On a long enough timeline, running dry on a smartwatch battery seems inevitable. I’ve personally had a watch fail to charge overnight simply because it slipped off the charger. Jetsetters know that on long trips, recharging isn’t always a possibility — whether because you’re busy, there’s no power nearby, or you don’t have the right accessories handy. Wherever you are, you can also simply forget to charge, which isn’t difficult with a device that’s effectively an extension of your arm.
These issues make the battery life of some watches problematic. Samsung claims that the Galaxy Watch 4 can last 40 hours, but real-world demands like GPS and activity tracking cut into that figure, meaning you’ll probably end up charging every day regardless. Apple Watches are even worse, rated at just 18 hours. Buyers may even have to charge twice a day if they engage in sleep tracking or long-distance running.