The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a host of power saver modes for workouts, which can push battery life up for endurance athletes.
Modes augment the Low Power Mode (which was launched in watchOS 9) and enable running, walking, and hiking workout modes to use fewer GPS pings and heart rate samples.
There are now three modes:
Standard: 12 hours of multiband GPS tracking
Low Power Mode: 17 hours of GPS tracking
Low Power Mode + reduced HR/GPS: 35 hours of GPS tracking
We tested these modes in our Apple Watch Ultra 2 ultra marathon test and found that you can expect to reach these battery numbers and more.
What's more, the accuracy of HR and distance tracking wasn't badly affected, and we still obtained good data in our review tests. Unlike rivals, the Apple Watch still uses the most accurate multiband GNSS data, just at a lower frequency.
Turn on Low Power Mode for workouts (17 hours)
Key features
- Heart rate readings will reduce to 1 time per minute
- GPS readings will reduce to 1 time every two minutes.
- Turns off the Always-on display
- Reduces cellular connectivity to only update hourly
- Makes cellular on-demand when not in proximity of your iPhone
- Limits certain background features such as auto-workout detection and irregular heart rate notifications
1. To open Control Centre, press the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up).
2. Tap the battery percentage button.
3. Turn on Low Power Mode.
Turn on Low Power + Fewer GPS/HR (35 hour)
Go to the battery percentage on the control panel and tap on the battery percentage,
1. Toggle on Low Power Mode (you may need to scroll down)
2. Go to Settings > Workout > Fewer GPS and heart rate readings
3. Start a running/walking/cycling workout
Check Optimized Charge isn't limiting battery life
If you’re looking to max out the amount of time for your Apple Watch Ultra, then you’ll also want to make sure that the Optimized Charge Limit is enabling your smartwatch to be charged to 100%
1. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health
2. Turn off Optimized Charge Limit
How we test
James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.
He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.
James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.