The Best Apple Watch Accessories 2023

The Best Apple Watch Accessories

IF YOU HAVE an iPhone, there's a good chance by now 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 over a third of the market. Even if the slightly panicky marketing of last year's Series 8 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) made you giggle, it's still one of the most durable, fully featured, and comfortable connected wearables available for the money.

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 March 2023: We added new accessories and services, like the Quince leather band and Nomad DesignLab. We also updated links and pricing.

PHOTOGRAPH: APPLE
The Best Headphones
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
The best part of an Apple Watch is that it can connect seamlessly to all your Apple products. And 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 AirPods Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends). 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 since the 2019 iteration, but the second generation has noticeably better sound quality, better battery life, and better noise-canceling tech. The biggest improvement, however? The case comes with a new, built-in speaker so that when you lose them, as you inevitably will, you can open Find My and ping them quite loudly.
★ 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.
$249 AT APPLE
$240 AT AMAZON
$250 AT TARGET
PHOTOGRAPH: NOMAD
Best Design Assistant
Do you have trouble remembering whether you can wear a black belt with brown shoes, or vice versa? You might need a design tool to help you coordinate your Apple Watch with different straps. When you buy a brand new watch, you may opt to use Apple's proprietary tool, but clicking through is still a little confusing and doesn't account for older-generation watches.
One of our favorite accessory manufacturers, Nomad, now has DesignLab. Just click through and select your model, case size, and device color, and Nomad presents you with a list of available straps in different materials. Two of the newest selections are rugged, waterproof sport bands ($60) in Ultra Orange and High Volta for the Apple Watch Ultra. I like the colors and the soft feel of the waterproof fluoro-elastomer rubber. However, it's worth noting here that Nomad's sport bands are all too big for my wrist.
- PHOTOGRAPH: APPLE
  Best Band
  Apple Watch Ultra Yellow Ocean Band
  The 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. Of the three, I prefer the Ocean band. It's bright, stretchy, and fits my small wrist. It also is much easier to wash, and it 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.
  $99 AT APPLE
- PHOTOGRAPH: AMAZON
  Best Budget Strap
  Proatl Jelly Band for Apple Watch
  In the course of testing for this guide, I've discovered that the best accessory isn't always the most expensive. This Jelly Band case fits my 41-mm Series 7 well and includes both the strap and a raised, protective bumper case. The strap has enough holes to fit a wide variety of wrist sizes. It's waterproof, doesn't irritate my skin, and completely changes the look of the watch. Best of all, it costs just $8, so you can order a few in different colors to match your outfits.
- - PHOTOGRAPH: AMAZON
    The Smallest Case
    Hontao Ultra Thin Case
    Unlike 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 on my 41-mm Series 7. 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 Protector
    As 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 ActionBand
    Honestly, 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: APPLE
      Best Metal Band
      Apple Silver Milanese Loop
      If I didn't use the Apple Watch primarily to track activities, I'd probably wear the silver Milanese loop all the time. It's made from stainless steel and comes in a variety of colors—silver, gold, and graphite. The thin mesh is extremely flexible, and the clasp is magnetic, which means it's very easy to adjust the sizing.
      ★ Alternative: Vincero is known mostly for making affordable watches, but it also makes stainless-steel straps ($125) for the Apple Watch that are half the price of Apple's own stainless-steel bracelets ($349). The links and clasps on the stainless-steel bands move smoothly and fit on both the Apple Watch Ultra and the Series 8. You can remove up to 12 links to customize the fit.
    - PHOTOGRAPH: BLUEBONNET
      A Good Leather Band
      Bluebonnet Executive French Leather Band
      Cloth 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: 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 a little 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.
    - PHOTOGRAPH: OTTERBOX
      Best Case
      OtterBox Antimicrobial Case
      If you're anything like me, your Apple Watch is constantly pinging with notifications, for everything from text messages to map directions. If your protective case doesn't fit well, it can vibrate separately from your watch, like an annoying little rattle. That's why I prefer the softer cases, even if they show damage more easily. So far, the best-fitting hard case is Otterbox's antimicrobial case, which is made from 90 percent recycled plastic. The case also has no back, which makes it easier to align the watch with different magnetic charging stand.
    - PHOTOGRAPH: NOMAD
      Avoid These Accessories
      No Can Do
      The 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.
      Element Special Ops Apple Watch Band for $50: I have never before seen the words “Special Ops” and “Apple Watch” combined before. This case is extremely bulky, and anyway the Apple Watch isn't your best choice for a tactical watch.