Apple had high hopes its soon-to-be-released smartwatch would last 24 hours on a single battery charge, but that may not be the reality. The smartwatch, when tested, provides 3.5 hours for continuous use of standard apps, 2.5 hours of continuous use for intense applications like games and four hours of background fitness tracking.

While Apple's target for mixed use is 19 hours, even during periods when the display is off, the initial hardware may not live up to that expectation, 9to5Mac reports, as Apple Watch users may find the idea of 3.5 hours of app use abysmal when compared to other devices, like the iPhone.

Even if Apple fails to meet these figures, it's not likely to hurt the consumer success of the smartwatch, however, according to TechCrunch. One reason is this device is meant to be an occasional use gadget. The platform is a conduit for information from the smartphone, and it is meant for quick-use sessions, rather than prolonged use.

Android Wear devices offer nearly the same in terms of battery consumption -- some better and some worse. Since consumer expectation is prepared for lower active use times, and daily charging, if Apple delivers a superior user experience with the Apple Watch, it probably won't be a huge issue. Apple can match or improve with each new generation of wearables.

The original iPhone offered only five hours of "talk, video and browsing" time. It fell short of rivals in terms of battery life, but that did not stop consumers from buying the device. The iPhone options meant more to consumers than battery expectations. Consumers will likely feel the same about the Apple Watch, which is rumored to be releaed in March.

Some users are worried the battery life is not enough, but others, like TechCrunch's Darrell Etherington, argue it's just a watch. Do you think the 3.5 hours of battery life under normal use is enough or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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