Expanded Low-Power Mode in watchOS 9 Will Work With More Apps and Features - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Expanded Low-Power Mode in watchOS 9 Will Work With More Apps and Features

watchOS 9 will feature a new power-saving mode that will let users use an Apple Watch and its apps and features without taking up a significant amount of battery life, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported today.

watchOS 8 Green BG Feature
Currently, the Apple Watch features "Power Reserve" mode, which greatly limits Apple Watch functionality to only show users the time. With watchOS 9, Apple is looking to port over Low Power Mode from the iPhone to the Apple Watch, letting users use apps and features while using less battery life.

For watchOS 9, Apple also is planning a new low-power mode that is designed to let its smartwatch run some apps and features without using as much battery life. Currently, Apple Watches in low-power mode -- known on the device as Power Reserve -- can only access the time. The company is also planning to refresh many of its built-in watch faces currently shipping with the device.

The added new feature in watchOS 9 is part of Apple's overall efforts to improve battery life on the Apple Watch, which has remained mainly stagnant over the years.

watchOS 9 will also include a new detection feature for atrial fibrillation that will track how long an individual has been in a state of atrial fibrillation, according to Bloomberg. Apple will preview iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, and watchOS 9 during WWDC from June 6 through June 10.

Related Roundups: watchOS 26, watchOS 27
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Black Apple Event Logo

Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'

Thursday October 15, 2026 4:13 am PDT by
Apple has begun inviting selected members of the media to a product launch experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a post on X, Gurman described the gathering as an "all-day product launch experience" for touchscreen MacBooks, a new iPad mini, and Macs equipped with M6 chips. Gurman previously reported that Apple would introduce the...
iPhone Duo Open large scaled feature

iPhone Duo 2 Prototypes Include Under-Display Face ID

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:46 am PDT by
Apple's second-generation iPhone Duo could gain Face ID, with prototypes already incorporating the technology beneath the outer display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest episode of his "Power On" podcast, Gurman described Apple's work on adding facial authentication technology to its foldable iPhone. The company is said to be testing the hardware for a successor expected...
MacBook Pro M5 Screen

Apple May Phase Out Non-Touch High-End MacBook Pros

Wednesday November 4, 2026 5:35 am PST by
Apple will likely consolidate its high-end MacBook Pro lineup around touchscreen models, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman questioned whether Apple would keep updating its high-end MacBook Pro models without touchscreens. The company has retained the mini-LED M5 Pro and M5 Max models alongside the new touchscreen versions, which cost...

Top Rated Comments

60 months ago
Finaly just make them work without depending on the iPhone.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
60 months ago
Sounds good to me. I really wish I could get at least 2 days off my watch battery.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
60 months ago

seriously, make it 2 mm thicker and double the battery life, your consumers would prefer that to an imperceptibly thicker device.
count me out. I don't want a chunky tech watch protruding from my wrist.

I agree that current battery life isn't good enough, I had a Xiaomi Mi Fit that could do like 14 days, but also did about a tenth of the things my AW does.

At this point I've gotten used to finding an hour in my day to charge my watch. Whether it's during my shower, while sleeping, or working from my desk.

Upgrading from a s6 to s8 this year and I'm looking forward to the increased charging speeds that were introduced with s7. Even though I already charge over USB-C and I take advantage of the charge-speed improvements that came with series 6, it could always be better!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
60 months ago
Would be nice to see 3-4 day battery while on low power mode
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
60 months ago
This will be good. Will be able to extend battery life when required.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
60 months ago

It’s gonna be called…Ultra Low Power Mode.
I can see the ads now:

