New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Watch Battery Life: 18 Hours Mixed Usage, Up to 72 Hours on Power Reserve

Monday March 9, 2015 12:32 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple Watch MagSafe Inductive ChargerApple has outlined specific information about Apple Watch battery life on its website, claiming that the wrist-worn device gets all-day battery life of 18 hours on a single charge based on mixed usage, and up to 72 hours in Power Reserve mode. The battery testing was conducted in March using a preproduction Apple Watch paired with an iPhone running preproduction software.

Apple claims that the Apple Watch has battery life of up to 3 hours for talk time, 6.5 hours for audio playback over Bluetooth, up to 7 hours during a workout session with the heart rate sensor on and up to 48 hours for timekeeping. Apple Watch charging times are listed as about 1.5 hours from 0% to 80% and 2.5 hours from 0% to 100% using the included MagSafe inductive charger.

Apple's claim of all-day battery life is based on using the Apple Watch for 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 30-minute workout with music playback via Bluetooth over the course of 18 hours. Apple used a 38mm Apple Watch for testing and claims that the 42mm will generally experience longer battery life. Additional magnetic chargers are available on Apple's bands and accessories page, costing $29 for a 1-meter cable and $39 for a 2-meter cable.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5
Tags: battery life, Power Reserve
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
[ 184 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
Aluminum213
55 months ago
See you generation 2 or 3


Good luck beta testers!
Rating: 22 Votes
Avatar
MentalFloss
55 months ago

Still don't see the point of it.


I read the same thing when the iPhone and iPad were released, and in every thread where this was posted, I was stupid enough to write long posts about how I will greatly benefit from these devices. The people who posted the "Don't see the point" messages never read my replies and ended up posting it again and again.

Not falling for that this time around. Not going to explain stuff to people with limited imagination.

I see the point. Period.
Rating: 14 Votes
Avatar
fitshaced
55 months ago
They're obviously hiding the battery in the link bracelet.

I think the Apple watch price is going to be a long running joke.
Rating: 11 Votes
Avatar
mkeeley
55 months ago
Still don't see the point of it.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
ipedro
55 months ago

18 hours sounds reasonable. They will keep on working on battery life, so I will wait for at least 2nd or even maybe 3rd gen before buying one.


So you're getting an Apple Watch in 3 years? Have fun waiting :cool:

18 hours is more than reasonable. How many hours a day are you awake? If you sleep just 6 hours, the other 18 hours of the day, you can have the Watch on.

Take it off at night, put it on in the morning. 18 hours is a very comfortable margin for regular use without having to ever worry about the battery.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
tdhurst
55 months ago
huh?

I'm confused... How does "talk time" relate to the Apple Watch? I thought the device just alerts you to incoming calls. Why is the watch's battery life so affected when you're talking on your phone?


Go watch the announcement.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
MentalFloss
55 months ago
What I don't get: The Watch always has to be paired to an iPhone, i.e. I always have an iPhone with me. So why would I use the Watch for music playback via Bluetooth, when I can do that from my iPhone for hours and hours?
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
greytmom
55 months ago

That's much better than I was expecting.

I am still concerned about skin oil and dirt getting in the charger port.


There is no port... smooth surface.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
OllyW
55 months ago

Heard this same thing in 2007 when the first iPhone was released.


Was that the iPhone that had it's price reduced by $200 just three months after it launched? ;)
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
neuropsychguy
55 months ago

I'm confused... How does "talk time" relate to the Apple Watch? I thought the device just alerts you to incoming calls. Why is the watch's battery life so affected when you're talking on your phone?


Watch the keynote. You can talk through your watch (a la Dick Tracy), if you want to (of course an iPhone within Bluetooth or WiFi distance is required). Also talk time would include Siri, recording voice messages, etc.
Rating: 6 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]