Apple Watch Series 4 drains 10-15% every hour

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8 points

Apple Watch Series 4 drains 10-15% every hour

Hi,

I'm coming from this thread: Apple watch series 4 battery drain about … - Apple Community

And I see I'm not the only one affected. Long but short: last year I purchased an Apple Watch 4 GPS - 44, Sport as a replacement of my Series 2 device. First days I already realized battery drain was heavy but I thought this could be a software issue.

I visited Genius bar - they checked the device and told me battery and diagnostics is good.

Tried to repair the device, set it up as iCloud backup and even new watch. Same.

I phoned Apple and they suggested me to send this watch to Apple labs for a deeper investigation. Accepted and I sent the watch. After one week was shipped it back to me with a nice sheet saying that "my device was deeply checked and battery was above capacity" (sure, less than one month with my device!).

So, tried everything I read, but no success. Now after one year, my AW4 is completely useless. Tried to remove walkie talkie app, unused apps, background sync is disabled. I use dark background, really simple complication (watch, day and activity). Tried also to disable wifi, brightness is set to minimum. I also tried to disable the wake on wrist move. Basically it's all the same story. Maybe disabling wake on wrist move improves slightly but the problem is still there. I am carefully selecting notifications: no mail, only Messages and Whatsapp (and not receiving too much).

In fact, my Series 2 battery after some years it's still great

Now I'm completely stuck, upset and really angry, because I've spent more than 400€ for a completely useless device which battery drains about 15% per hour. I usually wear it at 8am and after one hour battery is 86%. Means at 6pm I have to charge it (or wear my Series 2). And three days a week I go running, means after 1 hour using GPS + heart battery is 80% (which I assume it's normal) but I have to charge it when I'm back or then I'm reaching 4pm at 10% battery.

At this point I could try again contacting Apple but I guess it will be the same. I think it's a hardware issue and looks like there's a long list of affected people as I see in the thread...

I've decided I'm seelling the device and now what...? Go for a Series 5 (scary with my actual experience)? Is there any experience with Series 5 LTE/GPS?

Thanks.

Apple Watch Sport

Posted on Jun 29, 2020 12:43 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

SalvaBCN77 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 7, 2020 5:53 AM in response to SalvaBCN77

I am updating this as this seems to be resolved. Was not expecting this but Apple shipped me a new AW4 which is so far like my series 2. Today I wore it at 6.30am at 100% battery and after 8 hours, device ate 11% battery, which is fine! In fact I never experienced this, so IMO that was a defective unit.

I'd like to aim all people who is experiencing this problem to try the suggested steps by Apple and if this is not working like in my case, call Support. I was frustrated since I tried everything...

Cheers

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Answer 2

CarlAVII

Community Specialist

Jul 2, 2020 12:53 PM in response to SalvaBCN77

Hi SalvaBCN77,

We understand you are experiencing a battery issue on your Apple Watch.

We would recommend unpairing and re-pairing your Apple Watch, and then Setup As a New Device (not restore the Apple Watch backup). You can learn how to do so here: Unpair and erase your Apple Watch and Set up and pair Apple Watch with iPhone.

If the issue persists, we would recommend you Contact Apple Support.

Hope this helps!

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Cheers!

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Answer 3

SalvaBCN77 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 3, 2020 1:41 AM in response to CarlAVII

Hi PsyDye,

Thanks for your reply. I already tried to unpair and erase Apple Watch, first attempts were just restoring device from iCloud but then I read it's better to set up as new device, so in the last month I did it like 5 times, and still same poor battery.

I opened a case with Apple. They ran a diagnostics on my device and *surprise* battery condition is good. They suggested me to send it again to the Czech Republic so they can deeply check the device.

Honestly I am not optimistic about that, although the support person understood perfectly what was happening, what will happen is the same as last year: they will run diagnostics and battery looks good, so device will be shipped back to me without doing anything.

(hope I'm wrong...)

So, we will see what happens then. For me it's clearly a defective unit (maybe the unit, maybe the battery). The Apple Support Community thread I read is amazing: lots of people complaining about the same.

Anyway, will post what happens after I receive my device...

Cheers!

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Apple Watch Series 4 drains 10-15% every hour

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