How long does a smartwatch battery last?
Short answer
From a day to almost two: Apple rates the Series 12 at 24 hours (38 in Low Power Mode), and Google rates Pixel Watch 5 at up to 40 hours. Both charge fast.
Which products can do it?
- Google Pixel Watch 5Yes
Google rates Pixel Watch 5 at up to 40 hours, with 15 hours from 15 minutes of charging.
Good to know: Maker's figures.
- Apple Watch Series 12Yes
Apple rates Series 12 at up to 24 hours of normal use and 38 hours in Low Power Mode; 15 minutes of charging gives up to 12 hours.
Good to know: Maker's figures.
Why it matters
A watch that needs charging every night can't track sleep, and battery life is the most common smartwatch complaint.
Not proven yet
Battery life with the always-on display, GPS workouts and LTE in daily use; these are the makers' ratings.
How we know (2 sources)
Apple Watch Series 12 tech specs (read Oct 23, 2026): up to 24 hours of normal use, up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode, up to 10 hours of workout tracking; 15 minutes of charging gives up to 12 hours. GPS + Cellular models support 5G (RedCap) and LTE. Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Apple's notes list iPhone 11 or later on iOS 26 for its watchOS 26 features.
Read the sourceGoogle Store page for Pixel Watch 5 (read Oct 23, 2026): from $399.99; raise your wrist to talk with Gemini; up to 40 hours of battery, 15 hours from 15 minutes of charging. LTE models include 2 years of data and offer satellite SOS when there's no LTE coverage. Works with most phones on Android 12 or newer, with a Google Account and the Pixel Watch app.
Read the source
Status timeline
No status has changed since we started tracking. Every entry is dated and backed by the sources on this page.
- First recorded: In storesGoogle Pixel Watch 5
Google rates Pixel Watch 5 at up to 40 hours, with 15 hours from 15 minutes of charging.
- First recorded: In storesApple Watch Series 12
Apple rates Series 12 at up to 24 hours of normal use and 38 hours in Low Power Mode; 15 minutes of charging gives up to 12 hours.