Apple Says Apple Watch Series 3 Lasts Up to 7 Hours When Streaming Apple Music Over LTE

Following yesterday's release of watchOS 4.1, which enables Apple Music and Beats 1 streaming over LTE on cellular-enabled Apple Watch Series 3 models, Apple has outlined how much impact the functionality has on battery life.

apple watch apple music streaming
While all Apple Watch Series 3 models are rated for up to 10 hours of battery life when playing music from the watch's built-in storage, Apple says the device gets up to seven hours of battery life when streaming Apple Music with LTE.

Apple also says the Apple Watch Series 3 has up to five hours of battery life when streaming live radio with LTE. watchOS 4.1 features a new Radio app with access to Beats 1 and other Apple Music radio stations.

For outdoor sessions with the Workout app, the Apple Watch Series 3 is rated for up to three hours of battery life with streaming audio, GPS, and LTE. That's one hour less than an outdoor workout without streaming audio.

Apple says battery life varies by use, configuration, cellular network, signal strength, streaming quality settings, and many other factors.

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Top Rated Comments

840quadra Avatar
103 months ago
Considering I can get 4 days on a single charge (I take it off at night) I don’t doubt this. I think apple was really conservative with their battery life statements on this device.

3 hours of battery working out! ROFL!

This is why you will never see a triathlete with an apple watch.
I would say that anyone trying to swim with AirPods in, has other problems to worry about.

Without streaming music you get 4-5 hours, and more if you don’t have it in workout mode. But again, Apple is conservative so I would expect people see more, even when streaming music.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
103 months ago
Once again people slam the Apple Watch over battery life before knowing what it's actually capable of.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Xavier Avatar
103 months ago
Did anyone mention how the original iPod had 10 hours of battery? It's pretty damn impressive that a watch, streaming music over cellular, connected to your wireless headphones, last 7 hours.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CB1234 Avatar
103 months ago
3 hours of battery working out! ROFL!

This is why you will never see a triathlete with an apple watch.
And how many triathlete's around the world are Apple targeting with their apple watch, may I ask?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbeagle Avatar
103 months ago
For what the watch cost, that is not very good battery life, in my opinion. Get the battery to 12 hrs and I will buy.
You're working out with music for a full 12 hours? What type of super-human athlete are you?

I work out with music 2 hours a day. That is a lot with a full time job and a life. My watch has 30-50% battery left by the end of an 18 hour day.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbeagle Avatar
103 months ago
Why do you get seven hours of battery when streaming Apple Music over LTE, but five hours when streaming radio over LTE? How is streaming Apple Music more battery efficient?
With Apple Music, the song is downloaded all at once to the watch, then LTE is not being used until 2-3 minutes later another song needs to be loaded.

With streaming, the LTE data is always being used.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)