Review: Kanex’s GoPower Watch Battery Provides Six Full Apple Watch Charges in a Small Package
Although Apple remains conservative regarding the battery life of the Apple Watch, many users have noted that the wearable device makes it through one day with plenty of charge left over in its 18-hour estimated life. Still, third-party power banks and portable chargers have been popular mainstays in the Apple Watch accessory line, and recently Kanex launched its own charging device for the Apple Watch, called the GoPower Watch.
Kanex’s charger is packed with a 4,000 mAh battery and a claim that, on a full charge, it can recharge the Apple Watch up to six times with an integrated inductive charger. As a bonus, the GoPower Watch also includes a USB port, letting you charge your iPhone (or any USB-powered device) simultaneously with the Apple Watch. There’s also priority charging, so your devices charge first and the battery pack second.
Design
Kanex’s GoPower Watch meets the form and function that any successful portable battery pack needs to be used on a daily basis. Its small 3-inch square will fit comfortably in a backpack, and the quartered LED lights — surrounding the only button on the housing — provide quick and easy reminders of how much juice is left in the pack.
The slightly raised inductive charger is surrounded by a smooth Space Gray material (admittedly, a few shades darker than Apple’s definition of Space Gray), that feels sturdy despite the small frame of the GoPower Watch. Interestingly, the actual inductive charger on Kanex’s device is a bit larger than Apple’s own inductive charger, but its added 1/4 of an inch appears negligible and doesn’t affect the charging of the device.
GoPower Watch compared with Apple’s Magnetic Charger
Otherwise, the design is no-frills. The front and rear of the pack are made up of a black, plastic-type material that’s a bit more fingerprint-attractive than the Space Gray of the rest of the device. On the back users will find the micro-USB port to charge up the battery pack, and the USB Type-A port for smartphone charging. Anyone opposed to large branding on their products probably won’t like the prevalent Kanex logo on the front of the unit, however.
Charging the Apple Watch
After using Kanex’s GoPower Watch battery for a week, I found that the company’s claims of six full recharges on an Apple Watch to be right on the money. The battery pack uses a simple circle of lights, cut into four quarters, to display the remaining charge in its 4,000 mAh battery. The GoPower Watch lost its first quarter of battery in the middle of the third charge of my Apple Watch, and then finally lost the second quarter in the sixth Apple Watch charge.
From there the battery status declined quickly, and after the pack filled my Apple Watch up to 100% life for the sixth time, the final portion of the ring began flashing and the battery quickly died. During these tests I didn’t charge my iPhone, focusing first on the company’s own Apple Watch-heavy marketing for the accessory. And in that sense, the GoPower Watch delivered on its promises. The average charging time of all the tests was about 90 minutes.
If used solely as a power bank for an Apple Watch, Kanex’s device will easily provide its intended six full recharges on Apple’s wearable, although the larger battery on the Apple Watch Series 2 means those models might get slightly fewer charge cycles. Although that might be a bit of overkill for most casual Apple Watch wearers, the combination of the integrated inductive charger and deep well of battery life could justify the $99 price tag for those who find themselves away from a traditional power source on a consistent basis.
Charging the iPhone
After depleting the GoPower Watch during my Apple Watch tests, I topped off the battery pack again — a lengthy process that takes the large part of an afternoon, which is the case for most battery packs — and focused on the iPhone. With the GoPower Watch fully charged, I managed to recharge my iPhone 6s Plus from 10 percent to 99 percent charge over the course of about two hours, after which Kanex’s battery was down to 50 percent.
In a subsequent test, to see how much percentage I could add onto my iPhone with the rest of the GoPower Watch’s battery, the battery pack swiftly whittled down to 25 percent and then died, adding on about 15 percent charge to my iPhone. Considering the 2,750 mAh within the iPhone 6s Plus, one full charge with a little left over makes sense coming off of the GoPower Watch’s 4,000 mAh battery.
Although smaller smartphones could get more out of it, like the iPhone SE (1,624 mAh), iPhone 6s (1,715 mAh) and iPhone 7 (1,960 mAh), the GoPower Watch is simply not an iPhone accessory; it’s an Apple Watch accessory that could potentially recharge your iPhone in a pinch, with very little left over for your watch. Simultaneous charging of each device also negates the portability such battery packs allow for smartphones, since the Apple Watch needs to remain on a flat surface to stay attached to the inductive charger.
