Feature Request: Apple Watch should have a better low-power mode

WWDC 2022 kicks off next week with Monday’s opening keynote, where we finally get to see the next version of Apple’s operating system. Of all the rumors about watchOS 9, one caught my eye - the Apple Watch will launch a new low-power mode. In fact, I think the Apple Watch should have a smart power-saving mode.

Power Reserve

Some people may think: "Hey, Apple Watch already has a low power mode, why do you need this?". ” Sort of. From the beginning, Apple Watch has had a “Power Reserve” mode that users can enable at any time and is recommended when the battery reaches 10%.

According to Apple, Power Reserve mode can extend your Apple Watch battery for up to 72 hours. While this sounds too good to be true, there's a catch with this feature.

Unlike the low-power modes you find in iOS and macOS The options are different, with Power Reserve being more aggressive and intended for emergencies when you really don't have enough battery power to keep the watch on. When Power Reserve is enabled, the Apple Watch enters a special mode that only displays the time—and nothing more. That’s it.

When Power Reserve is enabled, the watch disables all of its connections, sensors, and smart features, acting as a basic watch to preserve battery power. It’s like the Apple Watch is running an alternative operating system with absolutely no useful features .

While Power Reserve mode is useful in emergencies, it also has some drawbacks. Since Power Reserve works "separately" from watchOS, you can't even touch the screen or raise your wrist to check the time. To check time, the side button must be clicked and the watch takes a few seconds to respond to the command.

This is obviously a feature not created for use in daily life.

Smart low power consumption Mode

When rumors first broke about the new Low Power Mode in watchOS 9, I wondered what Apple could do to improve things like Low Power Mode Simple stuff. Personally, there are two features I'd like to see implemented on the Apple Watch.

First, watchOS can switch to a low-power mode similar to iOS. If you enable this option, the Apple Watch will stop background activity, reduce screen brightness, and reduce CPU performance to reduce power consumption. While it won't extend the battery life by days, this method will do the job when you're away from home and need to ensure your watch lasts longer.

There may be a smart alternative to the current Power Reserve mode. However, instead of completely shutting down the Apple Watch, it could lock users into a single watch face while pausing its wireless connections and some sensors. But still lets the user tap the screen to quickly check the time and return to normal mode.

Normally, the battery is not an issue for me as I find that I can charge my Apple Watch every night. But there are some special occasions when For example, when I'm traveling, I don't use all the features of my Apple Watch. I prefer to use it with low-power mode enabled. If I'm going to be on a plane for 15 hours, I don't need all the sensors and connections turned on, but I also don't want to lose all Apple Watch functionality.

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