Garmin smartwatch secrets: how to optimise battery life?

^10.11.2023

^{Reading time: 5 minutes}

Smartwatches have become an essential part of our everyday lives. They track our activity, communicate with our smartphones and help us stay connected. But there is one important aspect that can determine how practical a smartwatch is - battery life. Garmin is one of the leading smartwatch manufacturers, and its devices are known for their long battery life. In this blog post, we look at how to optimise the battery life of your Garmin smartwatch to get the most out of it.

1. Understand your watch's battery life

Before optimising battery life, it's important to understand how your Garmin smartwatch uses energy. Garmin offers a variety of models with different battery lives, ranging from days to weeks or even a month. Battery life depends on several factors, such as the watch face, GPS usage, sensor activity and the number of smart notifications.

2. Choose the right watch face

One of the easiest ways to extend battery life is to choose an energy-efficient watch face. Opt for watch faces that don't use lots of colours or constant motion. It's also important to avoid faces that constantly display large amounts of data. The simpler and higher-contrast the watch face design, the less energy it uses.

3. Use GPS wisely

GPS is one of the most energy-intensive features in smartwatches. Garmin offers different GPS modes, such as “Smart GPS” or “UltraTrac”, which reduce the GPS signal frequency and help save battery. Use more accurate GPS settings only when absolutely necessary.

4. Manage Bluetooth and smart notifications

Bluetooth connectivity and smart notifications can also drain the battery significantly. Consider limiting the number of notifications by allowing them only from your most important apps. You probably don't need your watch to light up the screen for every single notification from every social media app.

5. Reduce screen brightness and display timeout

If your Garmin smartwatch has a backlight, you can save battery by adjusting the screen brightness. Most watches also let you set the display timeout – for example, how long the screen stays lit after activation. The shorter this time, the less energy is used.

6. Use "Do Not Disturb" mode

If you don't need to receive notifications for a certain period (for example, at night), switch on "Do Not Disturb" mode. It pauses notifications and automatic screen activation, helping to save battery.

7. Update the software

Garmin continuously updates its watch software to improve battery life and efficiency. Make sure your watch is always updated to the latest software version.

8. Turn off unnecessary sensors and connections

If you don't use the step counter, heart rate monitor or another built-in sensor, turn them off. Likewise, if you don't need a constant connection to your smartphone, turn off Bluetooth.

9. Charge correctly

Good charging habits are also important for optimising battery life. Don't leave the watch charging for long periods after it's fully charged, and avoid letting the battery drain completely.

10. Manage your apps

Apps can also drain the battery. Remove any unnecessary apps and features that may run in the background and consume energy.

Battery life is a key factor in how useful a smartwatch is. By following these simple tips, you can significantly extend the battery life of your Garmin smartwatch and enjoy its features for even longer. Garmin has created technology that supports your active lifestyle, but every technology also requires a little know-how from the user to get the most out of it.