For iPhone battery packs, similarly priced accessories, like Mophie’s powerstation XXL, give users upwards of 20,000 mAh for around $100. Other brands, including Anker, offer similar battery capacities at even cheaper prices. As such, it’s hard to harp on GoPower Watch’s clear intent to focus on Apple Watch over iPhone, but it’s an aspect of the accessory that should still be noted.
Bottom Line
Overall, GoPower Watch’s solid design and integrated induction charger make it one of the most enticing charging solutions on the market for Apple’s wearable device, if you’re an Apple Watch power user and in need of one, that is. Lack of Nightstand Mode and closed-loop band support could, however, be deal-breakers for some.
The display shows the GoPower Watch’s dwindling battery
Compared to other Apple Watch battery packs, Kanex’s solution is a slightly steeper monetary investment, but its higher-capacity battery justifies the price. Nomad’s Pod, for comparison, costs $29.95 but provides an 1,800 mAh battery, or the ability to keep your Apple Watch “powered all weekend,” according to the company.
If you repeatedly find yourself scrambling for a power source for your Apple Watch when not at home, and want to invest in something you won’t have to constantly remind yourself to charge all too often, the GoPower Watch makes a reliable case for itself. Just remember that it won’t provide much in the way of repeat charges to a smartphone, especially any larger-screened models with higher-capacity batteries.
Pros
– Clean design with soft, attractive Space Gray material
– Integrated inductive charger
– Charging Apple Watch as quickly and reliably as first-party accessories
– Meets Kanex’s claim of six full Apple Watch charges
Cons
– Dies quickly when charging bigger devices through USB-A port
– Doesn’t support Nightstand Mode or closed-loop bands
How to Buy
Anyone interested can purchase the Kanex GoPower Watch from the company’s website for $99.95. Kanex also sells a line of other accessories, including a USB-C battery pack for the 12-inch MacBook, a Thunderbolt 3 adapter, and a Bluetooth Mac keyboard that can sync with up to four devices and includes Apple’s long-gone numeric keypad.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Tags: Kanex, GoPower Watch
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Apple Seeds First watchOS 3.1 and tvOS 10.0.1 Betas to Developers
Alongside the first iOS 10.1 beta and the first macOS Sierra 10.12.1 beta, Apple has seeded new betas of watchOS 3.1 and tvOS 10.0.1 to developers, just over a week after the latter two operating systems were released.
On the Apple Watch, the software update can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone by going to General –> Software update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery, it must be on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. watchOS 3 also requires an iPhone running iOS 10 to install.
On the Apple TV, installing the tvOS beta requires the Apple TV to be connected to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, with the software downloaded and installed via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Once a beta profile has been installed on the device through iTunes, new beta updates will be available over the air.
It is not known what new features might be included in the watchOS 3.1 and tvOS 10.0.1 updates, but they are likely to include bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 3 and tvOS 10.
We’ll update this post with any new features that are found in the two betas.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10, Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral), Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Ceramic Apple Watch Paired With Milanese Loop, Classic Buckle, and More
The Apple Watch Series 2 didn’t change much visually from the original version of the device that launched in 2015, but Apple did introduce one new version of Series 2 that could be immediately distinguished from earlier iterations: the Ceramic Apple Watch Edition. The Ceramic model comes packed in with a Magnetic Apple Watch Charging Dock and a Cloud Sport Band, so many users were curious about what the color would look like with other Apple bands, and one Redditor has posted an extensive collection of photos to showcase just that.
Sold for $1,250 (38mm) and $1,300 (42mm), the high-end model of Series 2 is definitely expensive, but still far below the first generation’s $10,000+ “Edition” models that were made in pure gold. In vvedge’s Imgur album, the Ceramic Edition is paired with a few Woven Nylon bands, including Gold/Red, Gold/Blue, Yellow/Light Gray, Space Orange/Anthracite, and Black.
Higher-priced bands also got paired with Ceramic, in a variety of colors. Vvedge showed off the Space Black and Silver Link Bracelet, the Space Black and Silver Milanese Loop, and the Marine Blue and Saddle Brown Classic Buckle. Because the silver aluminum of the lugs and bands are visually in opposition to Ceramic’s smooth white surface, some users might not like the look of the more costly bands paired with Ceramic.
