In addition to making a general claim that the Apple Watch will run for up to 18 hours per charge, Apple has quietly added a new battery test results page to its web site discussing the Apple Watch’s performance across a variety of different tests. According to Apple, the 38mm and 42mm versions of the Watch will have different run times, and the 42mm Apple Watch “typically experiences longer battery life.” The company does not note how much longer the larger Watch will last for, but does disclose the 38mm model’s times for everything from phone calling to music and workouts…
“Our goal for battery life was 18 hours after an overnight charge,” Apple says, “factoring in things like checking the time, receiving notifications, using apps, and doing a 30-minute workout.” The company says that it hit that 18-hour mark with a total of 90 time checks (five per hour), 90 notifications (five per hour), 45 minutes of app use, and one 30-minute workout with music playback via Bluetooth.
Apple also says that the Apple Watch will be able to be used for up to 3 hours of continuous phone calling when paired with an iPhone, 6.5 hours of music playback via Bluetooth, and 7 hours of active workout time with the heart rate sensor on. Additionally, the Watch will last for 48 to 72 hours under specific conditions.
If paired with an iPhone but used primarily as a watch, it will deliver up to 48 hours if the time is briefly checked five times per hour. With Power Reserve mode on and no iPhone pairing, it can last up to 72 hours assuming four brief time checks per hour.
Recharging time will be roughly 2.5 hours from 0% to 100%, with an 80% charge in around 1.5 hours. Two separate magnetic chargers will be offered for the Apple Watch, one with a 1-meter cable length for $29, the other for $39 with a 2-meter cable.
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I started out expecting battery to be the deal breaker….but price point clearly stole the show. (Battery really isnt that bad)
I don’t agree. The battery is very bad.
battery is bad only when you don’t set the watch up, turning on and off various settings. you run the stock settings, you won’t get the most out of your battery. I get three days without a charge.
Your last sentence implies that you get to choose your charging cable when purchasing the watch. From the online store, its clear the watch comes with a standard (1m I assume) cable.
Lets see, battery life that won’t allow me to wear the watch all day without charging and a $1000 price tag for the stainless steel version with a link band. Nope.
Unless you’re on it constantly (which you won’t be), the battery will last a day. Hyperbole is a killer.
You can’t judge the battery life until people review it. It all depends on usage and everyone making absurd comparisons to the Moto360 are ignoring the reality that unless both devices are tested in exactly the same way, you can’t compare the numbers. Apple’s testing criteria could be completely different than Motorola’s, which might be complete different than your personal daily usage.
Totally agree. I usually depend on hands-on reviews to gauge what battery-life expectations should be.
I have a friend who tried out the Moto360 and a few other Android Wear devices and could not get more than 12 hours life off a full charge.
It eventually comes down to how you use the devices.
Let’s see, you came here to start a fire.
The battery can realistically last for 2 days for most of people… this is with unfinished software. And 18 hours is still a full day for those who only sleep 6 hours.
You can a decent one from the start at $349, which is way cheaper than a comparable swiss QUARTZ (disposable) watch that does nothing but tell the hours, and you have to set it up to do so.
Don’t want? Don’t buy, like 7 billion people. Apple doesn’t need to sell one watch to everyone. Apple wants people to buy a good watch from them.
nothing about internal memory?
Nope. I don’t think it was mentioned that it was waterproof either?
According to the Apple Store page it’s rated as IPX7, i.e. you can shower with it and submerge it in water for a short while, but you shouldn’t really take a swim with it.
It is VERY waterproof. Source, my wrist in the pool and bath.
Apple has missed the mark on the price points. I will not pay that much for a watch band or blacked out stainless steel, the watch is splash proof, not water resistant to any degree worth mentioning. I am truly befuddled that people will pay this much. Battery life, lack of true water resistance and cost has guaranteed that I will not be purchasing a Apple Watch which is a shame, I was really looking forward to a excellent and reliable product only to be let down.
Retailers will discount the watches $50-$100 like iPads.
It is VERY waterproof. Source, my wrist in the pool and bath.
I’ll wait for the S, I don’t have space for another charger in my life
Those are very respectable times and I suspect some will get days from the watch based on their personal use.
Based on 5 notifications per hour, unless you have Twitter, Facebook and other apps feeding you info all day the battery will probably last even longer than Apple’s benchmarks if all you’re getting are iMessage/SMS alerts all day.
As these batteries are used, they decrease their maximum charge… We’ve all seen this phones after 6 months to a year. Also, once additional apps become available, there will be even more of a battery drain. It just seems like running out of a charge on a daily basis before dinner will not be worth the frustration. Google had the same problem (among others) with Glass: Not enough battery life. This will be nothing but a fad until battery life improves.
Is the display readable in the sun? Pebble watch is easier to read in the sun.
Quite easy to read. Way better than my Charge HR.
That’s pretty pathetic battery life for a new item. Just imagine the battery life after a year of being recharged every 18 hours.
Sounds exactly like my phone,my iPad, and my laptop actually.
Normal Li-Ion batteries stand up to 500 charges before they start to suffer. So basically 1.5 years life out of this watch? Fortunately the battery is replaceable….
They start suffering very early on and are pretty much shot by 500. I realize that the batteries will be replaceable but by the time 50% of the battery’s useful life is over you’ll be noticing that the watch needs to be charged more and more often.
Great features, good looking. Price?!?.
But, hands up those who are so sedentary, that they only lift their arms 5 times an hour? Oops, sorry!!
This watch strikes me as too complicated. I don’t mind complication, except when a device suffers from downfalls due to that complication. Why did it need to be so powerful? It’s just an information device, and should be limited to only that. Pebble seems to have it right on that. Until Apple figures out how to get at least 1 week of battery, I’m just not interested. Even then, probably still not as I’m quite comfortable with using my iPhone only and not wearing a watch.