How does swapping bands wear the watch over time?

[manyelski]

Hi all had the watch S4 for over a week now and love it. The swapping bands thing is a little tricky, it looks wobbly and insecure, the mechanism that swaps the bands look a little iffy and as something that will break down over a short period of time. Please share your experience so far, perhaps show a video with a certain technique of swapping bands in a harmless to the watch way, Thank you!

 

[mfram]

I've worn an Apple Watch for years and changed the band hundreds of times. I've never damaged the watch with genuine Apple bands nor with high-quality third party bands. If you have a low-quality third-party band, then I could see how the watch might get damaged. Don't use low-quality bands.

 

[Mw0103]

Same as above. I had the original for over three years and changed bands at least once a day. Same with my series 3 and now series 4. Never had an issue with the watch or the Apple bands.

 

[ruslan120]

+1 to OEM bands.

I would be wary of off-brand bands, particularly the metal ones that can scratch up the display.

 

[44267547]

Hi all had the watch S4 for over a week now and love it. The swapping bands thing is a little tricky, it looks wobbly and insecure, the mechanism that swaps the bands look a little iffy and as something that will break down over a short period of time. Please share your experience so far, perhaps show a video with a certain technique of swapping bands in a harmless to the watch way, Thank you!

“Over a short period of time”? No, not even close. I’ve switched bands probably over 1000 times [I’ve probably owned 25 bands, both OE/third party]on my Apple Watch(es), and the mechanism has never failed in the slightest or even glimpsed like it would. All you’re simply doing is pushing down on a button, sliding the band until the lugs connect and waiting for it to securely click into place. That’s it. Can the connector fail? Sure. But I don’t think I’ve ever read a case on this Apple Watch forum that it actually happened or even remotely heard anything of such.

 

[Hi Tek]

+1 for OEM bands.

 

[KeanosMagicHat]

Hi all had the watch S4 for over a week now and love it. The swapping bands thing is a little tricky, it looks wobbly and insecure, the mechanism that swaps the bands look a little iffy and as something that will break down over a short period of time. Please share your experience so far, perhaps show a video with a certain technique of swapping bands in a harmless to the watch way, Thank you!

As far as technique goes, I’m right handed, wear the Watch on my left wrist with the Crown top right.

I personally find it easier to remove the band going away from the Crown and replace it by pushing toward the crown.

As usual though YMMV.

 

[pdxmatts]

Are you talking about the button you need to push to remove the bands?

 

[manyelski]

Thanks all. So I wear bands that cost like $5-10 look and feel the same as the original ones?? Should I goo deeper and buy original one?
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Are you talking about the button you need to push to remove the bands?

Yes

 

[Akrapovic]

I only have 1 real Apple band but I swap mine constantly. No issues. I’ve never read of any issues to be honest.

 

[mizmimi02]

I have all Apple branded bands, and I swap mine regularly (maybe 4-5 times a week). I haven’t noticed any issues with removing them, the button, or wear in the watch itself. I’m a habitual band switcher. My daughter has knockoff bands, and she hasn’t noticed an issue either. Some of the cheap bands are really nice.

 

[44267547]

Thanks all. So I wear bands that cost like $5-10 look and feel the same as the original ones?? Should I goo deeper and buy original one?

The cheaper third-party bands look like the OEM Apple bands, but they don’t feel the same at all. Apples bands are much thicker and use better quality materials than third-party bands do, even though they do resemble each other. And that’s not to say anything bad about third-party bands, but it’s a difference of quality in the materials used.

 

[tarsins]

The problem with cheap bands is not so much that they may damage the watch but they may - and often do - break causing your expensive watch to plummet to the floor.

 

[ericwn]

Had one third party band that just didn’t fit well I to the watch body. All others are original Apple bands. Still using the same watch from 2015 with no problem from the bands whatsoever.

 

[44267547]

The problem with cheap bands is not so much that they may damage the watch but they may - and often do - break causing your expensive watch to plummet to the floor.

Haven’t had that happen. I owned quite a few third-party bands, none of which failed on me. But I also make sure I read reviews before purchasing these bands to see what others were saying about the durability/reliability as well.