Like most every type of battery there is, a watch battery has a final expiration date. Rechargeable batteries are certainly highly beneficial, but there are only so many charges a battery can sustain. Add in prolonged use of smart devices, and a rechargeable battery life is typically only good for a few years. With this in mind, can a smartwatch battery be replaced?
Rechargeable batteries in smartwatches can be replaced, but this will often require a custom order through the manufacturing company. A battery replacement for a smartwatch can be pricey since lithium-ion batteries represent some of the most innovative batteries on the market.
Generally speaking, a rechargeable battery replacement will need to be acquired after roughly 500 charge cycles. But there are some important details regarding a replaceable battery to be aware of.
In this guide, we are going to examine how rechargeable batteries operate within most smartwatches. Read on to find out more.
What do I do if my smartwatch is not charging?
When your smartwatch is no longer charging, this typically indicates that the rechargeable battery needs to be replaced.
If there is no other indicator that a repair may be needed, you will need to consult your manufacturer about acquiring a replaceable battery.
To ensure your watch is not charging due to a battery issue alone, it helps to rule out other issues as well. Follow these steps if your watch is not charging:
- Remove the battery. Try removing the battery and pressing the power button for about 10 seconds. Then connect the charger only to the watch and then replace the battery.
- Check to see if your watch is now charging. If this cycle fixes the charging issue, it could have been that your watch battery was completely dead or needed to be recycled. This is sometimes frequently seen with an Apple Watch model.
If this doesn’t fix the issue, nine times out of ten this means that the old battery needs to be replaced with a new battery.
Let’s take a look at how to approach that process.
Replacing smartwatch batteries
First and foremost, you will need to have your battery replaced with a new one from the manufacturer once the battery life has ended. If you have a major brand, such as an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, reach out to Apple and order a new battery or simply visit a local Apple store.
You can have a technician handle the battery replacement for you or, you can replace the battery yourself. If you chose the latter option, follow these steps.
Gather needed tools
To effectively replace a smartwatch battery, you will need a pair of tweezers, a tri-tip tool, and a 00 Phillips screwdriver. You can go ahead and power off the device as well.
Remove the bands and back battery case
Carefully remove the watch bands according to the manufacturer’s directions. Then, you can unscrew the four battery case screws using a 00 Phillips screwdriver. Watch batteries are nearly universal in having this setup.
Remove all connections and interior screws
The battery case of your watch will typically have three connections that can be easily removed. Detach the connections and release any screws that may be holding the battery down inside the case.
You may need to use your tweezers, to carefully pry up the board to release the battery.
Replace the battery and repeat the previous steps
Once the battery has been released, add the new one in its place, and then close the battery pack with the previous steps.
Most smartwatch models have user-replaceable batteries, but if you run into complex problems, always consult the manufacturer.
What is the life of smart watch?
Unless you damage your watch, the lifetime of your smartwatch will completely revolve around the life of its battery.
The life of the battery on one charge will vastly differ based on the brand and model of the watch. For example, something like an Apple Series watch can last roughly 18 hours on a single charge.
Many Garmin watches, on the other hand, are specially-manufactured to feature days and even weeks on many devices on one single battery charge.
In terms of the battery itself, this relates solely to the lithium-ion composition of the batteries. These batteries usually last a total of 3 years at a maximum, but some can last only 2 years.
For each charge, this averages to around 300-500 watch charges in a battery’s lifetime.
Why is my smartwatch battery draining so fast?
There are a wide variety of reasons why your watch’s battery life is draining fast. A smartwatch has many complex features- after all, a smartwatch is essentially a small, compact computer on your wrist.
The very first step to take for diagnosing this problem is to go to your settings menu. Go to network connections and try turning off all Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections. Diagnose if this is the problem or not.
If you use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi constantly, this is totally normal when it comes to battery drain. You will just have to accept that your device will need to be charged more often.
Another problem with this issue could be the use of way too many applications. I often run into this problem since I download and sync way more apps than I need, and most of the time, I never even use many of the apps on my watch.
Delete or turn off any apps you do not regularly use.
It is also important to always accept any software updates for your watch. Certain updates always improve various watch functions, and if you always skip these, you may have easily missed a battery update.
Last but not least, you can simply reset your watch to try and troubleshoot a bug or lag in your watch. You will have to reinstall some things, but this just might do the trick.
If none of these options work, it is time to replace the battery.
Which smartwatch has best battery life?
This ultimately depends on the type of battery in a device. Something like a solar-charged battery can feature a single charge life of weeks. Your standard lithium-ion batteries can go a few days max depending on the manufacturing process of the brand.
Here are some exceptional smartwatches that feature long battery charges.
Garmin Fenix 6X Pro
The Fenix 6X Pro by Garmin is a standout in terms of smartwatch battery life. This model features a charge of up to 21 days in smartwatch mode. An additional 3 days if you choose to use its solar charging capabilities, and about 15 days when in GPS mode.
You will practically forget that you need to sometimes charge this watch.
Garmin Instinct Solar
The Garmin Instinct Solar is another certified classic in terms of long, smartwatch battery capabilities.
This model can last for up to 28 days when adequately charged in direct sunlight. If you rarely use GPS mode, one solar charge can last up to 40 days.
Read more about the Garmin Instinct Solar here.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
If Apple or Garmin do not meet your needs, Samsung is one of the pre-eminent choices when it comes to smartwatches. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has a battery life of roughly 24-60 hours depending heavily on the number of activities and apps that you use.
This is not nearly as long as solar batteries, but if solar charging is not for you, this watch has one of the best, non-solar charges of any smartwatch battery.
FAQs
Should I fully charge my smartwatch?
If you want to maximize the most out of your battery and prevent constant recharge sessions, try and charge your watch’s battery fully each and every charge.
Half charges will only give you half of the total battery capacity. You can easily charge your watch when you wake up and are getting ready for the day.
Should I turn my smart watch off at night?
This can be hard sometimes, but it is always recommended that you completely turn your watch off each night. This helps to preserve the battery beyond the 2-3 year lifespan.
If you use your watch for sleep tracking, consider giving your watch a turn-off during some downtime during the day or when you return home from work. Let your watch rest for a few hours each day.
I typically only use my watch’s sleep tracking a couple of times each week just to get a grasp of my current sleep quality. I turn my watch off completely most nights of the week.
Can we use smartwatch daily?
Of course. In fact, it is recommended that you use your watch each and every day since this is the entire point of making this kind of investment. With that in mind, do consider removing your watch at least for a few hours during the day. Leaving your smartwatch on your wrist 24/7 is just not good either for the watch or for yourself.
If you are addicted to your watch – which is easy to become – allow it to charge frequently or sit it beside you and use it that way to give your wrist a rest.
Conclusion
In summary, smartwatch batteries are definitely replaceable. In fact, you can expect to need to replace the battery at least every 2-3 years if the battery is lithium-ion. Solar charging batteries are a bit different, and can last for years at a time.
Putting in a new smartwatch battery only requires a few tools and a few steps to ensure the battery case is not damaged.
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