Apple Removes 14 Apple Watch Bands From Website, Many Others 'Sold Out' Ahead of September Event

[44267547]

So current bands won’t work with new series 4?

In all likeliness, the bands will _be_compatible. Remember, they just introduced new watch bands back in March and June of this year, it makes zero sense for them to change the bandport if they were introducing bands Two months ago in June.

Also, another forum in the Apple Watch forum claims that he observed a ‘Series 4’ in Cupertino, which largely resembled the same as the Series 3, just with a larger display. I think it’s safe to say the bands will be compatible, but that time is coming where we will know all soon.

 

[Kabeyun]

"New watch bands! This is what EVERY SINGLE PERSON on MacRumors has been desperately waiting for!"

Said nobody ever.

Well, you said it, cleverly enough. So to be clear, you’re saying that these watch bands that are selling out aren’t actually wanted by the people buying them?

 

[macguru212]

I can see it now, a watch band adapter (only$19.99) to use with existing watch bands.

 

[bluecoast]

I was going to buy a new band but decided not to because I feared that with S4, Apple would change the band compatibility somehow, because that's what they do.

Looks like Apple is going to do what they do...

...And it's probably just making the bands slightly bigger (even by just 2mm) to fit with the allegedly new watch case (i.e. the change is likely to be for aesthetic reasons).

 

[CarlJ]

Also, I like that the screen size will be bigger, but I really want a round watch! It just looks so much better than square/rectangle, in my opinion.

Can you explain why you feel it looks better? Does your reason work out to something other than, "well, it's what I'm used to"?

Watches were almost exclusively round for a very long time because that was the nature of the mechanism and display (hands rotating from a central point). Round not because it was better or prettier, but because that's what they could manage. The rectangular display is much more effective for maximizing the amount of information available in a given space. It's very easy to assume "familiar is best" and judge the familiar with a very forgiving eye, while judging something new and different with much harsher standards.

 

[egodspeed]

Well... this sucks.

 

[maflynn]

So current bands won’t work with new series 4?

I don't think anyone knows that yet. Typically apple will stop selling and clear out inventory of existing bands prior to rolling out new bands. So this move is more likely that action then introducing an incompatible watch

 

[CarlJ]

These same people all have phones and certainly do not need a watch to tell them the time as they are obviously more interested in watches as jewelry and style.

Huh? I have an iPhone and an Apple Watch. The watch is my first stop for checking the time, and I wear it because it's useful, not to make myself look pretty. Your "obviously" seems rooted in your personal preferences, not reality.
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So current bands won’t work with new series 4?

Highly doubtful. Apple Watch bands are seasonal, they bring in new colors and stop producing old ones several times a year. They've done this numerous times before.

If they make a version of the watch that has a noticeably larger case, they might make a slightly larger/wider band size to go with it (so, small / medium / large, instead of the current small / large, with the current large becoming the new medium), but I don't expect that to happen (if the watch grows in size by a millimeter or two the current bands will still look just fine with it).
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So to be clear, you’re saying that these watch bands that are selling out aren’t actually wanted by the people buying them?

That isn't quite what he meant - see, it's that people don't especially want the bands that are selling out, but they feel moved to help Apple in their time of need, knowing that Apple Stores have limited floor and stockroom space, and Apple can't afford to deal with this unloved merchandise themselves, so these good samaritans are easing Apple's burden. Pretty charitable of them really.

 

[Rogifan]

Apple has a goldmine with watch bands. I probably have 10 and switch them out regularly. One of the things I love most about the Watch - how easy it is to switch out bands.

 

[wigby]

Huh? I have an iPhone and an Apple Watch. The watch is my first stop for checking the time, and I wear it because it's useful, not to make myself look pretty. Your "obviously" seems rooted in your personal preferences, not reality.

So do I. I'm not talking about smartwatch users. I'm talking about the majority of people who wear regular watches or do not even wear smartwatches because they consider them ugly or not very useful.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I'm in the market to get a new band or two and I was underwhelmed by apple's offerings. I'm hoping to see some vibrant colors

You’ve posted some epic case and band colour coordinated combos: spicy orange, blacky, blue.

 

[CarlJ]

Well, there goes the myth that Apple couldn't possibly introduce a new band system with S4.

Goes where? What myth? They could change the band system, but it's highly unlikely that they will. Apple Watch bands are seasonal, they drop old ones and add new ones several times a year.

 

[ActionableMango]

Can you explain why you feel it looks better? Does your reason work out to something other than, "well, it's what I'm used to"?

I'm not the person you asked, but I just think square watches are ugly. Here's a Google Image search for "square watches":

Here's the same for "round watches":

I didn't cherry pick--those are the two top rows for each search.

