Series 10 46mm - sports loop REALLY tough to insert!

[stocklen]

Just got my series 10 titanium 46mm watch.

Ordered it with a sports loop.

I have never experienced this before and ive had a lot of the Apple watches and a lot of 1st party straps.....

On unboxing, and installing the new strap it was SO tight and 'squeaky' getting the plastic lugs of the strap into the channel in the watch.

It was to the point I really had to force it in which seemed odd.

Anyone else find with their new series 10 the strap lug was a tight squeeze?

 

[Lwii2boo]

It's my very first Apple Watch so I am pretty bad at inserting the band. But ye if you don't have the almost perfect right angle it can be a bit tough. But it did not take me long though !

 

[stocklen]

It's my very first Apple Watch so I am pretty bad at inserting the band. But ye if you don't have the almost perfect right angle it can be a bit tough. But it did not take me long though !

fur sure, the angle can make it hard to fit in but its pretty obvious when you have it slightly wrong.

For me, with a lot of experience changing bands it just felt like it didn't really fit properly this time.

 

[ukms]

2 new watches and 4 new bands in this house with no issues.

 

[Pommepommepomme]

Yes the same! I tried with old bands and no problem at all.

 

[stocklen]

Yes the same! I tried with old bands and no problem at all.

Great thanks im glad it wasn't just me.

I haven't tried it with old bands yet but took the sports loop off and put back on and it was indeed still tight and rather 'squeaky' but was easier.

I guess its just the plastic lugs in the sport loop.

Surprising for Apple's usually precision made 1st party straps. Its more something id expect from an eBay knock-off sports loop for 1/10th the price!

 

[ukms]

Could it simply be that the plastic is very dry ?

 

[deeddawg]

For me, with a lot of experience changing bands it just felt like it didn't really fit properly this time.

How is it with different bands? Or with swapping the ends of the band you have?

I did at one time have a bad sports band that just wouldn't engage in the watch well while others all worked fine. Easily replaced under warranty.

 

[stocklen]

How is it with different bands? Or with swapping the ends of the band you have?

I did at one time have a bad sports band that just wouldn't engage in the watch well while others all worked fine. Easily replaced under warranty.

Just tried and mostly fine.

to be fair they all feel slightly 'snugger' than they did on my Ultra (and all the watches that preceded it)

But its mostly the new sport loop thats the issue.

I just tried the new sport loop on the Ultra and it too was rather snug and in fact hard to get off.

Will see if it settles and if not get it replaced as ill damage either it or the watch with the increased force its needing.

 

[ps3zocker]

Same with the Milanese Loop here. The band was quite lose on my Series 7 since the beginning, but here it was so hard to get on, that it got stuck 3 or 4 times. I don't know if it's the band or the Watch but it's veeeery tight now.

 

[stocklen]

Same with the Milanese Loop here. The band was quite lose on my Series 7 since the beginning, but here it was so hard to get on, that it got stuck 3 or 4 times. I don't know if it's the band or the Watch but it's veeeery tight now.

im surprised as thats metal.

Doesnt give you much faith in not scratching the band lugs or the watch itself attaching it.

Plastic is different.

I think in time it will get looser.

 

[stocklen]

Small update....

Basically the basic bog-standard sports loop - my favourite style of 1st party Apple Watch Strap is to blame.

It's just too much of a tight squeeze. Although its plastic and im sure it will 'wear down' I hate the idea of all that friction when swapping straps.

I tried my Ultra series 1 titanium lugged trail loop and it fits perfectly so the AW10 isnt at fault.
All other old straps fit perfectly no issues as always

So the supplied sports loop goes back in the box never to be used - a shame - and also I really dont understand why in 2024 given that Apple are so bothered about waste and the environment having stopped supplying charging bricks etc etc.... that they dont give you the option of buying the watch strapless as it would bring the price down and many buyers will already have a strap they can use.


out of interest the old 'natural titanium' lugs look fine on the AW10 polished slate but if I really wanted a closer match I could just get a new black lugged Ultra2 sport loop. Expensive. But we all know thats how Apple rolls!

 

[deeddawg]

Basically the basic bog-standard sports loop - my favourite style of 1st party Apple Watch Strap is to blame.

…

So the supplied sports loop goes back in the box never to be used - a shame -

I’ve had a malfunctioning band replaced under warranty, so why not do that instead?

 

[markgpearse]

I had the same problem. I was extremely careful. I followed their instructions both written and online. Tried adjusting the angle. No success. One little bump on the strap broke off. Returned the whole mess to the Apple Store. The sales person was very nice. She tried to get it in and couldn’t. She said she would report a defect. Very disappointing.