Roger Fingas
The Apple Watch's battery life should be significantly better in the shipping product than some early accounts suggested, one report says, while the device itself could fundamentally change the way users interact with their iPhones.
Citing several people who have spent "extended time" with the product, TechCrunch reports that Apple has been working on improving longevity, such that during a normal day of periodic use, the Watch should still have roughly 25 percent of its power left.
This means that while people will still have to charge the device overnight, they should be able to make it through a full day on a single charge. Sources also said it takes about two hours to fully recharge a depleted device.
Apple has repeatedly stated that Apple Watch will last about a day, but as recently as January some rumors implied the company was struggling to get battery life to acceptable levels. To that end, the company has reportedly implemented a stopgap measure called Power Reserve, which cuts power to all non-essential functions in order to squeeze out more life.
Commenting on a related topic, TechCrunch sources note that receiving notifications on the Watch requires the product to be both locked and strapped to a wrist. Although this behavior blocks alerts some users may want, it also reduces power consumption and unwanted annoyances. Along those lines, notifications will stop entirely once the battery is below 10 percent.
The testers additionally remark that the Watch's touchscreen is sharp, sensitive and precise, making it relatively easy to control apps with small interfaces. To supplement this Apple has reportedly refined the digital crown, not only syncing it with on-screen scroll speeds but deliberately increasing friction. Pressing and holding the crown launches Siri for dictation, a necessity since the UI does not include a keyboard.
The people note that the net impact of using the Watch has been using their iPhone far less. This is because they can act on many tasks and notifications immediately without their phone; one person tells TechCrunch that they almost stopped using their phone during the day.
Apple is due to reveal final details of Apple Watch during a press event on Monday. AppleInsider will be covering the event live.
Malcolm Owen
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97 Comments
"...one person tells TechCrunch that they almost stopped using their phone during the day..." Ok, this could extend the battery life of the iPhone since it's acting as source/sync over bluetooth for the watch. At least the comment said 'almost' stopped using.
The world's iPhone battery life complaints solved! ;) Android users get to hug the walls still.
[quote name="TheWhiteFalcon" url="/t/185101/apple-watch-battery-life-reportedly-much-better-than-anticipated-thanks-to-power-saving-features#post_2687068"]The world's iPhone battery life complaints solved! ;) Android users get to hug the walls still.[/quote] Only those with Nexus or, soon to be released, Galaxy S6 series devices. All the others get to play a shell game with their batteries so they can keep them all charged using only their phone as the charging station.
Too bad Jony Ive apparently isn't concerned with how little battery life your Apple products gets:
http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/06/jony-ive-iphone-battery/
He may have brilliant industrial design sensibilities, but get a load of those bright red socks.
So while your watch is charging at the office, or on your bedside table, no notifications. An no notifications, until you re-authenticate it with your iPhone, so no grabbing it off the charger as you rush to a meeting.