Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Sport loop knock offs...?
- Thread starter Mansu944
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Got the 38mm midnight blue knockoff sport loop, and all I have to say is...meh. Definitely not to the quality of the OEM sport loops. At first, upon taking it out of the plastic sealed bag, I was impressed. It looked better than I was expecting. It actually looked very similar to an OEM. But once I put it on the watch and tried it on, I knew it was a knockoff.
First, the band width seems narrower than the OEMs. Mine is the 38mm and looks very feminine. Queue the 38mm are for women! jokes.
Second, the plastic clasps feel like they will eventually break. They seem pretty cheap and thin compared to the real ones. Also, the plastic "nub" at the end of the watch band seems very bulky compared to the OEM one. It definitely catches on things, including my coat when I take it on and off and does not lay flat against the band like the OEM. Its already a bit scratched from lest than a few hours of wear.
Lastly, the knit on the band is much more loose and appears prone to catching and fraying compared to the OEM. Time will tell but there are already spots that appears to have been snagged.
Overall rating is 4/10. The price ($15.99 w/ prime) is much easier to swallow than the $50 from Apple, but that's about where it ends. The quality just isn't there (I don't think - if definitely feels cheaper") and it is not as wide as the OEM. The nub at the end of the band may prove a huge annoyance.
I do not think I'll buy anymore knockoff sport loops (because I already have 3 OEMs) but if I didn't have any and just wanted one to wear causally, then I'd probably pick one up. But if you are going to wear a sport loop on a day to day basis (and I really, really like the sport loops,obviously), then I'd fork over the money and just get a real one. Much better quality and will probably last a lot longer.
Btw, I am at work and do not have any of the OEMs to compare in the pics...
First, the band width seems narrower than the OEMs. Mine is the 38mm and looks very feminine. Queue the 38mm are for women! jokes.
Second, the plastic clasps feel like they will eventually break. They seem pretty cheap and thin compared to the real ones. Also, the plastic "nub" at the end of the watch band seems very bulky compared to the OEM one. It definitely catches on things, including my coat when I take it on and off and does not lay flat against the band like the OEM. Its already a bit scratched from lest than a few hours of wear.
Lastly, the knit on the band is much more loose and appears prone to catching and fraying compared to the OEM. Time will tell but there are already spots that appears to have been snagged.
Overall rating is 4/10. The price ($15.99 w/ prime) is much easier to swallow than the $50 from Apple, but that's about where it ends. The quality just isn't there (I don't think - if definitely feels cheaper") and it is not as wide as the OEM. The nub at the end of the band may prove a huge annoyance.
I do not think I'll buy anymore knockoff sport loops (because I already have 3 OEMs) but if I didn't have any and just wanted one to wear causally, then I'd probably pick one up. But if you are going to wear a sport loop on a day to day basis (and I really, really like the sport loops,obviously), then I'd fork over the money and just get a real one. Much better quality and will probably last a lot longer.
Btw, I am at work and do not have any of the OEMs to compare in the pics...
Attachments
Yes thank you. I haven’t received mine yet, but I will probably try to return it and buy a OEM.
Maybe these will get better with time.
Maybe these will get better with time.
I found that I had good experience with knock offs of the sport band (which I no longer see) but the woven nylon ones were itchy and not comfy, so I didn’t even try to get knock off sport loop ones. I also find that some vibrant colours cant be copied - like the orange ones. But if anyone has any would be interested in seeing!
DoubleFlyaway
macrumors 68000
I’ve ordered a knockoff orange one— I’ll share pictures when it arrives from China (AliExpress.) I have the pink sand and electric pink OEM.
ericg301
macrumors 68020
I bought this same one, in Pearl, for my silver aluminum S3. Had on my wrist for about 15 minutes before deciding to return it. As you mentioned above, the plastic "nub" cannot be unseen. And I have a small wrist + the 42MM watch, so the num was always right next to the casing of the watch — if the band was smaller, and the nub was hidden on the underside of my wrist, it would have been a keeper. But constantly seeing that nub ruined the sleek look.
HengenJL
macrumors 6502a
I ordered a Seashell Sport Loop from the eBay link in Post #6 and it arrived last night and I've been wearing it since. Below are my thoughts in no particular order.
