Are you the proud wearer of a new Apple Watch Series 6? Did you scoop up a discounted Series 4 or maybe choose the Series 3 with the more attractive $199 price tag? Whatever model you’re sporting, it’s natural to think your next stop is the Apple Store — either online or in person. Where else would one stock up on watch bands, wireless earbuds, charging docks and other accessories?
Literally anyplace else. All those things are worth having, but Apple charges a considerable premium for them. Thankfully, there are excellent affordable alternatives, many of them listed below. I’ve tried some of these myself; others I’m including based on user reviews or other factors. Note that my use of “cheap” here isn’t meant to indicate product quality, but rather price. I’ll update this list periodically.
Thanks to easy-to-swap bands, the Apple Watch can quickly alter both its look and its function. A leather band for work. (Someday.) A sport band for the gym. (Someday.) A Milanese loop for the theatah. (Sigh.)
Buy any of these at an Apple Store and you’ll pay anywhere from $30 on up to $150. How absurd is that? Here are some examples of Apple Watch bands you can get for less — in some cases way less.