The Apple Watch is, without a doubt, one of the best smartwatches available. However, one criticism levelled at the wearable is its battery life. Because it has an endurance of around 18 hours, you’ll spend a lot of time charging it. So the obvious question is how long does it take to charge the Apple Watch? Let’s find out…
Short Answer
The Apple Watch Ultra takes 60 minutes to charge from 0% to 80%, the Series 8 takes 45 minutes, and the Apple Watch SE (2022) and older Apple Watch models take longer.
Overview
A full charge of an Apple Watch takes a couple of hours, though there are a number of factors that can affect the charge time, including the exact Apple Watch model, the charger used, and various environmental factors. While the exact charge time will vary, most Apple Watches should be fully charged within a few hours.
The Apple Watch has many features and benefits that make it a worthwhile purchase, but it is still a smartwatch, and battery life is one of the major issues with this type of product. In general, Android-powered smartwatches provide long levels of daily usage, whereas the built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery on most Apple Watch models tops out at eighteen hours.
According to Apple, a full battery charge for an Apple Watch takes 2.5 hours. However, because the exact time will vary to some extent, this time frame should only be used as a guide. For comparison, Apple’s official charge time is based on testing with an Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable, and Apple’s 5W USB Power Adapter. The length of time it takes to charge an Apple Watch can be affected by using a different cable or adapter.
How Long Does It Take to Charge the Apple Watch?
Despite being a heavier watch with a larger battery, the Apple Watch Ultra charges from 0% to 80% in 60 minutes — 15 minutes faster than the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 7. You’ll need another 30 minutes to charge the Series 8 and Series 7 fully.
From the Series 6 onwards, Apple Watch charging speed increased significantly. The newly included magnetic fast-charging USB-C cable, which allows wattages of up to 20W through Apple’s 20W USB-C charger, is the primary reason for this improvement. This significantly improved over the standard 5W supported by older Apple Watches. To achieve 20W charging speeds, Apple recommends plugging this charger and cable into an 18W, 20W, 29W, 30W, 61W, 87W, or 96W USB-C power adaptor.
If you have an Apple Watch SE, you should allow 90 minutes for a 0-80% charge and another 60 minutes to reach 100%. Despite Apple’s claims, we found the Apple Watch SE (2022) to charge much faster than its predecessor during our review.
So, how do the charging times of the Apple Watch compare to the competition? The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro takes 90 minutes to charge from 0 to 100%, while the Fitbit Sense 2 takes around 80 minutes.
Understanding the Charging Speeds of the Apple Watch
It’s important to understand how an Apple Watch charges because it can help wearers decide how long they need to charge their smartwatch. For example, while it takes 2.5 hours to fully charge an Apple Watch, a significant portion of that time is spent simply increasing the battery level from 80% to 100%. Apple essentially uses fast charging to charge the smartwatch up to 80%. The charging speed then switches to a slower trickle charge for the remaining 20%. Apple uses this method to increase the battery’s overall lifespan.
Given that an Apple Watch only relies on fast charging for the first 80% of its battery life, some Apple Watch owners may find that’s enough to get them through the day. If this is the case, it will only take 1.5 hours for the Apple Watch to reach the 80-percent charge level. In other words, if time is of the essence, Apple Watch owners can charge the device for 1.5 hours to get a mostly full battery and leave the smartwatch on charge for 2.5 hours to fully recharge the battery.
How to Charge an Apple Watch
First, Connect Your Charger
- Position the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable (included with the Apple Watch) with the concave side up.
The Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock ($79) can also be used to charge the watch. The charging dock, which uses the same inductive charging connector as the charging cable, allows you to charge the watch flat or on its side. When you charge your watch on the dock, it enters Nightstand mode and can be used as an alarm clock.
- Connect the charging cable or dock to a power adapter then to a power outlet. Apple recommends placing the charger in a well-ventilated area in the device’s user guide.
#2. Charge your Apple Watch
Using the charging circle, place the concave end against the back of your Apple Watch. A magnet automatically aligns and holds the two parts together.
Unless the watch is in silent mode, it will make a chiming noise to indicate that it is charging. In the top left corner, you’ll also notice a lightning bolt (the charging symbol). It is usually green, but a red symbol indicates that your watch requires power.
A red lightning bolt indicates a low battery, and you may need to press the side button to view the watch face.
Several Ways to See How Much Battery You Have Left
There are several methods for determining how much battery life remains.
- Unlock your Apple Watch and swipe up from the bottom to see the percentage of remaining battery life. By clicking on the percentage, you can activate the watch’s Power Reserve mode, which disables all functions except the time. At 10% battery, Apple Watch will prompt you to activate Power Reserve, and it will enter Power Reserve automatically when the battery is very low.
- Adding a battery complication to the watch face makes it possible to see the battery percentage as easily as the time.
Can I increase the speed by using a faster-charging brick?
If your Apple Watch is older than the Series 7, you won’t be able to use a faster-charging brick to speed up charging. These Apple Watches have a maximum power output of 5W.
Is it necessary to charge my Apple Watch every night?
There is no harm in charging your Apple Watch overnight. In fact, Apple encourages this practice by providing additional bedside features. To take advantage of the Apple Watch’s sleep monitoring features, however, you should wear it while sleeping.
Is the charging speed of the Apple Watch affected by the charging cable?
Unless you have an Apple Watch Series 7, the cable you use should not have a significant impact on charging speeds.
Is the Apple Watch capable of fast charging?
While the majority of Apple Watches charge at 5W, the Series 7, 8, and Ultra charge at 20W.
I have an old Apple Watch that charges slowly. What Should I Do?
Check to see if your cable is still in good condition. If your cable is fraying and old, you should replace it. The same is true for your charging brick. If these two steps do not resolve your watch’s slow charging, contact Apple directly as it may be a battery issue.
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