The Stone and Storm Gray Leather Loop pair better with the device, as do a few of the basic Sport Bands Apple offers. Sport Bands in White, Black, Turquoise, Light Pink, Midnight Blue, Lavender, and Red are all displayed in the album. Apple’s intended paired band with Ceramic — dubbed “Cloud” — caps vvedge’s image collection, and remains the only Sport Band with matching white pin.
Apart from the Ceramic Edition, Apple introduced a number of new collections for the Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 1, as well as a few new colors of the Sport Bands, Woven Nylon, and Classic Buckle. Most users began receiving their Series 2 models on Friday, but a few late pre-order customers still have a few weeks to wait until their Apple Watch comes in the mail.
Check out vvedge’s full Imgur album to see all of the Ceramic Apple Watch Edition band combos.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
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Target Says Apple Watch Series 2 Orders Will be Delayed, Offers $50 Gift Card to Affected Customers
Following in the footsteps of Best Buy, Target has emailed customers that pre-ordered the Apple Watch Series 2 today to inform them that orders may not be delivered by the original date promised upon checkout.
Target said it is experiencing delays in receiving Apple Watch Series 2 models from Apple, adding that it will expedite all orders as inventory becomes available to get customers their new Apple Watches as soon as possible.
No updated date was provided for when orders will begin. Target will be emailing a complimentary $50 gift card to affected customers in the next 24 hours to help assuage any inconvenience or frustration the delay may have caused.
Apple Watch Series 2 launched today in the U.S. and select other countries, including pre-order deliveries and limited in-store availability at Apple and authorized resellers. The second-generation models feature improved water resistance up to 50 meters, a built-in GPS, a two-times brighter display, and a faster dual-core S2 chip.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 3
Tag: Target
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iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 Launch Around the World
As the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 go on sale around the world today, Apple has begun collecting photos from Apple retail locations and shared them on its website. This morning, CEO Tim Cook tweeted the short blog post, depicting customers excitedly purchasing the new devices at Apple locations across the globe.
It’s time! #iPhone7 and #AppleWatchSeries2 are here!https://t.co/n3vKSVWBfy
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 16, 2016
Specifically, there are images from Apple Passeig de Gràcia in Spain, Apple Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, Apple Omotesando in Tokyo, and Apple Sydney in Australia.
Thanks to time zone differences, a few customers in New Zealand began receiving their iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus pre-orders yesterday, sharing a few unboxed images of the smartphones online. In the Sydney Apple location, a group of students who had been waiting in line for the iPhone 7 Plus in Jet Black — which was confirmed to be sold out on Wednesday — walked away with $100 gift cards and two iPhone 7 models each.
With hype surrounding the iPhone 7, the Apple Watch Series 2 hasn’t received as much attention. Apple’s wearable device has faced a few pre-order snafus of its own, however, with Best Buy informing early pre-order customers that their launch day shipments would be delayed nearly two weeks. The retailer did the same thing for a few unfortunate iPhone 7 customers, and in compensation offered gift cards to be put towards a future purchase at Best Buy: $50 for Apple Watch pre-orders and $100 for iPhone 7 pre-orders.
For plenty of customers who pre-ordered early last Friday, their shipments should be arriving as the day progresses. If you’re waiting for your own device, be sure to check out the MacRumors forums to view iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 launch day posts from other members.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 3, iPhone 7
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Best Buy Delaying Some Apple Watch Series 1 Pre-Orders to Mid-October
After a string of emails about delayed shipments sent to pre-order customers of the Apple Watch Series 2 and iPhone 7 earlier in the week, Best Buy this morning has begun sending out notifications to a few users who pre-ordered the Apple Watch Series 1, informing them that the new shipping date is October 13, nearly a month after the devices launch today to the public.
Image via blkngld on Reddit
Apple isn’t mentioned in the email as it was in the email sent to Series 2 customers, but Best Buy is saying that “the item listed below is taking longer to fulfill than we anticipated,” then providing the new October 13 date. In the same thread on Reddit, some users are mentioning earlier estimated dates, but only by a few days, including October 10. As Redditor u8miladoo said:
Again, this is for the Series 1 , i pre ordered it since day 1. Smdh. Never again Best Buy. Funny thing is , it is letting me do a store pick up pre order and it says available for my store near me. Im thinking to just do another transaction , get it in store and cancel the other one. What a nightmare.
Instead of the gift card offer given to Series 2 and iPhone 7 customers, Best Buy is appearing to simply offer paying for “the amount of shipping” on each order, which will be applied whenever the order moves to shipping status. For u8miladoo, that amounts to $12.97 in credit.
