Apple watch bands fit worse now with the S10

[ndouglas]

Does anyone know if Apple Stores accept return/exchange for the band only, within that 14-day window? I might just go back to the store and try it but the stores are SO chaotic and busy, it’s always like a 2-hour commitment including travel to get there and back.

Since getting the S10, the standard “Sport Band“ it came with AND my 3-4 older bands with similar notches just don’t fit well for me. Curious if any others experienced this, or it’s just me? I guess with the S10 being slightly flatter, I have to wear it either too loose or too tight.

 

[Gator5000e]

My third party series 8 watch band (Milanese) fits perfectly. When I first installed it, I had the parts that slide into the watch itself upside down and they didn't lock. But once I figured that out, it's fine.

 

[ndouglas]

That’s good to hear, thanks for sharing. For me the bands fit into the watch fine, it’s just the tightness on my wrist that has changed. I should have written in the original post, by don’t fit well, I meant the standard sport band with the holes in them are such that one hole is much too loose, the next seems to be okay for a moment, but is definitely too tight after 10, 20, 30 minutes wearing it that way. I tried it several times and then it just irritates from being too tight.

Thankfully I have one of the Nike sport loops that has velcro and no holes so I’m just using that until I can find another option. I wonder if I go back to store soon enough they’ll let me pay $50 for one of the woven bands w/o holes/notches, as online options offer at Apple.com, vs. the $99 price for them. So expensive! But might be worth it since these other bands don’t fit any longer.

 

[Gator5000e]

Gotcha. That's why I like the Milanese loop bands with the magnetic end that can secure the band at almost any length. And they are pretty cheap on Amazon and come in lots of colors.

 

[deeddawg]

To answer your first question - in the past you had to do a full exchange rather than a band swap. That might've changed since then as it's kinda dumb logistics IMHO.

Fitment - My sport bands - previous and the new one with my S10 - fit just ever so slightly looser.

Makes sense though - S10 is taller, which will make a fixed length band slightly looser. Add to this that the lugs seem to sit lower to the wrist and it may emphasize the effect.

No issue with it though.

Purple is the new band, blue is an old one. Can't discern a size difference so it has to be the watch.

 

[mfram]

Just got a S10 Titanium 46mm. I've noticed that my old woven band (probably 44mm) doesn't quite fit in the new watch perfectly. The new watch is just a tad wider. It's not a huge deal, but something to be aware of when using older bands on the new 46mm watches.

 

[ndouglas]

Just got a S10 Titanium 46mm. I've noticed that my old woven band (probably 44mm) doesn't quite fit in the new watch perfectly. The new watch is just a tad wider. It's not a huge deal, but something to be aware of when using older bands on the new 46mm watches.

View attachment 2426567

That titanium shine looks great! band too. Good to know though, thanks for the pics. I got one ordered via ebay just today (woven band), fingers crossed it’ll fit my wrist decently.

 

[Beau10]

It's not only 1mm taller, but 1mm thinner. So there's two things happening to make the bands fit larger. I'm surprised Apple hasn't adjusted the new band set points a bit to account for the difference.

 

[ndouglas]

It's not only 1mm taller, but 1mm thinner. So there's two things happening to make the bands fit larger. I'm surprised Apple hasn't adjusted the new band set points a bit to account for the difference.

Yes exactly, that’s what surprised me too. The older bands seem identical to the newer one that came with the watch. I guess they figure the spacing of the holes is “close enough”… and maybe it is, for many or most people.

 

[Night Spring]

Apple did say to measure your wrists again for the solo loops, as they changed the sizing. I think I got that message when going through the online ordering process, and picked the solo loop option.

 

[Cotypubby]

It's not only 1mm taller, but 1mm thinner. So there's two things happening to make the bands fit larger. I'm surprised Apple hasn't adjusted the new band set points a bit to account for the difference.

The new bands are slightly different. When I tried the new 42mm bands on my series 9 41mm, they did slightly stick out at the ends.

 

[codeunrwolfpack]

I tried to do that at my Apple store and they wouldn't let me exchange the band. They said I had to return the watch/band set and then repurchase the bundle with the band I wanted.

 

[ndouglas]

I tried to do that at my Apple store and they wouldn't let me exchange the band. They said I had to return the watch/band set and then repurchase the bundle with the band I wanted.

