The Best Apple Watch Accessories
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If you have an iPhone, there’s a good chance that you also have an Apple Watch. We’ve rated it as the best smartwatch and the best fitness tracker for iPhone owners. It dominates the smartwatch category, with more than a third of the market.
It's also one of the easiest Apple products to accessorize, even if you might not really need to. Personally, I’ve never cracked an Apple Watch screen or case. Apple does offer an extended warranty plan, which I would consider, given that service pricing for watch repairs is exorbitant. In the event that you turn it down, however, these screen protectors and cases can help extend the life of your indispensable timer/alarm clock/sleep tracker. We also included some of our favorite straps and chargers.
Still haven’t decided which Apple Watch to get? We have a buying guide for that too. And check out our Best iPhone, Best iPad, and Best MacBook guides for more Apple recommendations.
Updated January 2025: We added two charging stands, a travel charger, two portable chargers, and the new titanium Milanese band. We also updated links and pricing throughout.
- Photograph: Apple
The Best Headphones
Apple AirPods Pro 2 (With USB-C)The best part of an Apple Watch is that it can connect seamlessly to all your Apple products. One of the first things you'll probably want to do with yours is take a walk around the block while listening to a podcast with your new AirPods Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) with USB-C charging. To pair, just tap Settings > Bluetooth on the watch and choose your accessory. Make sure your chosen podcast or playlist is downloaded before you set out and you're ready to go, phone-free.
The instantly recognizable design has not changed visibly much since the 2019 iteration, but this generation—Apple says it's the second, but it's really the third—has noticeably better sound quality, better battery life, and a few software updates, like Adaptive Audio, which quiets your music whenever it hears you talking, so you can hear someone's response. The biggest change, however? It now has USB-C charging, which means you'll no longer be struggling to find your Lightning cable when you have to charge them in your car.
★ Alternative: The Beats Fit Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) launched in 2021 but are still the best workout headphones if you own an iPhone. They also now come in even more attractive colors, like blue, coral, and neon yellow.
- Courtesy of Apple
The Best Workout App
Apple Fitness+I am guessing that you wanted an Apple Watch in part because you needed a fitness tracker. I run, swim, and rock climb, and I think that the Apple Watch is currently one of the best running watches available. Most great fitness apps work on the Apple Watch, like Strava, Peloton, or Nike Run Club. However, if you're firmly ensconced in the Apple walled garden, the best fitness app is probably Apple's own Fitness+, which seamlessly interacts between the Watch, the iPhone, and the Apple TV+.
I like it mainly because its included with my family's Apple One subscription, but it's also incredibly convenient. There is now coaching for outdoor walks and runs (although there is another Apple app that I use for this, which is Podcasts). The workouts are unintimidating, and a lot of them are very short. Those five minutes when I was not responding to your Slack? I was probably doing a five-minute core workout! Sorry, it's just hard for me to sit still! For more fitness apps and services, check out our roundup.
- Photograph: Simon Hill
The Best Charging Stand
Belkin 3-in-1 Qi2 Charging StandThe worst part about owning an Apple Watch is that even the longest-lived of them, the Watch Ultra 2, lasts only a few days. In order to keep your watch reliably charged while also wearing it to track your sleep, you must seed your house with wireless Apple watch chargers so that you can top it off in between other activities. The best 3-in-1 charger is Belkin's classy Qi1 charging stand, which uses the Qi2 fast wireless charging standard and can fast-charge a Watch Series 7 or newer. The braided USB-C cable is also permanently attached, so you don't have to worry about losing it.
- Photograph: Simon Hill
A Compact Charger for Travel
Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station (Qi2)I am a little obsessed with keeping my Apple Watch charged and, along with my colleague Simon Hill, have tested many watch chargers. The Native Union Voyage ($100) is the one that I carry the most often while traveling. It's a 2-in-1 charger for your phone and Apple Watch that plugs in via USB, fits neatly into the palm of my hand, and slips into my tech pouch. However, for the same amount of money, this one is better. Anker's tiny, foldable Qi2 wireless charger includes a little secondary pad for charging your AirPods as well.
- Photograph: Simon Hill
The Best Travel Power Bank
OneAdaptr OneGo 3-in-1 Power BankFinally, we come to the travel power bank, which you'll need if you're out and about with your watch for any length of time. I have the Journey Glyde 4-in-1 power bank ($170), which also has a 10,000-mAh-capacity and adheres to the Qi2 wireless charging standard. However, my colleague Simon's pick is just as compact, much cheaper, and doubles as a kickstand, even if you can't plug devices into it with a cable.
