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How Long Does It Take To Charge An Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch offers valuable features in a convenient form factor. Once you integrate this accessory into your life, it’s hard to go without it. But, like other technology, the Apple Watch has a battery that requires charging. So, how long does charging take, and how long does it last?

The Apple Watch takes around 60 minutes to charge to 80% and about 90 minutes to charge fully and can last upwards of 36 hours on a single charge. However, battery life and charging times vary depending on the configuration, network, environment, and other factors.

Determining how long it takes to charge your device can help you prolong your battery life and get the most out of your Apple Watch. We cover everything you need to know in the article below. Now let’s get to it!

How Long Does it Take to Charge an Apple Watch?

Flat Lay of an Apple Watch Near a Cutter

The Apple Watch is an incredibly useful device part of the iOS ecosystem. In most cases, you can fully charge an Apple Watch in under two hours. However, the timeframe will depend on the device, battery percentage, charger, and other factors.

  • Charge to 80%: Around 60 minutes
  • Charge to 100%: Around 90 Minutes

The charge times listed above are from the official Apple website. These timeframes are based on zero battery life with the Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charging USB-C Cable. Apple states charging times can vary depending on the region, settings, environmental factors, and more.

How Long Does an Apple Watch Battery Last?

How long an Apple Watch battery lasts on a single charge depends on your use, environmental factors, and other conditions.

All-Day Battery Life Upwards of 36 Hours

Apple states that the Apple Watch can get upwards of 36 hours of battery life on a single charge. However, this time frame is under ideal conditions and may not apply to your situation. It’s more likely your Apple Watch will last up to18 hours before you need to charge it.

Apple Watch Talk Battery Life

An Apple Watch may have around 2.5 hours of talk time when connected to LTE. However, this time frame is under ideal conditions, and your experience will vary depending on the configuration, cellular network, signal strength, and other factors.

Up to 18 Hours When Working Out

How long the Apple Watch battery lasts for workouts varies depending on the configuration. However, Apple has given the following time estimates under ideal circumstances:

  • Indoor Workouts: 18 hours
  • Outdoor Workouts with GPS: 12 hours
  • Outdoor Workouts with GPS and LTE: 10 hours

These time frames may not be accurate depending on your situation, cellular network, signal strength, and several other factors.

Apple Watch Battery Life for Audio Playback

Apple states that the Apple Watch can get roughly 20 hours of audio playback from the Apple Watch storage. These time frames will significantly vary depending on your configuration, streaming quality, cellular provider, and additional factors.

What’s the Best Way to Charge an Apple Watch?

Close up while the smart watch is charging

The Apple Watch Series 6 introduced the magnetic fast-charging USB-C cable, significantly improving charging speeds. However, there may be electronics you can use to enhance your charging capabilities.

Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock

The first charging upgrade that may come to mind is the first-party accessory, the Apple Magnetic Charging Dock (on Amazon). The accessory is made by Apple and sports a sleek and minimal design.

You can use the Magnetic Charging Dock to charge your Apple Watch at a popped-up or flat angle. The built-in charging puck is straightforward and connects via a Lightning cable.

Elago W3 Apple Watch Stand

The Elago W3 Apple Watch Stand (on Amazon) is an affordable upgrade to your charging setup. The device is excellent for Nightstand mode, as it angles the Apple Watch perfectly to check the time and date with a simple glance.

In addition, the nostalgic design, compatibility, and low price point make it a challenging option to beat.

Belkin Boost Charge Power Bank 2K

You’re probably familiar with Belkin if you’re a fan of third-party charging solutions. For example, the Belkin Boost Charge Power Bank 2K (on Amazon) is an excellent solution for situations where you don’t have a wall outlet, like the beach or camping.

The 2,000 mAh battery with a built-in Apple Watch charger can provide upwards of 63 additional hours of charge time. The portability and affordability make this a difficult accessory to turn down.