Wearers of the new and old Apple Watch can get the most functionality out of their watch by knowing how check their battery and how to charge Apple Watch. Apple includes a magnetic Apple Watch charger with the smart watch, however most users will be surprised to know this is not the only way to charge their watch. Before going into specifics regarding the Apple Watch charger, some information should be given regarding the Apple Watch itself.
Apple Watch
The Apple Watch is a smartwatch that was initially released by Apple in April of 2015. The second series was released in September 2016, and the latest edition (Series 3) was released September of 2017. Each release has come with improvements in battery life, storage, and usability. The latest edition allows users to track their workouts, ask Siri (Apple’s virtual assistant) for directions, and listen to music. The watch also allows users to download numerous apps including various workout apps, productivity apps, and apps for entertainment.
While the phone does have some storage, it is continuously syncing with the user’s iPhone in order to backup information and create more room on the watch. Between backing up info and the energy-draining GPS in the watch, it needs to be charged often (usually once a day). While a short battery life is common on all smart watches, it is still an inconvenience to many users. For this reason, it is important to know how to charge Apple Watch.
Charging The Apple Watch
Charging the Apple Watch is an easy task. The watch includes a magnetic charger that is round and attaches to the back of the watch. Users only need to put the charger close to the back of the watch and let the magnets attach to one another. Previous Apple Watch editions came with the 2 meter charging cable, but now the Series 3 comes with the 1 meter length. A replacement charging cable can be bought at a 0.3 meter length ($29), 1 meter length ($29), or 2 meter length ($39). According to Apple, it takes 1.5 hours to charge the Apple Watch to 80% battery and 2.5 hours to fully charge the watch.
Other Ways To Charge Apple Watch
Interested in other ways on how to charge Apple Watch? There are other methods that do not require the use of the magnetic charger provided by Apple. Third party companies have developed other magnetic charging stations that allow charging on a stand. One product is a portable battery that, when first charged at home, allows charging on the go. There is one non-traditional way to charge the Apple Watch that users should consider at their own risk. On the Apple Watch, the wristbands are connected to a 6-pin magnetic port. Some individuals report hooking up wires to these pins to charge their watch, and even claim that is charges the watch (slightly) faster than the traditional Apple Watch charger. Although they also claim the watch does not heat up as much using this method, we recommend sticking with the proven safe method of charging using an Apple Watch charger or third party stand charger.
Checking the Battery
The other important part of charging the watch is knowing when your Apple Watch needs to be charged and what the battery power is when charging. To check the battery, swipe up on the watch to open the Control Center where you will see the battery percentage. From this menu, you can choose to use the power reserve. The power reserve reverts the Apple Watch to a time watch face only, in which users cannot access other apps and the watch will not communicate with the user’s iPhone. The option to use the power reserve will be suggested when you reach 10% battery. A red lightning bold (low battery symbol) means it is time to charge the watch.
Users can also check the battery life of their AirPods from the watch, and the battery life of their watch from their iPhone. To check the battery life of all connected devices from the iPhone, swipe down to bring up the notification center, scroll down and press ‘edit’, then activate the ‘batteries’ widget.