- Photograph: Apple
Best Sustainable Band
Nike Sport BandAt 2023's Apple event, the company announced that when purchased in conjunction with a soft recycled nylon sport loop ($49), the Series 9 is carbon neutral. We viewed these claims with a bit of skepticism, and in any case many of the bands that Apple and other third-party manufacturers offer will not be carbon neutral. However, I like the Nike sports band very much. It comes in two different sizes with aluminum hardware. The soft, 32 percent recycled fluoroelastomer is also enlivened with little flecks of recycled plastic in it. It also has little holes in the band, which increase the breathability and also lets you add little charms.
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- Photograph: Adrienne So
The Best Watch Ultra Band
Milanese Titanium BandProbably the most gimmicky band introduced at last year's Apple Event was the black titanium Milanese loop. The Watch Ultra 2 now comes in (an extremely good) black finish, so Apple introduced a new, black titanium mesh Milanese loop to go along with it.
The standout feature of this Milanese loop (I know, I know) is the parachute-style buckle, which Apple claims was historically used for diving and other underwater activities. (I seem to remember that while scuba diving, surfing, and whitewater rafting, most water activities use ratchet tie downs and threaded cam buckles for straps, but I will let this slide.) Anyway, the buckle is very smooth and satisfying to clip in and out when you're on a phone call or in a meeting. The titanium doesn't irritate my skin, and the band is smooth and easy to adjust; it's carbon-neutral, and it looks very, very good. It turns your sport watch into a much dressier watch.
- Photograph: WithIt
A Few Watch Charms
WithIt Hope Charm SetJust as you can slap stickers on your water bottle or laptop, or add jingly Jibbitz charms to your Crocs, you can now add personalized charms to your Apple Watch band. I am a grown woman and the mother of two elementary-schoolers and I am too old for this. However, my 7-year-old and 9-year-old also have Apple Watches and were thrilled at the assortment that WithIt sent.
WithIt's charms are designed to be used specifically with WithIt's own Band Candy straps (set $35), but I found that they worked well with the Nike straps or any straps that have holes in them. These are sparkly and fun, but I feel obligated to point out that you can find almost any charms you can think of on Amazon and Etsy at many varied price points.
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My Favorite Band
Apple Watch Ultra Ocean BandThe Watch Ultra itself launched with three types of sport bands: the Alpine band, which consists of two layers of woven textile and clasps via a titanium G-hook; the Trail band, which is a light, thin, stretchy version of the lightest woven band; and the Ocean band, which is made from an elastomer with a titanium buckle that fits in the tubes. I love the Trail band, but most people like the Ocean band, which is bright, stretchy, easier to wash, and shows dirt much less easily than the fabric bands.
No Watch Ultra? No problem. These bands also fit on the large 45-mm Apple Watch Series 8.
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A Good Leather Band
Bluebonnet Executive French Leather BandCloth straps are comfortable and wick away moisture, but they hold the moisture and aren't very formal. Silicone straps are durable and waterproof, but they trap sweat. I have sensitive skin and need to wash silicone straps and let my wrist breathe occasionally if I don't want to get rashes. Leather, on the other hand, is durable. It's comfortable to wear and breathable, and it will mold to your skin. In my opinion, it's also far more stylish and professional-looking than either cloth or silicone.
Bluebonnet is a small Texas-based company that makes Apple Watch straps out of full-grain calf leather. I was very impressed by the thickness of the leather and the build quality of the Apple Watch inserts and buckle (whether the metal parts are silver or stainless steel varies on the color of the band). It fit my 41-mm Series 7 perfectly. But if you have a smaller wrist, you will probably need to punch an extra hole or two in the band. Avoid the temptation to use a knife—either get a leather hole punch or take it to a shop.
★ Alternative: If you're a baller, Apple has its own proprietary Hermès collaborations that I do not own. However, I've played with the Single Tour band for Apple Watch at the Apple Events and they are beautiful and turn your Series 10 into more of a dress watch, if you're the kind of person who cares about watch etiquette.
Quince is a direct-to-consumer business that purports to offer luxury essentials at an affordable price. The leather on its Apple Watch strap ($30) is stiffer and thinner, the color is not as vibrant, and the hardware is weird—I'm not sure why the buckle has an extra loop on top. However, it comes in two different sizes, and the small size fits my Watch SE well. If you want a cheaper option, this one will work for you.
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A Fun Jelly Strap
Baozai Apple Watch Jelly StrapIn the course of testing for this guide, I've discovered that the best accessory isn't always the most expensive. We've tried several cheap jelly bands off Amazon, which fluctuate in and out of stock. The one that is currently in stock is this slim one, which reviewer Medea Giordano says she consistently gets compliments on and fits her watch well. Most importantly, it comes in pink!
