Apple Watch SE 2 Battery Life: Ultimate Guide to Power Management

If you’re considering snagging the Apple Watch SE 2, you’re probably curious about its battery life. Since this is a crucial feature for any smartwatch, it dictates how often you need to find an outlet. Launched alongside other big names like the Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra, the SE 2 doesn’t stray too far from its predecessor, the original Apple Watch SE. Apple’s official word? The SE 2 delivers around “18 hours after an overnight charge,” which covers your busy day with up to 90 time checks, 90 alerts, some workout tunes for an hour, and about 45 minutes fiddling with apps.

Battery Life and Performance Overview

Wondering how the SE 2 stacks up against other models? Let’s dive in. If you’re making voice calls through LTE, expect your SE 2 to last around 1.5 hours. When it comes to music, the watch can pump out tunes for up to 10 hours, not quite matching the Series 8’s 11-hour endurance. What if fitness is your game? The SE 2 records around 10 hours of indoor activities and up to six hours outdoors with GPS — slightly less than the Series 8. Just remember, real-world usage can vary depending on habits and settings.

Extended Use with Low Power Mode

Burn through your battery fast? Apple introduced a handy Low Power Mode to help you squeeze a bit more life from your watch without pinching pennies for every charge. Activate this mode on any watch running watchOS 9 and you’ll keep ticking for longer. For the Series 8, this prolongs the life to a whopping 36 hours. But how does the SE 2 fare? Apple hasn’t spilled the beans, but an unofficial look into internal specs—a 245mAh battery in the SE compared to a 282mAh battery in the Series 8—hints that it might not quite match up.

Charging Insights

Need to juice up? Expect it to take about 1.5 hours to get your SE 2 to 80%, and roughly another hour for a full charge with a 20W USB-C adapter. However, keep in mind that a power adapter isn’t in the box, just a charging cable. In comparison, the Series 8 charges a bit faster, needing only 45 minutes to reach 80% and fully juiced up in 75 minutes.

How to Enable Low Power Mode on Your Apple Watch SE 2

Is your battery running low? No worries, activating Low Power Mode is super simple. Just swipe up to open the Control Center, tap the battery icon, and switch on ‘Low Power Mode.’ A heads-up will pop up, explaining that some features might slow down, such as sensor readings, Wi-Fi connectivity, and delayed notifications. Scroll down to tap ‘Turn On,’ or ‘Turn On For’ if you wish to set it for one, two, or three days. This mode kicks in automatically when battery dips below 10% and turns off when the battery hits 80%, unless you set it differently.

FAQ

Does the Apple Watch SE 2 have better battery life than the original SE?

No, both have similar battery lifespans, offering up to 18 hours of usage on a single charge. However, the SE 2 benefits from the new Low Power Mode available on watchOS 9, which can help stretch the lifespan a bit further.

How can I charge my Apple Watch SE 2 faster?

To charge more quickly, use a 20W USB-C Power Adapter. Charging it to 80% takes about 1.5 hours, but remember, the adapter isn’t included in the box.

Looking for Cellular Plans for Apple Watch?

Here’s a breakdown of all the plans that are currently available in the US.

CarrierCost (per month)Additional Details
US MobileFREE with Unltd Premium
Or $6.5/mo annually
Or $9.5/mo
Taxes & fees included!
Works with any plans.
Verizon$15 + tax & fees$7.50 credit with certain plans​Verizon
AT&T$10 + tax & fees
T-Mobile$12 + tax & feesOnly works with certain plans​www.iphonelife.comiMore
Xfinity Mobile$10 + tax & feesPairs well with Xfinity home internet​ www.iphonelife.comCoverage Critic
C Spire$10 + tax & feesOnly available in select regions​Wear To TrackiMore
Apple Watch SE 2 Battery Life: Ultimate Guide to Power Management