I’m trying to figure out the best way to charge my Apple Watch to keep the battery in good shape. Should I let it drain almost completely and then charge it to 100% to reduce the number of charging cycles? Or is it better to keep it between 20% and 80% and charge it more often?
Edit: Thanks for all the advice! It’s a good reminder to just enjoy using the watch without overthinking it.
I decided life’s too short to stress about it. It’s not a fancy Rolex or something you’d put in a museum. It’s a tool I use every day, and I want it to last all day. If I lose a week of use over five years because I charged it to 100% every morning, that’s fine with me.
@devicemaster4orce
I feel the same way. I don’t get why people obsess over battery health.
Vega said:
@devicemaster4orce
I feel the same way. I don’t get why people obsess over battery health.
I think Apple showing the battery health percentage was a mistake. It just makes people anxious. They should’ve just given a range like Great, Good, Fair, or Needs Replacement. People worry too much about a 1-2% drop after six months. Just use it, charge it, and after a few years, pay $99 for a new battery. You’ve got years to save up for that.
@devicemaster4orce
Exactly. I charge mine when it’s almost dead. If I’m not home, that’s fine. I can deal with a dead watch for a bit until I get home. 
I charge mine in short bursts, usually twice a day while I’m in the shower. My battery stays between 60% and 85%, and after a year, my AWU2 is still at 100% battery health.
The watch is supposed to work for you, not the other way around. The battery will wear out no matter what you do. Trying to extend its life probably won’t make much difference, but it will definitely take away from your enjoyment of using it.
Also, a charging cycle isn’t how many times you plug it in. It’s how much charge you use. For example, charging from 33% to 66% three times counts as one cycle, not three.
I don’t get why people limit how they use their watch to save the battery. What’s the point of having good battery health if you’re not using the battery? It doesn’t make sense.
Just so you know, charging from 50% to 100% twice is the same as charging from 0% to 100% once. Lithium-ion batteries don’t like being fully charged or fully drained.
Turn on optimized charging and charge it whenever. The battery will wear out no matter what you do. Trying to micromanage it won’t make it last much longer.
If you always keep it between 20% and 80%, you’re basically cutting your battery life by 40% because you’re never using its full capacity.
nellysmith said:
If you always keep it between 20% and 80%, you’re basically cutting your battery life by 40% because you’re never using its full capacity.
I never thought about it that way. That’s a good point.
The only thing I’d avoid is leaving it on the charger for days. If you’re not going to wear it, let it drop to around 50% and turn it off. Otherwise, just charge it when you need to. I charge mine while I shower in the morning, and whatever charge it gets is fine.
I’m more worried about breaking my watch than the battery health. That’s why I got the S10 instead of the Ultra 2—it’s half the price. If it breaks or the battery goes bad, I’ll just get another one.
I’ve had it for a few weeks. My iPhone 15 Pro Max went from 100% to 96% in 14 months, which is great. My MacBook Pro is at 87% after two and a half years. I expect tech to last 2-4 years, not forever. Even if the battery health drops to 50%, it’ll still last longer than my old Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, which I barely used because the battery was so bad.
By the time your watch’s battery is bad, you’ll probably want a newer model anyway.
I don’t worry about it. Apple probably knows how to make the battery last, and they’ve programmed it to handle normal use.