Apple Watch Gets New Striped Woven Nylon, Classic Buckle, and Standalone Nike Sport Bands

[Mike Oxard]

Wow $50 for NYLON bands... it probably costs them less than a dollar to make.
I know apple likes a nice profit but $30 at the highest would have been more enticing and people would buy more than one color.

My wife has a 38mm Series 0 and uses the longer band option with the original silicone band. It wasn't obvious when we bought the watch that the silicone is the only type of band she'll be able to use as they don't put the long option in with any of the other styles of band. This really is penny pinching, especially when, as you say they are charging £/$50 for a bit of nylon webbing!!

 

[Bentron]

I'm so happy the Gold and Midnight Blue combo is back as a standard! I was all geared up to get a Series 2 when first announced, but they switched it to a Rose Gold casing. Very tempted to pull the trigger, but slightly wary of it being mid-cycle and no price drop.

 

[jcshas]

I own plenty of OEM and third party bands. I agree the prices and quality are decent for third party, with no real way of visually being able to differentiate. However, Apple's bands are a much higher quality in terms of build with lug connectors and materials used in the bands. (There are some really nice third party bands quality wise, but you pay somewhat more).

For example, the sport bands that I own that are third-party are much thinner and have a different texture to them compared to the Apple OEM bands. Even though the third-party sport bands are plenty capable and work great, they still are not the quality that Apple produces. One just has to make the decision, do they want to purchase OEM or third-party, based on what they want.

Agree there are some (minor) differences in the quality of materials used, however, I'm still not convinced its worth the premium cost that Apple charges. In some cases, Apple is charging almost a 90% premium over 3rd party watch bands. That's pretty ridiculous IMO.

 

[playaproved]

So happy I never bit on the Volt Nike band at $100 on eBay. Order placed from apple...

 

[44267547]

Agree there are some (minor) differences in the quality of materials used, however, I'm still not convinced its worth the premium cost that Apple charges. In some cases, Apple is charging almost a 90% premium over 3rd party watch bands. That's pretty ridiculous IMO.

That's Apple's prices on all their products, not just Watch bands. However, you're still receiving a premium product. It really comes down to what the consumer ultimately wants. Being I own a plethora of third party/OEM, I prefer Apple's with quality, although third party has the distinct advantage of price point with exact visual appeal as the OEM,but texture wise, there is certainly a difference in this catergory, which I can attest owning over 25 bands, both third-party and OEM alike.

 

[bluespark]

They also stopped including the plastic case with the aluminum watches. The series 1, and 2 just have a pressed fiber (read: paper) holding the watch now.

Possibly to save a buck, possibly to be more green. Who knows. Watch wise I never used it so it isn't an issue for me. But with the bands, I can see your point.

When did that happen? I bought a Series 2 just about six weeks ago and mine came in the plastic case. Maybe it was older stock?

 

[Woyzeck]

I think it is safe to assume that watch bands are Apples product with the highest profit margins.

 

[44267547]

When did that happen? I bought a Series 2 just about six weeks ago and mine came in the plastic case. Maybe it was older stock?

I don't believe he is correct about the Series 2. Only Series 1 comes in a cardboard box. Series 2 still includes a plastic box as the first generation Apple Watch stainless model did. And I can confirm this based off recent purchases.

 

[bluespark]

Personally I have yet to find one knockoff silicone band that I couldn't immediately tell wasn't an Apple original. But I also wasn't going to spend 100.00 on a Nike band from eBay. Now... maybe.

Not surprising, since Apple doesn't make any bands out of silicone.
[doublepost=1490113475][/doublepost]

I don't believe he is correct about the Series 2. Only Series 1 comes in a cardboard box. Series 2 still includes a plastic box as the first generation Apple Watch stainless model did. And I can confirm this based off recent purchases.

I hope that was the case, as the plastic box is really nice. It's definitely an appreciated perk when buying the SS model.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I think it's absurd that Apple charges so much for simple watch bands, some cost more than the watch face itself. I don't know if Apple is out of touch with reasonable prices or they're just greedy. Either way, I think I'm just about done with Apple products. Their computers are overpriced and underpowered, not to mention they don't seem to care much about them any longer, and accessories such as watch bands are far too expensive.

