Smartwatches have become incredibly popular wearable devices over the last few years.
These little devices let you make and answer phone calls, get notifications, track your health and fitness data, send text messages, and much more – all from your wrist.
If you’re planning to buy a smartwatch, you’ve probably wondered how long does it take to charge a smartwatch.
Most smartwatches typically take 1.5 to 3 hours to fully charge from empty to 100%. However, the charging time can vary quite a bit depending on the specific model, battery capacity, age of the battery, and other factors.
The battery lifespan also plays a role. Over time, as the battery degrades, it will take longer to reach a full charge. Expect to add 30 mins to 1 hour to the charge time after 1-2 years of use.
In this post, I have shared detailed information on smartwatch battery life, charging speeds, tips to charge faster, and recommendations for keeping your watch powered up.
How Long Does It Take to Charge a Smartwatch: Basics
As I mentioned earlier, a smartwatch takes 1.5 to 3 hours to fully charge. This is because most smartwatches use built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with capacities typically ranging from 200mAh to 500mAh.
The battery life of a smartwatch varies depending on usage, but you can expect an average of 18-24 hours of use before needing to recharge.
What you use your smartwatch for impacts how quickly the battery runs down.
This includes:
- Display brightness
- Always-on display mode
- Streaming music on Spotify
- Frequency of notifications
- 24/7 activity tracking
- GPS & Data usage
…And continuous heart rate monitoring are all battery-draining features.
If you disable some or all of these features, it can help extend the time between charges.
In terms of charging methods, most smartwatches use either magnetic inductive charging or magnetic resonance charging.
For the uninitiated, inductive charging relies on direct contact between the watch and a charging pad or cradle, while resonance charging allows for more flexibility in watch positioning.
From empty to full, total charge time ranges from under an hour for some models to over 2.5 hours for those with higher capacity batteries. However, newer smartwatches with fast charging capabilities can reach 80% charge in under an hour.
Also Read — How Long Do Smartwatches Last? 5 Tips to Increase Longevity
Smartwatch Charging Speed by Brand
How long your particular smartwatch takes to charge can vary based on the model and brand.
Here’s a look at charging times for popular smartwatch brands:
- Apple Watch — All models use Apple’s magnetic inductive charging system. On the Series 6 and SE models, charging to 80% capacity takes about 1.5 hours. On the older Series 3, a full 100% charge takes 2.5 hours. Using a higher-wattage wall adapter can enable faster charging.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch — These watches use WPC-compatible wireless charging that takes 2+ hours to fully charge the 270mAh battery. Charging is faster on newer models that support Samsung’s wireless fast charging.
- Fitbit Versa — Fitbit’s inductive charging fully charges the 200mAh battery in 1-2 hours depending on the model. Versa models feature quick charging that can provide 24 hours of use with just 12 minutes of charging time.
- Fossil Gen 5 — The magnetic puck charger can fully charge Fossil watches in 1-2 hours, depending on battery size. Rapid charging adds 80% battery in just 50 minutes.
- Garmin Vivoactive — Garmin uses a proprietary clip-on charging cable. Charging times range from 1-2 hours to full charge depending on the Vivoactive model.
- TicWatch Pro — The charging dock fully recharges the 415mAh battery in 1.5-2 hours. Magnetic pin chargers are more compact but charge slower.
- Huawei Watch — The cradle charger can fully charge 300mAh batteries in 1.5 hours. The Huawei GT 2 Pro model supports fast charging.
Charging Tips and Recommendations
Here are some useful smartwatch charging tips to keep it powered up around the clock:
- Charge it daily while you sleep to ensure you start each day with a full battery.
- Use the stock charger provided by the manufacturer for optimal charging speed and safety.
- Avoid using the watch while it’s charging to allow for a faster, uninterrupted charge.
- Remove any straps or cases that may interfere with good contact between the charger and the watch.
- Check the charging port and contact points for any debris. Clean with compressed air if needed.
- Restart the watch if charging seems abnormally slow. Apps misbehaving in the background can sometimes drain power.
- If charging doesn’t improve, contact the manufacturer about potential hardware issues needing repair.
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Final Answer!
In summary, most smartwatches take between 1-3 hours to fully recharge the battery from empty to 100% capacity.
Newer models with fast charging capabilities can achieve an 80% charge in under an hour in some cases.
That said, if you follow the charging guidance provided by the watch manufacturer, you can optimize charging speed and maintain battery health over long-term use.
With these good charging habits, your smartwatch should be able to reliably provide all-day battery life.