Measurements made using a caliper. (Yes, I am strange enough to use a caliper to measure the widths 🙂 )
Knockoff Seashell from eBay
Width: 22.5mm
Velcro: 18mm
Apple Blue Sport Loop
Width: 24mm
Velcro: 20mm
Tried to upload images, but keep getting messages that they are too big. Created an Imgur album below. If I broke forum policy with an Imgur album, please let me know.
https://imgur.com/a/7zrUb
- It is thinner in width than the official Apple Sport Loop. However it is also slightly longer than the official Sport Loop.
- There is a bit more slop in the attachment points that the official Sport Loop.
- The knit is definitely not as tight as the official Sport Loop.
- The plastic end by the velcro is noticeably larger as well, and does not sit flush to the band.
- Comfort level is almost as good as the official Sport Loop, based on the few hours I've worn it so far.
Measurements made using a caliper. (Yes, I am strange enough to use a caliper to measure the widths 🙂 )
Knockoff Seashell from eBay
Width: 22.5mm
Velcro: 18mm
Apple Blue Sport Loop
Width: 24mm
Velcro: 20mm
Tried to upload images, but keep getting messages that they are too big. Created an Imgur album below. If I broke forum policy with an Imgur album, please let me know.
https://imgur.com/a/7zrUb
AlliFlowers
macrumors 601
Here are pics of my seashell loop I ordered from amazon..... The band itself is fine and the Velcro...which are the parts I was worried about. My issue is the scuffs on the lug (correct term?) part and how the loops fits in the part where the band loops. Sorry about the duplicates...not sure why those happened.
Attachments
So I have an OEM midnight blue one and decided to pick up the black one as I mostly just wanted an alternate color. The quality is about 80 percent of the way there.
It is every bit as comfortable, which is the great news. It feels as if made of the exact same material although the thread count of the material is a touch lower. This makes it slightly less spongy feeling. I have also seen a tough of sloppiness in the weave too.
The velcro is probably the worst part. It seems pretty good so far, but I can see that one of the pieces is already starting to come apart. That worries me as I workout with it, shower with it, etc... and take it off a lot. I am imagining that this thing may break down whereas the apple one doesn’t feel like it will in the slightest. Velcro strength is pretty good.
The Velcro doesn’t extend as far along the end of the band as apples. This leaves a sort of flappy tag where the plastic end piece is. That end piece is also a bit larger and sorta more clunky looking.
Other than Velcro, the other big negative is the gap between the band and the lug at the connector. It doesn’t look very good.
Overall, I would say it is actually a pretty good alternative. If you are looking to buy just ONE sport loop, buy the OEM. If you want multiple different colors, this one will do the job pretty well.
7.8/10
AlliFlowers
macrumors 601
Finally got my QiFit yesterday. Feels almost as soft as Apple's, but it's a little more narrow. Looks well-made, and I expect it to last. I was also very impressed with their customer support. They emailed me for a review and I said I hadn't received it. They checked and said it must have gotten lost in the mail, and sent out another one immediately via UPS.
[doublepost=1513956111][/doublepost]
[doublepost=1513956111][/doublepost]
This is the link I used.
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Well I purchased a 42mm for me and a 38mm one for the wife. They are great except for one flaw on the 42mm. It is noticeably not as wide as the Apple band. Not much but it appears about 1/8-1/16 thinner.
Vell843
macrumors regular
Received mine in the mail today and so far I am shocked how comfy it is. Will get to actually wear to work tomorrow and let you know how it feels for the day. Looking at definitely ordering a few more different colors soon.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
cmbauer
macrumors regular
Mine are arriving tomorrow. I ordered two of these, I could not see paying $50 for a velcro band, but sometimes you get what you pay for. I am hoping these work for me
Hooterville
macrumors G4
bruinsrme
macrumors 604
YatBob
macrumors 6502
The gap is what caused me to return my black band to Amazon, it was very noticeable to me
cmbauer
macrumors regular
I just setup a return. The watch slides around with the GAP which is bugging me. But I really dont want to spend 50 on a band. BLECH
Vell843
macrumors regular
I didn’t even notice the gap myself until it was posted on here. And honestly it doesn’t bother me one bit, maybe because I have never seen the OEM band in person before. I actually really really like the band I got from amazon and for the price it’s not a big loss in my opinion if you decide you don’t like it.