If the iPhone 8 (or whatever they call it) doesn't blow me away, I'm likely to switch to android.

"Greed" depends on whether you're a buyer or a seller. ;-)

Apple is highly skilled at selling products that people desire. Desire of any kind - of any person, place or object - can make us do things that we might not otherwise do.

Sellers of lower-priced goods are not is less greedy than the high-priced sellers. They're all trying to make a profit, and all the rest is the strategy they use to obtain that profit.

In a different world, any profit would be unnecessary - profit is excess, and all one really needs do is break even, to have the essentials in life, with no luxuries. That would go for the buyer as well as the seller. Extra money in the buyer's pocket, or the ownership of more stuff would be unnecessary. A more comfortable or secure retirement than the next guy, unnecessary. If the only question is, "Who gets to keep the excess..." then we aren't solving the fundamental problems of envy and greed.

But since there's a fundamental desire to compete, a fundamental desire to be above-average, to have a bigger piece of the pie than the next guy... Accept that this is all part of the game. Chances are, when you say, "That guy should have less," it's because you want more for yourself.

 

[MrGimper]

Bought the concrete band yesterday and am returning it today as it's too close to fog to warrant keeping. Looking forward to my Black/Volt and Platinum/White

 

[maflynn]

So happy I never bit on the Volt Nike band at $100 on eBay. Order placed from apple...

I have a knock off nike band, and I'm really happy with it. I'm not sure I'm willing spend 50 bucks on getting the genuine product when this knock off seems so good.

This of course will kill off the cottage industry of selling the actual nike bands for such a high mark up

 

[csurfr]

When did that happen? I bought a Series 2 just about six weeks ago and mine came in the plastic case. Maybe it was older stock?

I have seen three series 2 (silver, space, and space Nike), and not one came with a plastic box.

And you're right. Fluoroelastomer. Not silicone. But my point was you CAN tell the difference.
[doublepost=1490114601][/doublepost]

Not surprising, since Apple doesn't make any bands out of silicone.
[doublepost=1490113475][/doublepost]

I hope that was the case, as the plastic box is really nice. It's definitely an appreciated perk when buying the SS model.

Here. Let me show you. Series 2 box. There is no more plastic case. This is mine.
[doublepost=1490114643][/doublepost]

I have seen three series 2 (silver, space, and space Nike), and not one came with a plastic box.

And you're right. Fluoroelastomer. Not silicone. But my point was you CAN tell the difference.
[doublepost=1490114601][/doublepost]

Here. Let me show you. Series 2 box. There is no more plastic case. This is mine.

Stainless steel DOES still include it. Just not the others.

 

[the future]

For me, I like the Midnight Blue woven Nylon band and the fact that you can now buy the Nike bands directly from Apple!

Only thing I DON'T like is the fact that if you have a Space Grey Apple Watch (like me!!), the Midnight Blue Nylon band ONLY has a silver buckle, which will just look odd with my dark Apple Watch?!

I don't understand why Apple didn't give us a choice for the colour of the buckle.......

The nylon bands have buckles in the (main) color of the reespective band, not in silver.

 

[csurfr]

The nylon bands have buckles in the (main) color of the reespective band, not in silver.

Umm what? The nylon band buckles are all silver with the exception of the black one. You must be referring to the lugs.
[doublepost=1490114884][/doublepost]

I don't believe he is correct about the Series 2. Only Series 1 comes in a cardboard box. Series 2 still includes a plastic box as the first generation Apple Watch stainless model did. And I can confirm this based off recent purchases.

See above. The stainless does come with the plastic box yes. I was referring to the aluminum models that no longer include it.

 

[the future]

Umm what? The nylon band buckles are all silver with the exception of the black one. You must be referring to the lugs.
[doublepost=1490114884][/doublepost]

See above. The stainless does come with the plastic box yes. I was referring to the aluminum models that no longer include it.

