A small number of early Apple Watch users are reporting problems charging the device, as well as excessive drain of the paired iPhone’s battery, according to posts on Apple’s discussion forums and Twitter. According to training documents received by 9to5Mac, Apple is already aware of the issues, and offering solutions that may help affected users.
Users with charging problems have explained that the Apple Watch will physically connect to its charger and say that it’s charging properly, “but in reality the power diminishes as if no charger was plugged in.” In some cases, the issue appears to be in software, where one of two several-step tricks may enable the Watch to recharge:
- Turn off and reset the Watch, first holding the side button, swiping to power off, then holding the Digital Crown and side button at the same time until the Apple logo appears. This alone may solve the problem.
- If that doesn’t work, restart the connected iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, then Erase All Content and Settings using General > Reset. Set up the Watch again and see if charging works.
Some users have noted that their issues appear to be hardware defects, which are being resolved by AppleCare using either replacement Watches or charging cables. However, one user noted that what appeared to be a hardware problem may have been caused by not removing protective plastic on the Watch’s rear charging surface, and was resolved by restarting the Watch. These types of problems, as well as “super quick” iPhone battery drain issues are in the process of being addressed by Apple, as explained below…
[tweet https://twitter.com/ryan/status/592125748258832387]
A separate collection of complaints regarding excessive drain of the paired iPhone’s battery appear to be related to a bug in iOS. Over the weekend, a number of Apple discussion forum users reported “super quick battery drain” using both iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 models, an issue also noted by journalists including Ryan Block and Jacqui Cheng. Block shared a screenshot of the Apple Watch companion app consuming 31% of his iPhone’s battery power over one day, while Cheng noted that her iPhone’s battery was “100% dead more than a half day earlier than usual.” The same two solutions mentioned above have been suggested as fixes for these issues.
[tweet https://twitter.com/ejacqui/status/592161644710600705]
To deal with “Battery Life Too Short” complaints, Apple has prepared a series of troubleshooting steps for its AppleCare customer service representatives. They include the restarting and iPhone/Watch Bluetooth re-pairing steps above, plus testing using a “known-good Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable” and a “known-good USB Power Adapter connected to AC power for five minutes.”
Before replacing a Watch, representatives are instructed to check for moisture condensation inside the back sensor window, examine the Watch for signs of external physical damage, and look for apps showing “unusually high battery usage” as possible explanations for the issue. If there’s no easy way to remedy the situation on the spot, representatives can set up the Watch to be mailed in for repair or replacement.
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Brand new category means a few stumbling blocks along the way. I’ve had no issues with mine, and I suspect that applies to the vast majority of users.
Hasn’t been a problem here, http://i.imgur.com/iZYqhHk.png
So far mine has been great. Over the weekend I only used about 50% of the watch battery life each day, but I still charged it overnight. My iPhone’s battery has been good. I think its taken a slight hit, but nothing too crazy, though.
I wonder if there’s something that’s not syncing properly which could explain the watch app power usage. If its bouncing back and forth it could really drain it. I had that problem with my iPhone and an Exchange server for mail once.
Someone in my Twitter feed has been sleeping with their watch on and using it as a silent alarm. I know last year when Jony Ive mentioned a team member was doing just that some people scoffed but it seems he he knew what he was talking about. Tim Cook saying you charge it overnight was probably making the assumption most people wouldn’t wear it to bed. So you stick it on the charger while you’re sleeping.
It charges pretty quickly, so sleeping with it on wouldn’t be unheard of. I’ve noticed I can get 60%-80% with an hour of charging.
Ive also been doing this and then charging sometime at night during dinner or something.
I really wanted to be an early adopter of Apple watch but I have been burned too many times with Apple product launches;my iPad 1G froze when playing videos, had to get an RMA, iPad 2’s screen had horrible light leakage around the bezel due to bad mfg, iPad 3 overheated like a mother…all of those issues are now fixed with the latest gen iPads; I’ll wait for Apple watch 2.0 thank you; hopefully at that time they will give an option for a PVD casing / band so it doesn’t scratch as much.