Ugh, yeah that sounds about right, annoying but not surprising. Hopefully my ebay band (allegedly genuine Apple brand) comes soon and fits. If not I’ll bite the bullet and travel back to the Apple store again, possibly do the whole return etc. after trying a woven band on, if they let me.

Thanks for confirming my suspicion!

 

[Beau10]

The new bands are slightly different. When I tried the new 42mm bands on my series 9 41mm, they did slightly stick out at the ends.

That's interesting that something changed, but it appears per deedawg's photo above at least the sport band has the same hole alignment and lug depth.

 

[nxt3]

I tried to do that at my Apple store and they wouldn't let me exchange the band. They said I had to return the watch/band set and then repurchase the bundle with the band I wanted.

Weird, I have managed to swap only the band from my purchase twice now. I didn't have to return the watch and strap.

 

[deeddawg]

The new bands are slightly different. When I tried the new 42mm bands on my series 9 41mm, they did slightly stick out at the ends.

Perhaps with the smaller ones theres a difference?

Comparing the larger format sport loops from S6 (gray), S9 (blue), and S10 (plum), I find no discernible difference.

 

[ndouglas]

Weird, I have managed to swap only the band from my purchase twice now. I didn't have to return the watch and strap.

Interesting! Seems like it may depend on each store and even each employee’s discretion, to some extent. Maybe I will try it, especially as I’m basically asking to give them even more money 😅since I want to try the $99 woven band instead of the standard plastic one.

 

[nxt3]

Interesting! Seems like it may depend on each store and even each employee’s discretion, to some extent. Maybe I will try it, especially as I’m basically asking to give them even more money 😅since I want to try the $99 woven band instead of the standard plastic one.

If you go this route, just don't mention the watch at all--I didn't even bring mine the second time.

Only brought the strap + box and my receipt for the order.

 

[Cotypubby]

Perhaps with the smaller ones theres a difference?

Comparing the larger format sport loops from S6 (gray), S9 (blue), and S10 (plum), I find no discernible difference.

A picture like that is not really going to show a difference. It's very slight, it's just noticeable when on the watch. You'd have to actually try the 46mm band in the 45mm watch to see how it looks.

 

[Roadster Lewis]

I have just done a quick test with the sport band from my old Series 3, back when 42mm was the big one, and it fits perfectly into my 46mm Series 10.

 

[ndouglas]

If you go this route, just don't mention the watch at all--I didn't even bring mine the second time.

Only brought the strap + box and my receipt for the order.

Good call, thanks for the tip! Will try that if I get the chance to go in time… 9 days left I think…

 

[deeddawg]

A picture like that is not really going to show a difference.

You do realize I compared them closely at every angle before taking the photo, yes?

None of my older bands have a fit issue with the 46mm S10, and my one new band fits my 45mm S9 just fine, without sticking out like shown in the 42 picture.

Though notice it doesn’t show the other side so we don’t know if the band is the right width but offset, or maybe is fine but just not seated.

Plus one photo doesn’t mean all are the same as the photo either. Or maybe it does for the 38/42 sizes. I don’t know. Im just offering info on my experience with the larger format.

 

[chipsandsalsa]

Just got a S10 Titanium 46mm. I've noticed that my old woven band (probably 44mm) doesn't quite fit in the new watch perfectly. The new watch is just a tad wider. It's not a huge deal, but something to be aware of when using older bands on the new 46mm watches.

View attachment 2426567

This has been the case in prior size watches as well. Its just how these braided bands are.

 

[SusieS]

I tried on a new 42 and had the same issue with the 42 sport band: one hole was too tight, and the next was too loose. Not the Goldilocks situation I have with my 41 series 9 sport bands.

As far as the appearance of the lugs in the slots: a 41 sport band looked fine to me in the 42 lug slots, just a teeny bit small but hardly detectable. On the other hand, my picky self didn’t like how the new 42 band in the 41 lug slots stuck out a little bit.

I like the size of the new 42 a lot, but not the silver aluminum I tried on. I’ll keep my starlight 9 another year at least to see how other peoples’ jet black holds up, or if Apple brings out new aluminum colors and restores the o2 sensor.

 

[CaféPicasso]

I just bought a 42mm jet black with a braided loop band and it doesn't fit. The band itself is fine. It's the connection between watch and band - it's loose, rattling and crackling...