Apple is no stranger to wireless charging. The company first introduced the technology in the original Apple smartwatch in 2015 and later in 2017 iPhone models. Of course, the technology has evolved quite a bit since then, and there is now a plethora of wirelessly chargeable devices on the market. So, can you use any wireless charger with your Apple Watch?
You can’t use any wireless charger with your Apple Watch. The Apple Watch uses a different wireless charging standard than other Qi-standard devices, so only specially made wireless chargers will work. That includes the official Apple Watch Magnetic Charger and a few third-party options.
From Apple Pay to AirPods, Apple has successfully maintained a proprietary ecosystem. But since the Qi wireless charging standard is becoming increasingly popular, Apple has had to open up a bit and allow other off-brand chargers to work with the iPhones. Apple smartwatches are still off-limits, however. Let’s look at how the Apple Watch’s wireless charging works and what kind of charger you need.
Can You Charge an Apple Watch With Any Wireless Charger?
No, Apple watches can’t be used with any wireless charger. Only the official Apple Watch Magnetic Charger (on Amazon) and some certified chargers from licensed partners are compatible with Apple watches. These companies are part of the “Made for iPhone” program and pay royalties to Apple.
The technology behind the Apple Watch charging system is not much different than the other Qi-standard wireless chargers. Both use an electromagnetic field to inductively transfer energy between the coils in the charger and receiver. Which also means you can safely leave your wireless charger plugged in when not in use and won’t damage your device at all.
But Apple has made some changes in the software stack that make it incompatible with Qi chargers. So, even though the hardware might work the same, an Apple Watch does not charge on a third-party charger.
This is not the first time Apple has used a different standard than the rest of the industry. The company has a long history of using propriety standards, and Lightning is a good example.
Since they’ve changed their minds on some of these in the past, there is a chance they will eventually allow other Qi chargers to work with the Apple Watch. But no such announcement has been made, so you’re stuck with only a few choices for now.
How Long Does an Apple Watch Battery Last?
This is not an easy question since it varies from person to person and depends on how you use your watch. But on average, Apple Watch batteries last around 18 hours with mixed usage.
This means you can expect to get around 6 hours of heavy use, 8-9 hours of moderate use, and 12-18 hours of light use before needing to recharge your watch.
Of course, if you use features like GPS, Always On Display, or workout tracking, your battery will drain faster. On the other hand, if you use Power Saving Mode, enable auto-brightness, and disable Raise to Wake, you can eke out a bit more juice and extend the battery to a few days.
Even the way you charge your watch can affect battery life. If you regularly drain your watch’s battery all the way down to 0% before recharging it, you’re likely damaging the battery and reducing its lifespan.
Your Apple Watch’s age also affects how long the battery lasts. As the watch ages, the battery starts to degrade and won’t hold a charge as long as when it was new.
Apple Watch Series 2 Pin Port
The Apple Series 2 Watch made a buzz when some users found a hidden 6-pin port inside the slot for the bottom band. Apple didn’t acknowledge the port’s existence, and there was no information on their website or in the user manual.
Many speculated that it was for diagnostic purposes or maybe for firmware updates by Apple’s internal support team.
But soon after, a battery strap-making company called Reserve Strap claimed that the 6-pin port can be used to charge the Series 2 watch. That meant you could also charge your Apple watch with a cable, not just wirelessly. The company went on to manufacture prototypes of battery bands to charge Apple Watches while wearing them.
Reserve Strap claimed that its battery band could charge 167% faster than the wireless charger and also eliminated the interference issues that some people had with the wireless charger.
They got thousands of pre-orders, but the saga quickly ended when Apple released watchOS 2.0.1, which blocked the 6-pin port from working with any third-party accessory. The latest Apple Watch Series 7 doesn’t have the 6-pin port at all.
Apple never released any official statement regarding the port or Reserve Strap’s battery band. Still, it leaves the possibility that we may see an official Apple Watch charging cable in the future.
Alternative Apple Watch Chargers
The official Apple Watch chargers haven’t changed since the original Watch was released in 2014. Apple chargers have a USB-C connector to the magnetic puck on a standard 1-meter cable.
Since these are universal for all Apple Watches, you can use any old charger for the new Apple Watch Series 7.
Apple has partnered with a few companies to provide more options to Apple Watch users. They’ve come up with all kinds of interesting designs, from keychain chargers to wireless charging docks.
Here we have three of the most interesting chargers for your Apple Watch.
Docking Stations
With a futuristic and sleek design, the Docking Station is probably the best smartwatch charger to keep at your bedside. You can find traditional stations like Conido Charging Stand (on Amazon) or more versatile ones like Qi-Eu 4-in-1 docking platform (on Amazon) that can accommodate your iPhone and ear pods as well. Speaking of iPhone, you may also want to check which iPhones are compatible with Apple watches since these two are not compatible as always just like how these Apple watches do not match just any wireless charger.
Keychain Chargers
If you’re always on the go, then a keychain charger, also called a USB charger, is a must-have. Just attach it to your bag or any other traveling item and forget about it until you need it.
The NEWDARY Magnetic Charger (on Amazon) is one highly rated option. You can plug it into any USB port, and the magnet will keep your watch in place.
Power Bank With Watch Charging
A power bank might have saved your phone a few times, and now it can do the same for your watch! The iWalk Portable Charger (on Amazon) is one of the best-selling inductive chargers on Amazon. It comes with a built-in magnetic charger for the Apple Watch, so you don’t need an extra magnetic puck or cables. Just put your watch on top of the power bank, and the magnet will do the rest.
Every smartwatch just like the Apple Watch has its pros and cons. There are also standalone smartwatches that even have a 14-day working battery life. So that’s 14-day of worry-free charging.