Just days ahead of an Apple event at which it’s expected that we’ll get the full rundown on the Apple Watch, more details on the iOS smartwatch have surfaced.
A new report from 9to5Mac claims to have more information on what it’s like to use the Apple Watch. People with wrists-on experience with the Apple Watch claim that the device shouldn’t have a problem lasting a full day with active and passive use, and that the device can handle around 5 hours of heavy usage. However, the tipsters say that you will need to charge the Apple Watch every night, because it won’t be able to stretch out to two days on a single charge.
The sources also shed more light on the Apple Watch’s rumored Power Reserve Mode. This feature will be capable of being activated at any time, not just when the Apple Watch is running low on battery life. The Reserve Power Mode will dim the watch’s display, reduce communication with the paired iPhone to an on-demand level, and put the display to sleep after two seconds of inactivity. Speaking of the iPhone, it’s said that the Apple Watch doesn’t appear to have any big effect on the iPhone’s battery life.
Another Apple Watch software feature is its Notification Center, which is similar to the one found on the iPhone. You can access the Apple Watch’s Notification Center by swiping down from the top of the unit’s display and you’ll be presented with alerts that show each app’s name and a description of the notification.
When it comes to managing apps, you’ll use a companion Apple Watch app on your iPhone. This app will let you rearrange the placement of the app icons on your Apple Watch, though you’ll also be able to do it on the Watch itself. Apps with WatchKit support will automatically be adde to your Apple Watch when you download them on your iPhone.
Moving over to the Apple Watch hardware, a source claims that the Apple Watch’s screen is the best that they’ve ever seen and that it’s got “great” black levels. The Apple Watches that are currently in testing are said to include 8GB of storage that can hold music. You’ll be able to stream that music from your Apple Watch to Bluetooth speakers or headphones.
One of the biggest concerns with the Apple Watch — and really, with wearables in general — is battery life. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said before that he expects that the Apple Watch will need to be charged every night, but thankfully it sounds like the device will at least be able to comfortably make it through a day of regular use.
The Apple Watch is likely going to be shown off in full on March 9, and Tim Cook has said that the device will ship in April. Even if you’re not an Apple fan or iOS user, the Apple Watch marks the entry of a major competitor into the smartwatch space, and so it’ll be interesting to see how the device performs in day-to-day use.