NEWS  Apple  November 5, 2023  Reading time: ~1 minute)

Max (RS editor)

Apple has recognized and confirmed a battery drain issue plaguing certain Apple Watch users following the update to watchOS 10.1. The company shared this information via an internal memo to Apple Authorized Service Providers, which was later obtained by MacRumors from multiple sources.

The memo indicates that Apple is aware of the problem and has committed to resolving it with an upcoming watchOS update. Unfortunately, the document lacks specific details about the root cause, the extent of the issue across Apple Watch models, or the number of affected customers.

Since the release of watchOS 10.1 in late October, users have voiced their complaints across various online forums, including MacRumors Forums, Apple Support Community, Reddit, and X. The issue doesn't discriminate among Apple Watch models, affecting both older versions like the Apple Watch Series 5 and the latest Apple Watch Ultra 2.

In an attempt to address the problem, Apple's developer release notes for iOS 17.1 stated that it fixed an issue related to "increased power consumption" when an Apple Watch running watchOS 10.1 is paired with an iPhone running iOS 17. However, it is evident that the issue remains unresolved, necessitating a dedicated watchOS update.

Currently, Apple is preparing to launch iOS 17.1.1 for the iPhone. It is anticipated that the battery drain issue affecting Apple Watches will be addressed in the upcoming watchOS 10.1.1 update. However, it's important to note that the resolution may not arrive until the release of watchOS 10.2, which is presently undergoing beta testing and is expected to be released in December.