I am considering buying an Apple Watch as replacement for my Garmin. I’m trying to find information about the battery life and can’t find anything definitive. i do a lot of hiking and am due to take part in a 50km walk in April, likely to last 10-12 hours. Will the battery last long enough in GPS tracking mode to record such a long activity?
thanks
If you mean you are going to be running an exercise app all day, such that the GPS radio will be checking your location constantly, then chances are the Series 10 will run out of battery before the end of the day.
For example, running an Ultra-marathon.
If that is the case, the Apple Watch Ultra II, which is made for this type of activity might be a better choice. But still charge it every day, unless using it for camping or an overnight event.
I do about an hour of walking or bicycling exercise a day, and that is when I am using an exercise app that tracks my location. The rest of the time GPS checks are much further apart, and thus take less power during the day. My Series 10 lasts all day.
But if I forget to End the exercise app, it consumes my battery much faster, and all I’m doing is working at my desk.
If you mean you are going to be running an exercise app all day, such that the GPS radio will be checking your location constantly, then chances are the Series 10 will run out of battery before the end of the day.
For example, running an Ultra-marathon.
If that is the case, the Apple Watch Ultra II, which is made for this type of activity might be a better choice. But still charge it every day, unless using it for camping or an overnight event.
I do about an hour of walking or bicycling exercise a day, and that is when I am using an exercise app that tracks my location. The rest of the time GPS checks are much further apart, and thus take less power during the day. My Series 10 lasts all day.
But if I forget to End the exercise app, it consumes my battery much faster, and all I’m doing is working at my desk.
Another possibility is low power mode:
Use Low Power Mode on your Apple Watch - Apple Support
That still allows some exercise tracking and GPS. There's also a setting in Workouts to reduce how often the watch will check location. That can also help extend battery life.
Regards.
The Series 10 GPS only is rated for 18 hours.
You need to charge it everyday.
When brand new, it will last longer, however, if you insist on running it down to nothing before charging it, you will quickly destroy the Li-Ion battery.
So charge it everyday, no matter how much charge is left at the end of each day.
If you absolutely have to stretch it beyond 1 day, then put it into Low Power mode, and get it on a charger as soon as possible, or even turn it off if it is getting dangerously low.
Again, running the battery too low will ruin the Li-Ion battery of any device.
I had a Series 4 GPS only for 6 years, and except for a few emergencies, I charged it every night. In the last few months of the 6th year, it was actually giving me 18 hours and then it was toast. That was 6 years of treating it well, and it stayed within the Apple recommended 18 hours of battery life all that time.
I now have the Series 10, and I charge it everyday. I expect it to last at least 6 years as well.
If you decide to get an Ultra, still charge it everyday, and reserved that extra battery life for when you are camping, or running an Ultra-Marathon. Do not abuse the battery during your daily use, if you can put it on a charger every day.
So if i want to record an activity using GPS that takes me all day to complete, will the battery run out before i finish? Understood that general battery is 18 hours but is it still 18 hours if i am recording a long activity using GPS? My Garmin lasts several days without recording but if i record an activity the battery dies after about 6 hours
thanks
How long does Apple Watch 10 last on GPS mode?
