Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
How long does the Apple Watch take to charge?
The Apple Watch is undoubtedly one of the best smartwatches out there. However, one mark laid against the wearable is its battery life. As the Apple Watch packs endurance of around 18 hours, you’ll spend plenty of time charging your Apple Watch. But how long does the Apple Watch take to charge? We break down the factors below.
QUICK ANSWER
The Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 need 60 minutes to charge from 0-80%, the Series 7, 8, and 9 require 45 minutes, while the Apple Watch SE (2022) and older Apple Watch models need more time.
How long does the Apple Watch take to charge?
Here’s how long each Apple Watch model should take to charge, according to Apple:
| Charging time 0% to 80% | Charging time 0% to 100% | |
|---|---|---|
Apple Watch Ultra 2 | Charging time 0% to 80% 60 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 90 minutes |
Apple Watch Ultra | Charging time 0% to 80% 60 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 90 minutes |
Apple Watch Series 9 | Charging time 0% to 80% 45 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 75 minutes |
Apple Watch Series 8 | Charging time 0% to 80% 45 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 75 minutes |
Apple Watch SE (2022) | Charging time 0% to 80% 90 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 150 minutes |
Apple Watch Series 7 | Charging time 0% to 80% 45 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 75 minutes |
Apple Watch Series 6 | Charging time 0% to 80% 60 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 90 minutes |
Apple Watch SE | Charging time 0% to 80% 90 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 150 minutes |
Apple Watch Series 3 | Charging time 0% to 80% 90 minutes | Charging time 0% to 100% 120 minutes |
Despite being a heftier series with a larger battery, the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 need just 60 minutes to charge from 0-80% — 15 minutes more than the Apple Watch Series 9, 8, and 7. You’ll need to budget another 30 minutes to boost the latter three models to 100%.
Apple Watch charging speed saw a significant bump from the Series 6 onwards. The primary reason for this improvement stems from the newly included magnetic fast-charging USB-C cable, allowing wattages of up to 20W through Apple’s 20W USB-C charger. This was a decidedly large bump over the standard 5W supported by older Apple Watches. Apple says you must plug this charger and cable into an 18W, 20W, 29W, 30W, 61W, 87W, or 96W USB-C power adaptor to achieve 20W charging speeds.
If you own the Apple Watch SE, you’ll need to budget 90 minutes for a 0-80% charge, and a further 60 minutes to reach 100%. During our review, we found the Apple Watch SE (2022) to charge much faster than its predecessor despite Apple’s claiming otherwise.
So, how do the Apple Watch line’s charging times compare to its competition? The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro takes 90 minutes to charge from 0-100%, while the Fitbit Sense 2 takes about 80 minutes to bridge that divide.
FAQs
If you have an Apple Watch older than the Series 7, you won’t be able to use a faster-charging brick to bump up charging speeds. These Apple Watches top out at 5W.
There’s nothing wrong with charging your Apple Watch overnight. In fact, Apple welcomes this practice with additional bedside features. However, to take advantage of the Apple Watch’s sleep monitoring features, you should wear it while you sleep.
Unless you own an Apple Watch Series 7, the cable you use shouldn’t markedly affect charging speeds.
While most Apple Watches charge at 5W, the Series 7, 8, and Ultra top out at 20W.
You may want to check if your cable is still in good condition. You should shop for a new cable if it’s old and fraying. The same can be said for your charging brick. If these two factors don’t remedy your watch’s slow charging, consider contacting Apple directly as it could be a battery issue.
Do you have an issue with your Apple Watch that you can’t seem to solve? Are you struggling to turn your Apple Watch on or wonder why the device is dying so fast? Be sure to visit our extensive Apple Watch problems and solutions hub.