the Watch’s strap connects to the device, is covered, but Reserve Strap will provide a tool to access it. Some speculated Apple included the port for diagnostics by retail employees— it didn’t, diagnostics are done through a connected iPhone— but Apple could have included the port for getting software on to Apple Watch at the factory and or for developer use.

In theory, Reserve Strap’s discovery means other accessory makers could create charging solutions and other smart accessories using the port to offer faster charging and other features that aren’t possible without it. It certainly helped improve the planned design for Reserve Strap in addition to the enhanced charging…

Here’s a look at the Reserve Straps new design (left) compared to its old design that would have relied on Apple’s wireless charging solution (right):

Reserve Strap is up for preorder for $249, but specific availability info will come later.

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Comments

  1. iSRS - 9 years ago

    Great idea. Only one problem I see. If this isn’t officially supported by Apple, couldn’t a software update make your $250 battery just an over priced band?

    • acslater017 - 9 years ago

      That’s possible, but given that 1) Apple has patented battery cell watch straps and 2) the port is used for diagnostics (and might as well charge while doing that), I doubt they’d disable that function just to spite unauthorized chargers.

      • kkdarling - 9 years ago

        Actually, Apple did not patent battery watch straps. They patented flexible sheets of battery cells, for use in unusually shaped device interiors. Not the same thing.

    • Or worse, void the warranty on the watch itself if something should go wrong.

      • friarnurgle - 9 years ago

        Or even worse, explode and blow your hand off… or just severely burn your wrist.

        Look at all the incidents with aftermarket charging cords.

    • zonbii - 9 years ago

      They’d disable it simply because it could damage the watch and cause people to ask for fixes which cost $.

      • zonbii - 9 years ago

        also it’s a significant risk for the strap dev, hence they are charging(gouging) for 249$

  2. A 250 dollar battery for a watch? Riiight.

  3. rogifan - 9 years ago

    I would never do anything that isn’t officially supported by Apple. You’re just looking for trouble.

  4. o0smoothies0o - 9 years ago

    One thing is for sure…their designers are awful if they think people will want to use that band..it’s hideous. They should try not putting a huge metal portion with a huge lightning bolt on it… Dear god. Also, who knows what this solution will do…it could damage the battery or possibly make it even warmer than it already gets whilst charging, which is pretty warm…if you strap that to your wrist tightly, it will not be comfortable, and potentially battery damaging if you combine the heat from that with heat from being outside in the sun. I think people should wait and see if Apple creates smart bands or creates specifications for them. I think smart bands are an awesome idea, but I think Apple has to be the ones to allow this.

  5. This could lead to other accessories like a strap with a GPS receiver in it.

    You never know

    • rogifan - 9 years ago

      Because Apple is just going to allow 3rd parties to access it?

      • peteostro - 9 years ago

        You can add a bluetooth gps receiver to any iOS device and it will show up in the iOS Core Location framework, will work with ALL iOS apps that use this framework. So if you have an iPad without cellular you can add gps to it and all iOS apps will see it. But who knows if the watches bluetooth can talk to a bluetooth gps receiver

    • Mosha - 9 years ago

      Power is one thing, data is an entirely different issue.

  6. Steven Hirsch - 9 years ago

    Wow you get 2 days instead of 1 and have to spend $250 to do it and wear that clunky strap. Also you have to charge the strap? I’m getting more then enough battery to last the entire day. easily over 12 hours. Pointless and a waste of money.

  7. I’d wish we won’t hear stories about watch band gets exploded on someone’s wrist.

  8. The thing is that the hidden port does not exists anymore. It was only present on early prototypes. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the iFixit teardown step 18. The hidden port is now fully blocked.

    • rogifan - 9 years ago

      It still exists, Apple just covered it up. But there is a little hole there so there is a way to remove it.

