watchOS 9 Introduces New Low Power Mode on Apple Watch Series 4 and Later - MacRumors
Skip to Content

watchOS 9 Introduces New Low Power Mode on Apple Watch Series 4 and Later

Apple today announced that watchOS 9 will feature a new Low Power Mode on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer. When the Low Power Mode is enabled, the Apple Watch will be able to get up to 36 hours of battery life per charge.

Apple Watch Low Power Mode watchOS 9
Apple says Low Power Mode will temporarily disable or limit select sensors and features, including the always-on display, autostart workouts, heart health notifications, and more. Other features like activity tracking and fall detection will remain available.

The new Low Power Mode in watchOS 9 is separate from the Apple Watch's existing Power Reserve mode that only displays the clock when enabled.

Low Power Mode is just one of many new features that will be available on the all-new Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE, which are available to pre-order starting today and will launch on September 16. Other new features for the Apple Watch Series 8 include a body temperature sensor focused on women's health and car crash detection.

As for the new high-end Apple Watch Ultra, Apple said a new battery optimization feature will be available later this year that allows the device to get up to 60 hours of battery life per charge. It sounds like this feature will be separate from the Low Power Mode.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Rethink Could See Debut of Round Model, Screenless Fitness Tracker, and More

Sunday August 9, 2026 8:37 am PDT by
Apple is re-evaluating the Apple Watch lineup and considering a host of radical new designs, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. In today's edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman compared plans for the Apple Watch's evolution to the "revolutionary design change" that the foldable iPhone represents. It will be "something that...
Apple Watch series 2 ceramic

Ceramic Case Could Return With Apple Watch Series 12

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:21 am PDT by
Apple is planning to reintroduce its striking ceramic Apple Watch casing as soon as this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Writing in his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the ceramic case option is expected to return either this year or in 2027. Apple first introduced a ceramic Apple Watch Edition with the Series 2...
TMRS 206 Apple Watch Redesign Thumb

The MacRumors Show: Where Does the Apple Watch Go Next?

Friday August 14, 2026 9:35 am PDT by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss how the Apple Watch is seemingly heading into one of its least eventful new generations, yet the rumors stacking up behind it describe the most radical rethink in the product's history coming later. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The most eye-catching change potentially coming this year is not a new...

Top Rated Comments

52 months ago
Low power mode is a welcome addition.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anticipate Avatar
52 months ago
Here's the details.

Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shanghaichica Avatar
52 months ago

This is basically the same thing as Power Reserve mode 🤷‍♂️
It’s not the same thing. In power reserve mode you can only see the time and nothing else. Here you’ll still be able to see your notifications, messages etc. it’s just the fitness tracking, AOD and health sensors that aren’t available.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrjoedot Avatar
52 months ago

Shame this feature is buried in settings. Would have been great as a power button hold option
wrong.
can also just swipe up. tap on battery % and toggle low power there
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anticipate Avatar
52 months ago

This is basically the same thing as Power Reserve mode 🤷‍♂️
No, it’s not even close. Power reserve mode shuts off the watch and just shows you the time when you click the side button. Low power mode continues to run to watch, you can raise your arm, look at the time, track steps, you get notifications. It’s completely and utterly different.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
52 months ago
$799 for the PRO is better than I thought. Would have to think about that.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)