DLC on the black stainless Watch is PVD. PVD is the process…DLC is the material. DLC is stronger than the cheaper PVD coatings you’re thinking of…typically matte black in appearance.
If durability is your thing…DLC is about as tough as it gets.
Scratch-wise, polished stainless will scratch easiest. The 7000 anodized aluminum is very durable…won’t develop small scratches easily. DLC black stainless is as tough as you’ll see in any watch.
Whenever I had problems with my iPhones and iPads (and some of the problems were the ones you mentioned, the others were fairly minor), I just had them replaced at the Apple Store. If the watches are actually defective, I have no doubt that they can similarly be exchanged rapidly. Otherwise, if you don’t like the specifications of the watch, that is a good reason not to get one.
Mine has been trouble free.
I’m experiencing more battery life on the phone, now with the watch.
However, making calls on the watch depletes the battery very fast, as expected, so it’s a feature best used when you really need.
So far I’m really happy after the first weekend of use. My iPhone 6 seems to be running normally battery life and the watch is about 30% by bedtime. Which again is pretty good since I’m using both more than normal because the watch is new.
Since I got it on Friday I have used it through the weekend. After reading this article I checked the usage. For the Last 7 Days and its only 2%. So I guess how you adjust it to work for you is also an issue. I cut notifications from apps that would not make sense to have going through my watch.
Mine’s been trouble free as well. No battery issues with watch or iPhone (6). I’ve had a few issues with using Siri from the watch. Once I dictated a query and it was put on the screen like 4 times in a row and she was “searching” but it never completed (no error, no response). I’ve tried a few calls (to contacts where I know I’ll be greeted by a recording), but haven’t tried having a conversation with anyone so far. It’s a cool feature though because I don’t always have my phone on me and now I don’t have to jump up and try to find it when a call comes in. It’s also much lighter than I expected (space gray sport). Really having fun with it so far.
When the Apple Watch 2.0 is released, and it’s circular, I MIGHT consider it, otherwise it’s a meh from me!
Don’t expect a circular watch any time soon (it will probably take at least 2 years, or maybe never).
Maybe never. While there is a logical reason for a traditional watch to be round, this logic falls short with smart watches. Round thinking puts aesthetics before function. Other than for the sake of mimicking a mechanical watch, a round smart watch makes little sense. Even Android Wear on a round watch is crippled when compared to it’s rectangular counterpart.
In your opinion of course.
The great thing about possibilities is they exist
My Apple Watch usage is only 2% and I have not had any problems with batteries so far
i cannot seem to make or receive calls on my watch, it will ring when the phone rings but when i press the answer button, it just says connecting but the phone still rings. otherwise its all good. anyone had this issue?
Phone just fine and lovin my watch. Used all day and still running strong
Just as in generations past, when a wearer had to wind the watch every 24-48 hours, Apple’s Watch needs daily energy infusions. Is this really progress? I think I’ll stick with a real watch for now, and leave this wrist-resident micro iPad to the iToy-addicted.
Nothing like an aged silverback to give us all a lesson on the days of old.
So far I’m super impressed with the battery life of my Apple Watch. After each entire day I have had about 50% battery life left. I never expected that. All is good here with the battery of my iPhone 6 too. It’s actually better because I can use my watch for most notifications and don’t find myself checking my phone nearly as much as I used to, exactly the point.
since upgrading to OS2.. my watch battery from full charge overnight to 10% in 4-5 hours.. shut off 2 days in a row while working a normal 9hr day ..not happy .. waiting for update
Learn to use ellipsis correctly in the interim.
I haven’t experience any issues with battery drain. But sometimes, I couldn’t get the watch to charge. Same thing on iPhone earlier this year. Sucks to see others are having the same problem. I tried following this http://www.cupertinowatch.com/apple-watch-wont-charge-heres-fix-issue/ but still doesnt help.
My Apple watch stands for 2 days as maximum