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Has anyone ever asked why are AW bands so expensive
- Thread starter Jackbat11
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gatorknight904
macrumors 6502a
it’s actually fluoroelastomer
everything apple makes is expensive
just buy a knock-off from Amazon if you want silicone
😵
everything apple makes is expensive
just buy a knock-off from Amazon if you want silicone
😵
Treebark
macrumors 6502
I have both the silicone knockoffs from amazon and eBay and official Apple fluoroelastermor bands. Apples feel better, are cooler (temperature) and I’ve had one silicone band break, but not apples. Apples material seems quite a bit better to me. 4x better? I don’t know about that.
My path is to have official for workouts, but knockoffs for fun colors.
My path is to have official for workouts, but knockoffs for fun colors.
technole
macrumors 6502a
I hate those knockoff "silicone" bands. I tried two out, but their powder kind of feel was annoying to me, not as breathable, and they aren't as durable. So I wouldn't even risk a pricer watch with one of those knockoffs.
Why are Apple Watch bands so expensive? Because Apple knows people will buy them at their current prices. Simple as that. Free market economy.
xDKP
macrumors 68030
Yeah I actually asked myself that, and ordered a ton of silicone, leather and other highly reviewed bands from Amazon for a fraction of the price.... But my God a massive difference - the knockoffs MIGHT look good/okay when you unbox them (some of them even don't) but from there on it's down hill - and down hill fast!
The question should be: why aren't any of the clones and knock-offs using Fluoroelastomer?
If you could find me a proper alternative that does not suck, then we can have a proper debate why Apple's Sport Bands are so "expensive".
xDKP
macrumors 68030
I have had three knock offs during my time with my SB and SS and found a great deal on a genuine one a year ago. In my humble opinion it’s a totally different league !
Just the size system and they way it’s engineered is worth something.
Personally, I think the fluoroelastomer bands are reasonably priced. If it weren’t, third party copy-cats would’ve produced similar quality bands for a fraction of the cost. The fact that they have to resort to silicone is evident of this.
The classic buckle leather bands are a little on the expensive side, but most leather bands on Amazon that retail under $50 (in my experience) are really really bad compared to the official ones (I bought a few and they were horrid).
I think the link bracelet is reasonably priced. This band has many intricate parts that are carefully engineered. It took third parties several months to be able to replicate the link release mechanism (though I’m not sure how well they replicated it, and what they did to save money) but these aren’t exactly cheap either (for a third party copy-cat bracelet), though still a fraction of what Apple charges. The cheapest variants on Amazon simply use pins to hold the links in place, so if you are just going for the look, you can buy one of those. Two years ago, I bought one that used pins (because it was cheaper) and even then, the quality wasn’t good. I bought the official one couple of months back and loved it.
The only truly overpriced band that Apple sells (imo) is the Milanese loop. Third-parties have managed to copy it with almost the same quality for $15-20. I have the one from Je-Tech and it is very difficult to tell it part from the official one. The official one is very very slightly thicker but you’d have to look very closely at both of them to see it. However, I’ve also bought Milanese loops from other companies that have had defects, so you need to find a reputable seller.
The classic buckle leather bands are a little on the expensive side, but most leather bands on Amazon that retail under $50 (in my experience) are really really bad compared to the official ones (I bought a few and they were horrid).
I think the link bracelet is reasonably priced. This band has many intricate parts that are carefully engineered. It took third parties several months to be able to replicate the link release mechanism (though I’m not sure how well they replicated it, and what they did to save money) but these aren’t exactly cheap either (for a third party copy-cat bracelet), though still a fraction of what Apple charges. The cheapest variants on Amazon simply use pins to hold the links in place, so if you are just going for the look, you can buy one of those. Two years ago, I bought one that used pins (because it was cheaper) and even then, the quality wasn’t good. I bought the official one couple of months back and loved it.
