Apple Watchos 7: Sleep Tracking Feature Explained

Apple Watch's watchOS 7 update finally introduced a native sleep-tracking feature, which was one of the most requested functionalities since the original Apple Watch was released in 2015. The sleep-tracking data is rather basic, showing only the amount of time the user was asleep, as well as their heart rate while sleeping. The sleep tracking feature is complemented by the Wind Down and Sleep Mode functions, which help users establish a bedtime routine and a consistent sleep schedule.

WatchOS 7 introduces a new Sleep app for tracking sleep

To use the Sleep app, you need to set up a Sleep Schedule, which includes the amount of sleep you want to get each night and your standard sleep and wake-up goals. You can also customize the sound of your wake-up alarm and whether you want haptic feedback. The Sleep Schedule feature is accompanied by an optional Sleep Mode, which simplifies your Lock Screen at bedtime, hides notifications, and turns on Do Not Disturb.

The Sleep app on the Apple Watch also includes a Wind Down feature, which assists you in establishing a bedtime routine with shortcuts to help you relax. You can adjust Wind Down settings in the Health app on your iPhone, such as choosing different HomeKit scenes, playing certain playlists and podcasts, and accessing apps like Calendar and Reminders.

In addition to the Sleep app, WatchOS 7 also includes improvements to battery life and charging. The current Apple Watch battery lasts for a day of use, but with the addition of sleep tracking, there is an incentive to wear the watch for 24 hours a day. Apple may address this by including faster charging or a larger battery in future watch iterations.

The app shows total sleep time, but not sleep scores or sleep stages

The Apple WatchOS 7 update introduced a new Sleep Tracking feature. This feature is designed to help users monitor how much sleep they are getting each night and improve their sleep habits through bedtime reminders and a winding-down process. The Sleep Tracking feature is more about bedtime awareness and total time in bed. It does not provide sleep scores or break down the night's sleep into different stages, like some other sleep-tracking devices and apps.

The Sleep Tracking feature is available on the Apple Watch with watchOS 7 and in the Health app on the iPhone. In the Health app, users can set up a Sleep Schedule with the amount of sleep they want to get each night and their standard sleep and wake-up goals. The Sleep section of the Health app offers charts on sleep length over time, heart rate while sleeping, and weekly, monthly, and yearly highlights. It also shows the average sleep time over the past week and has a chart on sleep consistency over time.

On the Apple Watch, the Sleep app shows the overall sleep time, but not sleep scores or sleep stages. The watch must be charged to at least 30% before bed and worn for at least one hour each night to track sleep. The Sleep app on the Apple Watch allows users to set their sleep schedules, view sleep analysis, and adjust settings for features like Wind Down and Sleep Goal. Users can set different schedules based on the day of the week. For example, a specific schedule for weekdays and a separate one for weekends.

The addition of sleep tracking to the Apple Watch means that users are incentivized to wear the device for 24 hours a day. This has led to speculation that the next Apple Watch will include improved battery life and faster charging.

It has a wind-down mode, sleep schedules, and an alarm

WatchOS 7 has a wind-down mode, sleep schedules, and an alarm. The wind-down mode is a feature that assists users in establishing a bedtime routine with shortcuts to help them relax. Users can adjust the wind-down settings in the Health app on their iPhones. For example, they can choose different HomeKit scenes, play specific playlists and podcasts, and prepare for the next day with apps like Calendar and Reminders.

The sleep schedules feature allows users to set their sleep goals, bedtime, and wake-up times. Users can set different schedules based on the day of the week. For example, they can set a specific schedule for weekdays and a separate one for weekends. The sleep schedules feature is available on the Apple Watch or in the Health app on the iPhone.

The alarm feature is part of the Sleep Schedule option, which allows users to enable or disable a wake-up alarm. Users can customize the sound and whether they want haptic feedback. If the Apple Watch is being used for sleep tracking, the alarm will go off on the watch instead of the iPhone. The Sleep Schedule options can be adjusted in the Health app or the Clock app under Alarm.

The wind-down mode, sleep schedules, and alarm features in WatchOS 7 are designed to help users establish a bedtime routine, monitor their sleep, and improve their sleep habits. These features work together with the Sleep Mode and Sleep Tracking functionalities to provide a seamless cross-device experience for users.

Users must charge the watch to at least 30% before bed to enable sleep tracking

The Apple Watch Series 5 and older models have a battery life of about 18 hours, which is not sufficient to last through the day and the night. This is a concern for users who want to track their sleep using the watchOS 7's sleep tracking feature. The watchOS 7 sleep tracking feature is more about bedtime awareness and total time in bed. It collects sleep time, time in bed, and heart rate, but it does not provide data beyond that.

To address the battery life issue, users must ensure that their Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before going to bed. This will allow the watch to track their sleep for at least a few hours during the night. Charging the watch to 30% can take a while, depending on how low the battery is. As a result, users may need to wait up past their bedtime to track their sleep, or they may miss out on tracking their sleep if they charge their watch while sleeping.

To improve battery life, Apple has removed Force Touch from watchOS 7, freeing up space for a larger battery. There are speculations that the next Apple Watch model will have improved battery life or faster charging. In the meantime, users must manage their watch's battery life and charging times to ensure that their watch has enough power to track their sleep.

It is important to note that the sleep tracking feature on watchOS 7 is basic and only provides data on the total time asleep. It does not provide information on light sleep, deep sleep, or other parameters like some other fitness trackers. However, Apple offers articles and tips to improve sleep habits, and the watchOS 7 update includes new notifications to help users better track the battery level of their watch.

The watch's battery life may not be sufficient to last through the day and night

The Apple Watch Series 7 has been reported to have a battery life of up to 18 hours. However, some users have complained that their watch only lasts for 6 to 10 hours, which is significantly shorter than expected. This issue is not limited to the Series 7; some users of the Series 5 have also reported rapid battery drain after updating to WatchOS 7.

The addition of sleep tracking to WatchOS 7 means that users will want to wear their Apple Watch for 24 hours a day. This could result in the battery not lasting through the day and night, especially if the user does not have time to charge their watch in the morning. While Apple Watch Series 7 can take up to 2.5 hours to fully charge, this is an inconvenience for those who rely on their watch throughout the day.

To address this issue, Apple could increase the battery size in future watch iterations, although this may come at the cost of other components. Alternatively, Apple could implement faster charging or introduce low power mode to reduce the amount of processing power the watch uses, extending its battery life. However, low power mode also has downsides, such as slow performance, as it turns off the Always-On Display, heart rate notifications, and other health measurements.

Users can also take steps to maximise their watch's battery life, such as using it less or charging it while getting ready in the morning. Additionally, Apple has introduced a Battery Health feature to help users understand their battery health better. This feature displays the battery capacity relative to when the watch was new, with lower capacity indicating fewer hours of usage between charges.

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