[CloudSpeaker]

On my original Apple Watch (42mm), I'd end the day with between 40% and 60% battery life.

On my new, Series 1 Apple Watch (42mm), I'm ending the day with between 10% and 20% battery life.

Initially, I thought this was b/c I play with it all day, it being new. But look at this battery drain since I really started paying attention:

4:37a - Wake up, put watch on... 100%
5:31a - Get in car to drive to work... 94% (Already! How?)
6:25a - Arrive at work, sitting at my desk... 90%

That can't be normal battery drain?

What's YOUR Series 1 battery life like? I want to know whether I a.) Have a bum unit, b.) It's a watchOS 3 thing and an update will make it better or c.) This is the new normal?

Anybody!?

[CloudSpeaker]

Another forums battery thread made me think to post this:

Time since last full charge... Usage: 33m / Standby: 2h 9m / 89%

[Donkichot]

Series 1 got the new processor but did it get the new batteries ?
If no that would explain the difference

[CloudSpeaker]

Series 1 didn't get the new battery, but that simply means its performance should be equal to or greater than the Series 0 original. I'd end the day with my original between 40% and 60%. Right now, at 9:24a, I'm down to 78%.

[Donkichot]

Yes but the new processor probably need more energy than the watch 0...

Did start your series 1 with a backup of w0 or as a new watch ?
Cause many battery problem can come from a backup restore.

[Matty]

Series 1 got the new processor but did it get the new batteries ?
If no that would explain the difference

I think this is where the problem lies. The old watch got a much improved processor but did not get a better battery or screen. This is most likely the cause for the battery drain.

[CloudSpeaker]

Started with clean setup, not from a backup. A MacRumors Forums battery life thread suggested the Dark Sky app was sucking down power. I deleted that app and restarted. My battery drain seems to have slowed.

Current situation:

Time since last full charge...
Usage: 1h 12m / Standby: 5h 28m / 77% at 10:11a

Not sure whether slowing of power drain is due to restart of device or deletion of Dark Sky. Should've tried fixes one at a time to narrow it down.

Edit to add: I was perhaps thinking the wrong way of the new S1P system-on-a-chip, too. Instead of thinking it'd use more battery due to its speed boost, I was thinking it'd be more efficient.

[Mac Guy]

I was perhaps thinking the wrong way of the new S1P system-on-a-chip, too. Instead of thinking it'd use more battery due to its speed boost, I was thinking it'd be more efficient.

We won't know until somebody does an in depth test. Generally, adding more horsepower to the equation draws more on resources. Also generally, Apple's next generation of silicon tends to be more energy efficient than the last, and that's what we've come to expect.

Apple likes to point out the same or better battery life. There are a lot of variables but Apple rates both the Series 1 and 2 Watches at 18hrs battery life. They also say "Battery life varies by use, configuration, and many other factors; actual results will vary."

[CloudSpeaker]

48 hours later, all is well. It had to be a runaway process. For past 2 days, battery life has been spectacular. I'm nearly 5 hours into my day and still at 97%. I think I'd lost 3% that first day by the time I got out of bed and brushed my teeth.

Nothing more to see here.

[desh_se]

48 hours later, all is well. It had to be a runaway process. For past 2 days, battery life has been spectacular. I'm nearly 5 hours into my day and still at 97%. I think I'd lost 3% that first day by the time I got out of bed and brushed my teeth.

Nothing more to see here.

Nice! I'm still seeing poor battery performance for no appearant reason, like you did the first days. 10% battery left after a 16 hours day with very moderate usage and energy-saving settings. Is there anything at all you changed, or did it just fix itself?

[CloudSpeaker]

Is there anything at all you changed, or did it just fix itself?

I wish I had an answer. After a couple of great days, my battery life is proving inconsistent. My use doesn't really change day to day, but the amount of battery left at the end of the day does. Some days it's 68%, other days it's 28%. Nothing changes on my end (that I'm consciously aware of).

This morning I'm down 10% in just 2 and a half hours and all I did was wake up and get my kid out the door to school. I'm beginning to wonder whether it's really the battery or the way watchOS 3 is reading / reporting its level.