“Limbo Power Mode …
… how low can you go?”
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Is It Worth Buying a Ceramic Apple Watch?
Is It Worth Buying a Ceramic Apple Watch?
2 hours ago
Samsung Early Black Friday Event Brings Major Sales to Frame TVs and More
Samsung Early Black Friday Event Brings Major Sales to Frame TVs and More
3 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery Test Involving 32 Smartphones
iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery Test Involving 32 Smartphones
3 hours ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Hits Record Low $69.99 Price Ahead of Black Friday
AirTag 2 4-Pack Hits Record Low $69.99 Price Ahead of Black Friday
5 hours ago
Rumored Apple Smart Glasses Mentioned in Supplier's Earnings Briefing
Rumored Apple Smart Glasses Mentioned in Supplier's Earnings Briefing
5 hours ago
Apple Chip Supplier TSMC Approves $1 Billion AI Investment
Apple Chip Supplier TSMC Approves $1 Billion AI Investment
7 hours ago
Make Apple Watch Listen for Sounds Like the Doorbell
Make Apple Watch Listen for Sounds Like the Doorbell
9 hours ago
'Apple Support Community' Permanently Closing on November 20
'Apple Support Community' Permanently Closing on November 20
15 hours ago
Apple's Holiday Gift Guide Highlights iPhone Duo and More
Apple's Holiday Gift Guide Highlights iPhone Duo and More
18 hours ago
Three Workers Die at Tata iPhone Parts Plant in India
Three Workers Die at Tata iPhone Parts Plant in India
18 hours ago
iCloud Mail, Calendar, Contacts and More Experiencing Outage [Updated]
iCloud Mail, Calendar, Contacts and More Experiencing Outage [Updated]
19 hours ago
Apple's Claris Testing 'Harbor' App for Local AI on Macs
Apple's Claris Testing 'Harbor' App for Local AI on Macs
19 hours ago
iFixit's PROLED MacBook Pro Teardown Reveals Logo LEDs
iFixit's PROLED MacBook Pro Teardown Reveals Logo LEDs
21 hours ago
10 Free iPhone Duo Apps Worth Downloading
10 Free iPhone Duo Apps Worth Downloading
22 hours ago
Apple Releases New AirPods Firmware
Apple Releases New AirPods Firmware
22 hours ago
Amazon Begins Early Black Friday Sale, Featuring Sitewide Discounts on Tech and Decor
Amazon Begins Early Black Friday Sale, Featuring Sitewide Discounts on Tech and Decor
1 day ago
Apple Announces Swift Student Challenge Ahead of WWDC 2027
Apple Announces Swift Student Challenge Ahead of WWDC 2027
1 day ago
Next iPad Air Likely to Have These 10 New Features
Next iPad Air Likely to Have These 10 New Features
1 day ago
iPad Mini 2021 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
iPad Mini 2021 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
1 day ago
New Apple TV Sign Language Feature Announced
New Apple TV Sign Language Feature Announced
1 day ago
Disable Touch on MacBook Pro PROLED XDR and When Using Sidecar
Disable Touch on MacBook Pro PROLED XDR and When Using Sidecar
1 day ago
Anker's Early Black Friday Sale Surprises With Mystery Boxes and Big Discounts
Anker's Early Black Friday Sale Surprises With Mystery Boxes and Big Discounts
1 day ago
Apple Arcade Adding These Four Games in December
Apple Arcade Adding These Four Games in December
1 day ago
OLED iPad Air Rumored to Launch in Two Sizes in Early 2027
OLED iPad Air Rumored to Launch in Two Sizes in Early 2027
1 day ago
The Original iPod Went on Sale 25 Years Ago Today
The Original iPod Went on Sale 25 Years Ago Today
1 day ago
Apple Maps Could Factor Parking Into Your Arrival Time
Apple Maps Could Factor Parking Into Your Arrival Time
1 day ago
Waze Now Alerts Drivers to Nearby Cyclists Using Garmin LiveTrack
Waze Now Alerts Drivers to Nearby Cyclists Using Garmin LiveTrack
1 day ago
iPhone 20 Pro: Ten Big Changes That Could Redefine Apple's Flagship
iPhone 20 Pro: Ten Big Changes That Could Redefine Apple's Flagship
1 day ago
Here's What Apple Fixed in iOS 27.2.1 and macOS 27.2.1
Here's What Apple Fixed in iOS 27.2.1 and macOS 27.2.1
2 days ago
Webex Gets iPhone Duo Support
Webex Gets iPhone Duo Support
2 days ago