How do I check the health of my Apple Watch battery? In this article, we will answer this question and help you understand the right time to replace the battery.
To check battery performance on iPhone, Apple has provided specific management features by periodically assessing the level of performance management required to avoid unexpected shutdowns. With iPhone 6 and later, with iOS 11.3 and later, you can view the status of the battery and get alerts if it needs to be replaced.
Users can verify that the performance management feature, which dynamically manages maximum performance to avoid unexpected shutdowns, is active and can choose to disable it (this feature only activates after the first unprecedented shutdown on a device with a battery that has reduced maximum instant power capacity).
On Apple Watch there is no function similar to the “Battery status” of the iPhone but with a little trick, you can get the information you need. Here’s how to proceed:
Check Apple Watch Battery Performance
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone, select “Privacy” and scroll down until you find the item “Analytics and improvements”
- The section of interest here is “Analytics data”, a section that is active only if the “Share iPhone and Watch Analytics” option is activated (it is always activated on this same screen). If the “Share iPhone and Watch Analytics” option is not active, you will need to activate it and wait at least one day to allow the iPhone to collect data.
- By choosing “Analytics data” from the section above, a series of data referring to the last few days will appear. The data of interest is found in the log that begins with the name “log-aggregated” (a series of files with this last name, followed by an indication of date). The first of these files in the list is the one to look at (if you have a Mac nearby you can send it via AirDrop to your computer): open it and scroll until you find the key (“key”) “com.apple.power.battery.CycleCount “. The number indicated between <integer> and </integer> represents the recharge cycles.
A charge cycle occurs when all battery power is used, but it does not necessarily correspond to a single charge. For example, you can use half the Apple Watch’s charge in one day, and then fully charge it. If you perform the same operation the next day, only one charging cycle will be calculated and not two. In this example, a cycle could take several days to complete.
How Many Charge Cycles Does a Battery Have?
Batteries have a limited number of charge cycles before their performance declines. When a battery has run out of cycles, it is advisable to replace it for optimal performance. The battery can also be used after it has reached its maximum number of cycles, but this may result in a reduction in battery life.
By knowing the number of battery charge cycles and how many are left, you can determine when the battery needs to be replaced. The battery is typically designed to maintain up to 80% of its original charge capacity upon reaching the maximum number of cycles. For best performance, replace the battery when it reaches the maximum number of cycles.
Apple reports that the Apple Watch battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity for 1000 full charge cycles. In the image shown, the writer’s Apple Watch 4 is still at 430 charging cycles, less than half of the cycles supported and therefore still able to guarantee up to 80% of the original capacity and a sign that it should not create problems for at least others. 3.5/4 years, a truly impressive figure taking into account that the Apple Watch in question was purchased in 2019.