Yeah, you're right.

OTOH I never understood why a non-matching buckle would bother people as they basically never see the watch body and the buckle at the same time (when wearing the watch). Non-matching lugs, that I understand to be bothersome.

 

[csurfr]

For me, I like the Midnight Blue woven Nylon band and the fact that you can now buy the Nike bands directly from Apple!

Only thing I DON'T like is the fact that if you have a Space Grey Apple Watch (like me!!), the Midnight Blue Nylon band ONLY has a silver buckle, which will just look odd with my dark Apple Watch?!

I have the Tahoe Blue / Navy nylon with my Space grey and to be honest I think it's fine. You rarely see it. I'd say go for it.

 

[Mlrollin91]

It's pricey no doubt, but if you figure that people were buying he Nike Watch and selling the bands for over 100 on eBay, 50 isn't so bad.

Personally I have yet to find one knockoff silicone band that I couldn't immediately tell wasn't an Apple original. But I also wasn't going to spend 100.00 on a Nike band from eBay. Now... maybe.

Same. I've purchased many 3rd party sports bands and the quality is really, really bad. You can tell from a good distance that its not authentic. The nike volt knock off band I got was paper thin, had a horrible smell to it and caused an irritation on my wrist almost immediately. And that was soaking the band in soapy water for an hour. I purchased the volt from Apple immediately when I woke up this morning. Been wanting it for a while but couldn't justify the 100$ on eBay.

 

[csurfr]

Yeah, you're right.

OTOH I never understood why a non-matching buckle would bother people as they basically never see the watch body and the buckle at the same time (when wearing the watch). Non-matching lugs, that I understand to be bothersome.

That's why I've yet to get a leather band from Apple. None of the lugs match. That and if I switch from my aluminum series 2 to stainless or ceramic I want them to look good with the bands I've bought. I can't imagine seeing a ceramic series 2 with stainless steel lugs on it.

 

[jcshas]

I have seen three series 2 (silver, space, and space Nike), and not one came with a plastic box.

And you're right. Fluoroelastomer. Not silicone. But my point was you CAN tell the difference.
[doublepost=1490114601][/doublepost]

Here. Let me show you. Series 2 box. There is no more plastic case. This is mine.
[doublepost=1490114643][/doublepost]

Stainless steel DOES still include it. Just not the others.

Caveat, the box for a stainless steel refurbished model sold by Apple is identical to the aluminium/sport edition. I found out last week when I bought a refurbished Stainless Steel (white sport band) Series 2 from Apple. Also, the box only included the watch and the USB magnetic charger (no AC adapter). *sigh*

 

[bluespark]

See above. The stainless does come with the plastic box yes. I was referring to the aluminum models that no longer include it.

Ah, that must be it. Mine was a stainless steel model.

 

[csurfr]

Caveat, the box for a stainless steel refurbished model sold by Apple is identical to the aluminium/sport edition. I found out last week when I bought a refurbished Stainless Steel (white sport band) Series 2 from Apple. Also, the box only included the watch and the USB magnetic charger (no AC adapter). *sigh*

So you're the reason that the one I was about to buy is out of stock! Damn.

 

[jcshas]

So you're the reason that the one I was about to buy is out of stock! Damn.

HA! Funny you should mention that. The very next day after placing my order, I noticed that Apple was showing the 42mm Stainless Steel S2 (white sport band) was out of stock. I saved almost $90 over the cost of new. Same 1 year warranty and the watch looks brand new. Glad I ordered when I did!

 

[bizzy045]

anyone know if the nike bands are available in store today? I can't get anyone to pick up at the store near me.

 

[Mlrollin91]

anyone know if the nike bands are available in store today? I can't get anyone to pick up at the store near me.

I was wondering this as well. I placed the order and was going to call my local store when they opened. But now they are already preparing for shipment so I can't even cancel it. Maybe they will come early via online orders. I ordered a lighting adapter a month ago and got it 2 days earlier than estimated.