A few Best Buy locations are said to have Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 1 stock when the stores begin opening this morning, so there’s a chance online pre-order customers with pushed-back shipping dates can purchase their Apple Watch in store, and then cancel the order online when they get home. Since the stores haven’t opened yet, however, no one has tried out this method to success.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 3
Tag: Best Buy
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Apple Watch Series 2 Teardown Shows Larger Battery and Swimproof Design
iFixit has published a work-in-progress Apple Watch Series 2 teardown that reveals a 273 mAh battery in the 38mm model, which is 33% larger than the 205 mAh battery in the original 38mm Apple Watch. However, battery life is equal to Series 1 models, likely because of the additions of a GPS and brighter display.
The teardown says the Apple Watch Series 2’s adhesive is “much stronger” than the original Apple Watch, and iFixit assumes this is related to improved water resistance. It also appears that Apple has added a larger metal shield next to the Digital Crown, which is also likely an improved waterproofing measure.
Apple Watch Series 2 is marketed as swimproof, with an improved water resistance rating of up to 50 meters that makes it safe to use while swimming, showering, fishing, washing hands, jogging in the rain, and similar shallow water activities. Apple does not recommend scuba diving, waterskiing, or other high-velocity water activities.
iFixit is still completing the teardown, so it will take some time before we get a closer look at the all-new S2 chip and GPS. The website is also working on an iPhone 7 Plus teardown, to be followed by an iPhone 7 teardown.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 3
Tags: iFixit, teardown
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Best Buy Delays Apple Watch Series 2 Shipments, Offers $50 Promo Code as Compensation
Many customers who pre-ordered the Apple Watch Series 2 from Best Buy will not be receiving their new devices on launch day, according to emails the company sent out this evening.
During pre-orders that took place on Friday, September 9, Best Buy listed a Friday, September 16 delivery date, leading customers to believe they would receive their devices on launch day. Instead, Best Buy won’t be shipping out orders until 9/28, nearly two weeks later.
To compensate pre-order customers who are facing delays, Best Buy has included a promo code for a $50 discount on a future Best Buy purchase in each email, which must be used by October 14, 2016. That will get pre-order customers an extra Sport Band or another Apple Watch accessory.
Customers affected have ordered a wide range of Apple Watch Series 2 models, including the stainless steel Apple Watch with White Sport Band and various Sport configurations.
Apple Watch Series 2 supplies were constrained from the moment Apple’s pre-orders started, with shipping estimates on many models slipping within a matter of minutes, so it is no surprise Best Buy has been forced to delay its own shipments. Most Apple Watch Series 2 models placed today won’t ship from Apple for 3 to 5 weeks, and Best Buy now lists all Series 2 watches as “Coming Soon.”
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2, watchOS 3
Tag: Best Buy
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Apple Watch Series 2 Reviews: ‘The First Real Apple Watch’ Thanks to Fitness and Processor Upgrades
Following the publication of reviews for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus yesterday, now the first official reviews for the Apple Watch Series 2 have begun hitting the web. Apple announced its second-generation Apple Watch alongside the iPhone 7 last week, and both devices will launch this Friday, September 16.
While there are varying opinions among reviewers, the consensus on Apple Watch Series 2 is epitomized in TechCrunch’s straightforward headline, calling it “the first real Apple Watch.” Reviewers think that the 50 percent faster processor, improved durability in water, and fitness-focused features have elevated the second generation of Apple Watch to become a more sensical purchase option, going beyond its previous status as a simple luxury item and into functional usability.
Image via The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal refers to Series 2 as a product you still don’t “need,” but it may now be something you “want.” As many have focused on when testing Series 2, the site spent a lot of its review on the fitness features of the Apple Watch, referring to the new on-board GPS as the device’s “greatest strength and greatest downfall.” This is because while being able to leave an iPhone behind while running is a major plus, it comes at the cost of battery life.
This new wireless freedom is the Apple Watch’s greatest strength and greatest downfall. A 20-minute run with music playing knocked out 20% of my watch battery’s juice. While there is a bigger battery inside this slightly thicker watch, those who plan to use GPS for a daily jog won’t get longer battery life. (Apple says it designed the GPS on the Apple Watch to last through a marathon.) On days where I didn’t use GPS, I went to bed with nearly 40% of the battery left. That’s strong, though the Fitbit Blaze lasts four days, so you can even wear it to track sleep.
