Smartwatches have become popular accessories that offer diverse features and great convenience today. From staying connected on the go to tracking fitness goals and facilitating electronic payments, these wearables are now indispensable parts of modern life. The Apple Watch Series 3, in particular, stands out with its sleek design and advanced capabilities, improving productivity, health monitoring, and connectivity.

However, even the most powerful devices can encounter issues over time. For instance, the Apple Watch Series 3 experiences significant battery drain that not only affects its functionality but also the overall user experience. Why does this happen? Read on to find out more about the common culprits of battery drain.

1. Background App Refresh

Background app refresh is a common feature found in mobile devices like the Apple Watch Series 3. It allows apps to update their content in the background, keeping you updated on the latest information the moment you open them.

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However, this convenience can come at a cost, especially for devices with limited battery capacity like smartwatches. As they need to connect to the internet and various services to fetch updates, the device tends to consume a significant amount of power even when it’s idling.

Therefore, to extend the Apple Watch Series 3’s battery life without sacrificing core functionality, you should disable background app refresh for non-essential apps, such as the weather or news apps. Here are the steps to do so:

1. Open the “Watch” app on your paired iPhone.
2. Tap on the “My Watch” tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and select “General.”
4. Tap on “Background App Refresh.”
5. Toggle off “Background App Refresh” or select “Custom” to individually disable it for specific apps.

2. Excessive Notifications

Notifications are certainly convenient for a quick overview of the information or messages you’ve received. Nonetheless, they can take a toll on your Apple Watch Series 3 battery. Each notification triggers the watch to light up its display, vibrate, and potentially engage other functions, all of which consume power. Imagine receiving a bunch of them throughout the day; the power consumption can accumulate and quickly drain the battery.

So, how should you maintain the battery health of your smartwatch? The answer is to review and customise your settings to prioritize important notifications only, minimising unnecessary power use. For example, choose to receive alerts from Messages, Phone, Calendar, and other essential apps and disable those from less critical services. 

Steps to Control Notifications:

1. Open the “Watch” app on your paired iPhone.
2. Tap on the “My Watch” tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and select “Notifications.”
4. Review the list of apps under “Mirror my iPhone” or “Custom.”
5. For each app, toggle the switch to enable or disable notifications as desired.

Alternatively, you can customise notification preferences for specific apps. Simply tap on the app name and modify settings like sound, haptic feedback, and notification style. By making these adjustments, such as disabling sound or haptic feedback for less important notifications, you decrease the frequency of screen light-ups and vibrations, thereby reducing battery usage.

3. Overused or Aging Battery

If you notice a significant decline in your Apple Watch Series 3’s battery health, it might be time to consider an Apple Watch battery replacement. Batteries naturally degrade as time passes. Hence, installing a brand-new battery is a cost-efficient way to restore your Apple Watch Series 3’s functionality, allowing you to continue enjoying its features with ease. 

When looking for a battery replacement service, remember to turn to experts like LYK Mobile. With their expertise and experience, they’ll be able to handle the process safely and efficiently. The best part? You’ll get to benefit from high-quality replacement batteries and enjoy optimal performance and longevity.

4. GPS and Cellular Features

GPS and cellular features on the Apple Watch Series 3 provide location tracking and connectivity without requiring a paired iPhone. But similarly, they can be a “power thief” if enabled all the time. While the former consumes power by continuously tracking your location, the latter uses additional power to stay connected with cellular networks. To prevent Apple Watch Series 3 battery drain, follow the steps below to disable these features when not in use:

• Disabling GPS Feature

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
2. Scroll down and select “Privacy.”
3. Choose “Location Services.”
4. Toggle off “Location Services” to disable GPS tracking.

• Disabling Cellular Connectivity 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on “Cellular” or “Mobile Data.”
3. Find your Apple Watch in the list of connected devices and toggle off the option for cellular data.

5. Constant Heart Rate Monitoring

The constant heart rate monitoring feature on the Apple Watch Series 3 is extremely useful and important for fitness enthusiasts, the elderly, and those suffering from cardiovascular conditions. The former typically uses it to monitor their heart rate and ensure that they’re keeping their heart rate within optimal zones during workouts, maximising the effectiveness of their training sessions to achieve their fitness goals. The latter, however, can keep track of their heart rate and seek prompt medical attention when they notice any abnormalities. While this feature is great, it requires the watch to continuously use sensors and processing power, which consumes considerable energy over time.

To strike a balance between enjoying health-tracking capabilities and conserving battery life, we recommend changing the heart rate monitoring setting and allowing it to cease action occasionally. This means that the watch will only check your heart rate intermittently at predefined intervals or during specific activities. This minimises sensor usage and processing, resulting in lower energy consumption.

6. High Display Brightness

Do you tend to leave your Apple Watch screen bright and vibrant? This may result in excessive battery drain too. Like many smart devices, Apple Watches use OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays that offer excellent image quality. However, while they deliver beautiful visuals, they force the battery to work harder to maintain the optimal level of illumination, resulting in faster battery depletion. To prolong your Apple Watch’s battery life, it is important to maintain the display brightness at a comfortable yet energy-efficient level.

Optimising the battery life of your Apple Watch Series 3 is essential for ensuring a seamless user experience and maximising the longevity of your device. By understanding the common culprits behind battery drain and implementing the solutions mentioned above, your Apple Watch Series 3 can continue to serve as your day-to-day companion.

LYK Mobile is a trusted mobile phone repair and replacement service provider in Singapore. We understand the frustration of dealing with dwindling battery life on your beloved wearable. So, we offer hassle-free replacement services to extend your device’s service period. Contact us today and let us help you.