      • Jose Rafael Santiago Jr. - 9 years ago

        The only way iFixit was able to remove it was by remove 2 tri-blade screws from inside of the watch body itself. Good luck making a product that requires a common owner to have their brand new watch warmed open with heat, all the components removed and then reinserted without machine precision placement, and then the screen resealed with hopefully the right stuff to make it water resistant again.

  9. mightyjabba - 9 years ago

    I don’t even really see the point for such a product. It negates one of the watch’s big advantages — interchangeable bands — and as the watch already makes it through the day, I have no need to charge while I wearing it. Certainly not to the tune of $250.

  10. zonbii - 9 years ago

    Is this thing water proof? If not, there is a problem.

  11. kadajsouba - 9 years ago

    Perhaps this means that the watch is already prepared for future hardware updates from apple, like more sensors or extra batteries. Just like the iphone 5 had the motion coprocessor, which left it prepared for the future (at the time of release) apple watch.

    The fact that these guys found extra functionality in this hidden port is good news.

  12. No one are worried about waterproof property be compromised by opening this port?

  13. mikezmac - 9 years ago

    Awesome idea. Too much money, I’ll pass.

  14. Daniel Perván - 9 years ago

    Wouldn’t this also sacrifice some water resistance since you now have exposed contacts?

    • Lee Pierce - 9 years ago

      The contacts are already there. There is no greater exposure. Actually, it could be argued that having a band use that port and restrict the flow into the otherwise unused exposed port. I am not a designer nor expert but there is a least a little logic there. ;)

      • Gazoo Bee - 9 years ago

        Pretty sure those contacts are covered and that the port is purposely sealed. At least based on the pictures we’ve seen they are. Any tinkering with a port cover would definitely void the water resistance part of the warranty, if not the entire thing. There is also the issue of intended use vs. non-intended use. It would be best to assume that this band voids your warranty until other information surfaces.

  15. SMIDG3T - 9 years ago

    A faster charge? The Apple Watch can be charged from 0% to 100% in two hours.

  16. Roman Smekhnov - 9 years ago

    Hi guys. I found this project pretty strange, and that’s why:
    1. There is a lack of details about Reserve Strap. The band is almost not described! We just know something about this 6-pin-connector (hmmm, really, only THEY found it, iFixIt and other guys couldn’t?), we see a couple of nice pics – but nothing more. But they want us to pay already!
    2. On their website is nothing to see about the company (what is even the name?). No address – just Twitter and E-Mail.
    3. They write: “We’re funding this entirely ourselves so the first round of Straps will be extremely limited”. One of founders – John Arrow – was “most recently as the CEO of Mutual Mobile–the world’s largest mobile consulting company” and “was recently included in Forbes’ list of Most Promising CEOs under 35 as well as Inc. Magazine’s 30 under 30”. This guy can’t find money for such an interesting project?..
    4. Why they’re not on Kickstarter? Maybe because there they should write the real address xD.

  17. James Foley - 9 years ago

    How will the strap attach to the watch? You have to slide it in from the side, but with the connector sticking out that won’t work. Just a minor thing I guess!

  18. ryancgoodfellow - 9 years ago

    am i the only one wondering how that connector is going to fit in with the strap? it’s already very snug as it is…

  19. At $99, this band would be much more appealing. At $250, this project is pretty much dead in the water, except for like 1000 people who are suckers and ponied up this case, which won’t make them break even. Bad marketing and horrible a price will kill this thing.

    • Lee Pierce - 9 years ago

      While I agree on the price; I love the idea and where they are going with it. Maybe their first band will flop but I do see that this will expose a “need” for watch owners. I am more curious about how “on the go” charging will handle the increased heat being created during that process. I don’t want to wear a watch that is warming due to the charging process.

  20. What in the heck are people doing with their watch? I haven’t gone to bed with it lower than 50% once yet, and I use the workout apps, bluetooth music at the gym, and get a ton of emails and texts every day. I even used the golf app the other day and still didn’t burn through the battery. Anyway, if they want this project to work, they need to just make the part of the band that has the battery and not the entire band, and let people use the bands they already have. That lightning bolt is hideous!

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.