GPS Battery life: No way 13 hours!

Yes. This is very odd. I loss 5% doing nothing in the first two hrs, but in the last 5 hrs it's only loss 2%. 8-10% was normal after 24 hrs with 2.60, so I'm going to have to watch over the next couple of days to see how it reacts. I'm also counting the 1% I now see when I disconnect from a power source and the watch says 99% instead of 100% with 2.70.

mine is also on 2.7.
left it overnight and the drain is still like before saying 93% left.
so still the same 7% overnight drain as previous firmwares... my guess is the unplugging and it showing 99% immediately is just a firmware bug.

At some point Garmin is going to have to either fix the firmware to get the advertised 13 GPS hours or publish how they arrived at that 13 hour time (what exact config and what phone). I do all day hikes or bike rides and really need it to last at least 10 hours on GPS. Also, bring the BETA program to the VA3.

Another real world update. Worth noting, I've turned off just about everything....the side scroll, notifications, gestures, back light set to 10%

SAT - @3pm 100% Charge
SUN - @ 8am 87%
SUN - @ 10:30am after 9.3 miler 73%

There is no way in hell this watch can perform up to the claimed "average" 13 hours.

Real World Update Continued:

SUN - @ 6pm 100% Charged
MON - @ 4pm 92% :-)
TUE - @ 6pm 86% :-)
TUE - @ 7:30pm after 10 mile 58% (28% loss) :-(


The 28% loss is consistent with my last long run where the battery consumption was ~50-60% across 18 miles. As a comparison my previous FR630 only burned ~10% per 10 miles (w/HRM strap).


Settings:
- Watch Face - ActiFace
- GPS only (no GLONASS)
- Smart Data recording on
- Backlight set to 10%
- HR Broadcast - off
- Notifications - off - oddly, the watch is still receiving them
- Side Swipe - off
- Gestures - off

Real World Update (cont.):

WED - @12:10pm 53% - drove to REI and returned my VA3

Over the day, battery consumption is very low. Between 0.5 and 0.7% per hour.
Brightness Activation gesture off
Brightness on lowest level and shortest time
BT off
Original Watchface
No apps
However, when recording an activity with GPS, the consumption increases to about 15% per hour. (GPS only, no glonass).
I have noticed that when the Auto Pause function is on, the display will light up at the brightest level as soon as I pause. And then the display lighting (highest level) no longer switches itself off automatically but remains switched on during the remaining activity. If I disable the Auto Pause function, there is no such problem. When I touch the screen, the light turns on at the highest level, but then switches off immediately.
I think that could be responsible for the high battery consumption.

Real World Update (cont.):

WED - @12:10pm 53% - drove to REI and returned my VA3

CliftonMiller: Unless I'm missing something, your usage data is pretty meaningless unless I know your pace. Instead of miles run, you should put hours/time of gps being used.

From extensive use of the classic Vivoactive, I know it uses 10% battery/1 hour of gps activity and I 'think' that's what they advertised (10hrs of GPS). I'd be happy with that in the VA3 (considering it has oHR), but that's not what they advertised.

CliftonMiller: Unless I'm missing something, your usage data is pretty meaningless unless I know your pace. Instead of miles run, you should put hours/time of gps being used..

With the exception of one run, I posted total hours which provides the key information deemed to be USEFUL. But below, I have re-posted the events with the pace detail inBOLD. The advertised claim for the VA3 is 13hours (w/GPS & HR). I'm seeing less than 5hr with everything turned except GPS & HR. My FR630 yielded 10% for 1h20m or roughly a 10 mile run. The VA3 is consuming ~28% for the same.


=======================================================
Sunday @8:30am
100% Charge
9 mile run 8:59/mi 1h 23m

Monday
6 mile run 8:56/mi 53m

Tuesday
8 mile run 8:38/mi 1h 10m

Wednesday @6pm
20% Charge
8 mile run. 8:20/mi 1h 7m
died right after I saved.

Summary: 31 miles 4:35 hrs across 4.5 days

Friday @4:30pm
Updated FW 2.70
100% Charge
No run

Sat @6:40am 18mile 8:51/mi 2h 40m battery 18% remaining
Summary: 18 miles 8:51 2:40 hrs ~20-30% per hour
=======================================================

SAT - @3pm 100% Charge
SUN - @ 8am 87%
SUN - @ 10:30am 9.3 miler 8:51/mi 1h 22m 73%

========================================================

SUN - @ 6pm 100% Charged
MON - @ 4pm 92% :-)
TUE - @ 6pm 86% :-)
TUE - @ 7:30pm after 10 mile 8:17/mi 1h 24m 58% (28% loss) :-(
========================================================

Settings:
- Watch Face - NoFrills (with HR off)
- GPS + GLONASS
- Smart Data recording on
- Backlight set to 30%
- HR Broadcast - off
- Notifications - off
- Side Swipe - on
- Gestures - off
- Bluetooth-off

10% loss of battery on 40 minute walk will not cover an 8-10 hour hike day.
Daily it is not an issue but in the mountains with deep ravines and tree cover, having the GLONASS satellites available might be a real benefit.