The Apple Watch has been widely derided for its battery ever since it was first announced that it would not even last a full day.

But Swiss watch maker Swatch claims to have a solution that can last much longer than anything on the market.

They say they are planning to reveal a ‘revolutionary battery’ next year - with the ultimate goal being to develop one that can last for six months, rather than just 18 hours or so.

Swiss watch maker Swatch claims to be working on a revolutionary battery. CEO Nick Hayek (pictured) said their ultimate goal was to make one that lasts six months. The technology would be usable in both smartwatches and cars. They are planning to release their first new battery next year

Swatch CEO Nick Hayek revealed the development in an interview with the Swiss weekly Handelszeitung.

THE APPLE WATCH BATTERY When the battery life of the Apple Watch was announced, boss Tim Cook said it would last 'all-day'. But this is actually 18 hours with 'typical use.' Official tests found typical use equates to just 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 30-minute workout with music. iFixit removed the battery inside the Sport model and found it is 3.8 V, 0.78 Wh lithium-ion battery running at 205mAh. It is likely the higher end models and the 42mm versions of the Watch feature the same technology, but this hasn't been confirmed. Advertisement

He said they had been working on a battery for both smartwatches and cars that had twice the capacity of anything on the market.

But the ultimate goal was to create a watch that could last for six months on just one charge.

‘Whoever brings a battery for a smartwatch to the market that you don't need to charge for six months has a competitive advantage,’ Mr Hayek said.

‘We're working intensively on this problem with our research group Belenos and battery producer Renata.

‘Next year we will come to the market with a revolutionary battery, not only for watches but also for automobiles.’

It’s not clear how far through development the company is though, or how much such a product would cost.

When the battery life of the Apple Watch (pictured) was announced, boss Tim Cook said it would last 'all-day'. But this is actually 18 hours with 'typical use.' Many have derided the watch for this, but no obvious solution to smartwatch battery life has yet been found

In March, Swatch unveiled a low-cost smartwatch intended to rival Apple and other manufacturers who had brought expensive products to market.

Their £97 ($147) Swatch Touch Zero One is expected to go on sale this month, and contains a fitness tracker and other features.

By August this year, the company plans to unveil a simple watch with an NFC chip inside, so that wearers can make quick payments.

With less features, these watches can last much longer than other feature-laden smartwatches.

At the moment, the longest-lasting true smartwatch on the market is the Pebble, which can last for three days, compared to 18 hours for the Apple Watch.

But earlier this week, it was revealed that the Apple Watch has a socket hidden by the strap that can apparently be used to charge the device.

At the moment, the longest-lasting true smartwatch on the market is the Pebble, which can last for three days, compared to 18 hours for the Apple Watch. But earlier this week, it was revealed that the Apple Watch has a socket (shown) hidden by the strap that can apparently be used to charge the device

One company, Reserve Strap, said it could be possible to create a strap that contained a secondary battery and plug it into the watch, boosting battery life.

‘We're looking forward to sharing more design details and technical specification of this new Reserve Strap as soon as we can,’ the company said.

And in April, to help alleviate charging woes, scientists at Stanford University, California revealed an aluminium battery that could be charged in less than 60 seconds.

They said the technology was both greener and safer than current batteries, while it was also the first high-performance aluminium battery that is 'fast-charging, long-lasting and inexpensive.