The Series 2 is what the first Apple Watch should have been—a more advanced Fitbit with the good looks and features to justify wearing it all day, every day. It’s speedy, helpful and able to go where you can’t—or won’t—take your smartphone.
TechCrunch’s reference to the Series 2 as “the first real Apple Watch” comes from the site’s idea that a wearable should be able to accomplish little tasks throughout the day in 1-3 seconds, which the original Apple Watch struggled with due to long app loading times. But thanks to the additional processor speed, and bright display, TechCrunch Editor-in-Chief Matthew Panzarino says he has “already found myself using the Watch for interactions more often.”
The Apple Watch Series 2 is the first real Apple Watch. It delivers on the promise of a mostly passive device that can accomplish simple tasks in 1-3 seconds. There is now built-in GPS which allows for exercising without having to lug along a comparatively heavy iPhone just to get accurate tracking. And it’s completely waterproof, as any decent sport watch should be.
The screen is noticeably brighter now, making text, especially on activity summary screens, much easier to read. Because of the speed and brightness, I have already found myself using the Watch for interactions more often. This had already started happening a bit with Apple’s WatchOS 2 update last year, which improved performance significantly, but it’s incredibly apparent now with the faster processor.
While a similar fan of the new fitness abilities, The Verge reminded potential buyers that “familiar hassles remain” with Apple Watch Series 2. These include raise to wake not working consistently, troubles with syncing music into the 2 GB of storage, and the consistent fact that you have to charge the Apple Watch every day, particularly if you use it during workouts.
Although these are all qualms that can be dealt with for most people, the site argues that any professional athlete, or someone more serious about fitness, might become frustrated with the device.
But for all of the improvements, some of the hassles from the original Watch remain. Apple still has a lot of work to do. I’ve noticed the display still doesn’t wake every time I raise or twist my wrist, which is annoying. For whatever reason, I’ve had trouble syncing my iTunes to the Watch, which can support up to 2GB of music.
Finally, the battery life: the new Watch has a bigger battery in it to compensate for the GPS and the brighter display. And it’s definitely better than the first Watch: a couple days ago I put the Watch on first thing in the morning, popped the display up to full brightness, went through a day of notifications, used GPS during an hour-long bike ride, and still had 20 percent battery left later that night. But it’s still a charge-every-day kind of thing if you work out, which is one of my least favorite aspects of smartwatches.
Early adopters of the Apple Watch Series 2 will be able to check out the wearable device for themselves beginning this Friday, September 16, when it launches to the public. On that day, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will also debut, and so far reviews for the smartphones have generally noted that while the devices might not be essential upgrades, they are nice advancements and form an important foundation for the iPhone’s future.
Check out more reviews for the Apple Watch Series 2 at these websites:
-Mashable
-The Independent
-USA Today
– BuzzFeed
– Daring Fireball
– The Loop
– Pocket-lint
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2, watchOS 3
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Apple Releases watchOS 3 With App Dock, Instant Launching, New Watch Faces, Breathe, and More
Apple today released watchOS 3, the newest version of the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 3 is a significant update to the watchOS operating system, introducing an overhauled interface, new apps, new watch faces, and impressive performance improvements.
watchOS 3 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General -> Software Update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. watchOS 3 is available for all Apple Watch models, but requires an iPhone running iOS 10 to install, which was also released today.
watchOS 3 features a new dock that houses your favorite and recently used apps so they’re quicker to access. Up to 10 apps saved to the dock are kept up to date at all times and are able to launch instantly, cutting down on app loading times.
Navigation is improved in watchOS 3, with left and right swipes able to change the watch face. Upward swipes bring up the Control Center, while a downward swipe opens the Notification Center. Pressing the side button brings up the new dock.
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There are new Activity sharing features in watchOS 3, along with workouts and activities for wheelchair users. A new “Breathe” app guides you through daily deep breathing sessions to cut down on stress, and there are new Reminders, Find My Friends, and Heart Rate apps.
Three new watch faces are available, an SOS feature can automatically call emergency services, and an Apple Watch can be used to unlock a password protected Mac with new Continuity functionality. A revamped Messages app makes it easier to reply to incoming texts, plus there’s a new “Scribble” feature for writing replies on the Apple Watch face with a finger.
For more details on what’s new in watchOS 3, make sure to check out our full watchOS 3 roundup.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2, watchOS 3
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