- Photograph: Nomad
The Sturdiest Case
Nomad Rugged 45-mm CaseThe Watch Ultra 2 is great, but you can get many of the same sports-related features in the Series 9 with this year's updates to WatchOS 11. This rugged sports case from Nomad is expensive, but at $400 for the Series 9 and $120 for the case, it's still less expensive than an $800 Watch Ultra 2.
Nomad's case fits the 45/44 mm Series 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and SE. The case has a tough stainless steel body with a protective TPU lining. I tried it with a 45-mm Series 8 and it fit fine and the buttons work great. However, it's only compatible with the larger watch size. I also have a smallish 150-mm wrist and it just barely fits me. Otterbox is also known for their tough and durable protection. The Apple Watch bumpers ($30) that I've tried fit well and come in a wider variety of sizes and colors (and are also much cheaper).
- Photograph: Twelve South
Best Band Storage
Twelve South TimePorter Watch Band Wall MountEven the most restrained and minimalist of men probably have at least two bands: a nylon sport loop for everyday wear, and a titanium or steel band for when you have to dress up. (Of course, you will still probably look hopelessly dorky, but one can hope.)
You could always keep your spare bands in a shoebox on your dresser, but I really like this hanger from Twelve South. The wall mount is incredibly easy to use—just make sure you're not hanging it upside down and stick it on your wall. The bands slot neatly in a compressive slot at the top. Each holder fits up to six bands, but you can easily add more if your collection is bigger than mine.
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The Smallest Case
Hontao Ultra Thin CaseUnlike a phone, a watch is worn on your wrist, so every millimeter of real estate counts. If all you want is a thin, affordable, and attractive bumper that will protect your watch from bumps and bangs throughout the day, this is my favorite. It's made from a matte thermoplastic urethane (TPU) that is extremely thin and fits well a 41-mm watch. The dark green color is well represented by the images on the website. However, reviews do say that the lighter colors show dirt very easily, so I would stick with darker shades.
★ Alternative: The Spigen Thin Fit ($14) is also a very nice, minimal case. But it's a bit pricier, and the plastic is not as soft to the touch.
- Photograph: Amazon
Best Screen Protector
LK Apple Watch Screen ProtectorAs with straps, the best protector is not always the brand-name option or the most expensive one. I tried screen protectors from Spigen and Zagg, but when I pushed or pulled a case on over them, the thin films peeled off or bubbled almost instantly. This screen protector—also made from TPU—was easy to apply and looks invisible once it's on.
I particularly like the small rubber installation pad, which held the watch much more securely in place than other installation plates. Even if it's reasonably easy to use, I do recommend watching the short instructional video before attempting to put the screen protector on. Don't worry—if you mess up, it includes several replacements.
- Photograph: Twelve South
Best Sports Band
Twelve South ActionBandHonestly, there is not a single Apple Watch strap that's bad for sports. I've gone for long, sweaty runs in every single Apple Watch band, including the standard silicone one that comes with the watch. They all hold the watch securely on my wrist and don't slip, slide, or irritate my skin. However, on a weeklong trip to the Mississippi coast in sweltering August, I found myself incredibly grateful to have an ActionBand.
You pop your watch into one of a pair of terry-cloth sweatbands. The bands are easy to use, convenient, and hold the watch on securely. Most importantly, they helped me control the floods of sweat that covered me the instant I walked out the door. Twelve South also makes an ActionSleeve ($30) for your arm if you want to wear your watch while cycling, boxing, or some other sport where you need to have your wrists free.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The Best Action Camera
Insta360 X4 360 CameraWe learned that you can overlay your fitness stats over your video while filming with the Insta360 X series. Simply connect the camera to your Insta360 X4 and authorize the Insta360 app to connect to Apple Health. The Insta360 X4 also connects to Garmin and GPS devices.
Photograph: NomadAvoid These Accessories
No Can DoThe Apple Watch attracts a lot of compatible accessories, and some of them are duds. Here are a few I tried and didn't like.
- Apple Solo Loop for $99: Apple really hawks its precisely sized Solo Loops, which form a single loop around your wrist. But they're expensive, and as an active person, it's impossible for me to size them correctly. They're always too tight when I'm working out and way too loose when I'm not. I prefer an adjustable band.
- Zagg InvisibleShield GlassFusion Screen Protector for $30: There is no earthly reason why this screen protector should be so expensive. It also bubbled within several days.
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