I just think the round ones look way, WAY better. I don't think it's a matter of what I'm used to, since I don't wear watches, and square watches have been around since before I was born.

Every time I see a round smartwatch, I love the way it looks. I even love the extra engineering challenge to get a round LCD in a small package with a small bezel and no flat tire effect at the bottom. Square is easy... round is hard.

Every time I see a square smartwatch, it reminds me of janky 80's calculator watches. Yes, it's the most productive layout, but man it just doesn't work for my tastes.

But hey, who cares. Style is inherently subjective and personal. My preferences shouldn't matter to anyone else, and likewise vice-versa.

 

[stumpapi]

I hope they don't change the compatibility with the watch bands for the new watch, I want them all to still be useable. Also, I like that the screen size will be bigger, but I really want a round watch! It just looks so much better than square/rectangle, in my opinion.

I know many prefer a round face but I hope they keep the option for the square design. I don't want my text truncated to a circular display. I enjoy the advantages of reading email, texts, events, etc. displayed across the face.

 

[macduke]

Well, you said it, cleverly enough. So to be clear, you’re saying that these watch bands that are selling out aren’t actually wanted by the people buying them?

No, I was playing into the ongoing joke on MacRumors about new watch band development trumping every other form of R&D going on within Apple.

 

[bluespark]

I hope this doesn't mean that our current bands won't work with gen 4.

It doesn't. Of course current bands will work with Gen 4 watches.
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"New watch bands! This is what EVERY SINGLE PERSON on MacRumors has been desperately waiting for!"

Said nobody ever.

Of course no one has said "every single person" is desperately waiting for new watch bands, but I can assure you some of us are.

 

[Krayzkat]

I’d be very disappointed if Apple change the band connectors.

 

[bluespark]

I was going to buy a new band but decided not to because I feared that with S4, Apple would change the band compatibility somehow, because that's what they do.

Looks like Apple is going to do what they do...

...And it's probably just making the bands slightly bigger (even by just 2mm) to fit with the allegedly new watch case (i.e. the change is likely to be for aesthetic reasons).

Uh, no -- Apple bends over backwards to ensure its peripherals will work as long as possible. That's why we're in our fourth generation of watches with the same band connectors, why the iPhone has only switched dock connectors one time in its history (and only when it had to), etc. Apple will not break band compatibility with the upcoming watches -- take that to the bank.

 

[maflynn]

You’ve posted some epic case and band colour coordinated combos: spicy orange, blacky, blue.

I think you're confusing me with the editors. I'm just a humble moderator, I have no control over content.

 

[bluecoast]

Uh, no -- Apple bends over backwards to ensure its peripherals will work as long as possible. That's why we're in our fourth generation of watches with the same band connectors, why the iPhone has only switched dock connectors one time in its history (and only when it had to), etc. Apple will not break band compatibility with the upcoming watches -- take that to the bank.

I really hope so.

I guess they do do a clear out of band colours and options twice a year - maybe all it is is that we're going to see new colour ranges and materials this September.

 

[thadoggfather]

Apple fades out seasonal bands and cases all the time and imo all too frequently

What do they do with the unsold supply?

Wouldn't necessarily chalk that up to being not compatible w 4th gen

I think they'd be taking a major risk not having compatible band rails on the new watch to work with all the others

Not like the 30-pin to lightning transition

 

[bluespark]

I really hope so.

I guess they do do a clear out of band colours and options twice a year - maybe all it is is that we're going to see new colour ranges and materials this September.

Yes, they definitely clear out old colors (and sometimes old styles) to make way for new ones. They also limit production numbers of some colors to maintain a seasonal element to their offerings. Some of these have been dwindling or out for a while as well.

But Apple wants people to feel comfortable spending real money on bands, and the only way to do that is to ensure that people can use them for a long time. You have nothing to worry about here.

 

[BWhaler]

Crappy keyboards and gimmicky watch bands are the hallmark of innovation at Tim Cooke’s Apple.

They think of themselves as a service company more and more. All abut that attach rate.

 

[Rychiar]

why on earth would anyone purchase bands from apple when they can buy the exact same bands for a 10th of the price on any website... and get way better ones from companies like rockstar leatherwork and others...

 

[44267547]

why on earth would anyone purchase bands from apple when they can buy the exact same bands for a 10th of the price on any website... and get way better ones from companies like rockstar leatherwork and others...

Because Apples OEM bands are that *much* better quality over third-party bands for the most part in terms of materials, durability, thickness, and just overall construction is stellar. And yes, I can attest to that because I own a plethora of third-party (Sport bands, leather, ect) and Apple OEM bands, and none of those third-party bands even touch the quality of Apples bands.

If one wants to purchase a third-party band, you can save a significant amount of money, but don’t expect the quality that Apple delivers.