The only truly overpriced band that Apple sells (imo) is the Milanese loop. Third-parties have managed to copy it with almost the same quality for $15-20. I have the one from Je-Tech and it is very difficult to tell it part from the official one. The official one is very very slightly thicker but you’d have to look very closely at both of them to see it. However, I’ve also bought Milanese loops from other companies that have had defects, so you need to find a reputable seller.
jbachandouris
macrumors 603
Although I agree that many bands are overpriced, but the 2 Milanese loop knock off bands I saw in public looked like crap. I'd gladly overpay than put that ugly thing on my wrist.
xDKP
macrumors 68030
I agree. I mostly wear the same band daily. Have many apple bands though. The knock off bands feel like crap and look cheap. The $50 price point is well worth it.
BarracksSi
Suspended
The answer to any question that begins with, "Has anyone....?" is always YES.
Now, about the intent of the original question, which I suppose is, "Why?", I ran across this not too long ago:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/little-detail-apple-watch-sport-bands-eugene-ho
tl;dr:
The FKM fluoroelastomer raw material Apple uses is seven times more expensive than the polyurethane and silicone that other strap makers use.
Does it answer why Apple's straps are $50 instead of, say, $25? No, not really, because that's what tiered pricing is about. But it does answer why most third-party knockoffs feel like junk.
Now, about the intent of the original question, which I suppose is, "Why?", I ran across this not too long ago:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/little-detail-apple-watch-sport-bands-eugene-ho
tl;dr:
The FKM fluoroelastomer raw material Apple uses is seven times more expensive than the polyurethane and silicone that other strap makers use.
Does it answer why Apple's straps are $50 instead of, say, $25? No, not really, because that's what tiered pricing is about. But it does answer why most third-party knockoffs feel like junk.
My issue with several 3rd party silicon bands is their dust collection. These things must have static charges. They attract dust and lint at 50 times the rate of my apple sport bands. I have a couple dark silicon bands and won't buy any more. Not as much an issue with lighter color bands---the dust is still there but not as obvious.
LaurieAnn
macrumors regular
Exactly! I have a knock off cocoa brown silicone band and it attracts a lot of visible white fuzzies from kitchen towels, sweaters, blankets, etc.
I had a knock off silicone band, my watch is looked after but one day the band detached from the metal magnetic strip that slots into the watch itself. I had to use something to push it out.
Never again
Never again
The watch bands, like all accessories Apple sells, are premium priced. I think, aside from just looking to maximize profits, also helps to create areas where third parties can jump in & create lower-priced products. And the more third parties you have invested in the success of your product, the better off you are. Apple could easily sell a $10 watch band, but then there wouldn't be any incentive for third parties to come out with $10 bands. It's the same reason why Apple doesn't sell $10 iPhone chargers, or even really update their 'Office' apps. They needed to have them on the iPad at first to make the iPads viable for mobile workers, but what they really wanted was Microsoft to port office, so that now Microsoft is also invested in growing the iPad market. Microsoft is happy because you need Office 365 to use the iPad version (for anything about 10").
The third parties are happy to get a slice of the Apple Watch band market, and Apple is happy to know that every time they sell a watch band, they are likely making a profit of somewhere around $40 (assuming its sold directly by Apple), and if one is sold for less, that it's helping another company expand the Apple Watch market.
The third parties are happy to get a slice of the Apple Watch band market, and Apple is happy to know that every time they sell a watch band, they are likely making a profit of somewhere around $40 (assuming its sold directly by Apple), and if one is sold for less, that it's helping another company expand the Apple Watch market.
I was skeptical of the high price of the sport bands but after wearing a cheaper silicone knockoff band for awhile, the fluoroelastomer takes the cake. It’s so comfortable to wear and the band has taken a beating and still looks great. Worth it to me.
The wovens? Ehhh.
The wovens? Ehhh.
Mikeeee
macrumors 6502a
If the Apple bands are over priced then why hasn’t anyone created quality knockoffs yet?
I would say they could be called overpriced the day someone creates a cheaper option of the same quality.
[doublepost=1516344456][/doublepost]
It’s true of all bands, woven included. I have yet to see a single example of a knockoff being as good as the real deal.
I would say they could be called overpriced the day someone creates a cheaper option of the same quality.
[doublepost=1516344456][/doublepost]
It’s true of all bands, woven included. I have yet to see a single example of a knockoff being as good as the real deal.