The Best Apple Watch Accessories

The best part of an Apple Watch is that it can connect seamlessly to all your Apple products. One of the first things you'll probably want to do with yours is take a walk around the block while listening to a podcast with your new AirPods Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends). To pair, tap Settings > Bluetooth on the watch and choose your accessory, though you'll probably see a prompt to pair as soon as you open the case. Make sure your chosen podcast or playlist is downloaded on your watch before you set out, phone-free.

The instantly recognizable design has not changed visibly much since the 2019 iteration, but this generation—Apple says it's the second, but it's really the third—has noticeably better sound quality, better battery life, and a few software updates, like Adaptive Audio, which quiets your music whenever it hears you talking, so you can hear someone's response. The biggest change? The case now has USB-C charging, which means you can charge it up with your MacBook, iPhone, or iPad cable.

My favorite band for my favorite watch, the Watch Ultra 2, is the black titanium Milanese loop, which matches the Watch Ultra 2's black finish. The standout feature (I know, I know) is the parachute-style buckle, which Apple claims was historically used for diving and other underwater activities. (I seem to remember that most water activities use ratchet tie downs and threaded cam buckles for straps, but I will let this slide.) The buckle is very smooth and satisfying to clip in and out when you're on a phone call or in a meeting. The titanium doesn't irritate my skin, and the band is smooth and easy to adjust. It's carbon-neutral, and it looks very, very good. It turns your sporty watch into a much dressier watch.

As my colleague Simon Hill says in his Best USB-C Cables guide, this Nomad cable is way too expensive. However, it is undeniably handy—pack a single cable for your iPhone and your Apple Watch. It's Kevlar-reinforced, and the braided finish is nice. You can also charge your AirPods on the charging puck as well as your Apple Watch.

Not only are the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) the best workout headphones if you have an Apple Watch, they are the best workout headphones, period. They now even have a heart rate monitor that's built off the one used in the Apple Watch! If you already own an Apple Watch, this feature is superfluous, as iOS will prioritize the Apple Watch's more sophisticated readings over the earbuds. But if you run with third-party fitness apps like Nike Run Club or Peloton, you will find the extra data useful.

On top of that, the buds are crazy comfortable, sound great, have excellent noise canceling, and most of the aforementioned Apple exclusive features, like hands-free Siri (no Adaptive Audio, however, sad). The case also has wireless charging and, unlike many of Apple's other products, it comes in bright, fun colors. (Our test unit is Electric Orange, but I find the Hyper Purple to be just as good.)

I am guessing you wanted an Apple Watch in part because you needed a fitness tracker. I run, swim, and rock climb, and I think that the Apple Watch is currently one of the best running watches available. Most great fitness apps work on the Apple Watch, like Strava, Peloton, or Nike Run Club. However, if you're firmly ensconced in the Apple walled garden, the best fitness app is probably Apple's own Fitness+, which seamlessly interacts between the Watch, the iPhone, and the Apple TV+.

I like it mainly because it's included with my family's Apple One subscription, but it's also incredibly convenient. There is now coaching for outdoor walks and runs (although there is another Apple app I use for this, which is Podcasts). The workouts are unintimidating, and a lot of them are very short. Those five minutes when I was not responding to your Slack? I was probably doing a five-minute core workout! Sorry, it's just hard for me to sit still! For more fitness apps and services, check out our roundup.

The Native Union Voyage ($100) is the travel charger I carry the most often. It's a 2-in-1 charger for your phone and Apple Watch that plugs in via USB, fits neatly into the palm of my hand, and slips into my tech pouch. However, for the same amount of money, this one is better because Anker's tiny, foldable Qi2 wireless charger includes a third pad for charging your AirPods. Nothing more convenient than that.

At 2023's Apple event, the company announced that when purchased in conjunction with a soft recycled nylon sport loop ($49), the Series 9 is carbon neutral. We viewed these claims with a bit of skepticism, and in any case, many of the bands that Apple and other third-party manufacturers offer will not be carbon neutral. However, I like the Nike sports band very much. It comes in two different sizes with aluminum hardware. The soft, 32 percent recycled fluoroelastomer is also enlivened with little flecks of recycled plastic in it. It also has little holes in the band, which increase the breathability and also let you add little charms.

A travel power bank is handy when you're out and about with your watch for any length of time and don't have access to a wall outlet. I have the Journey Glyde 4-in-1 power bank ($170), which also has a 10,000-mAh capacity and adheres to the Qi2 wireless charging standard. However, my colleague Simon's pick is just as compact, much cheaper, and doubles as a kickstand, even if you can't plug devices into it with a cable.

Just as you can slap stickers on your water bottle or laptop, or add jingly Jibbitz charms to your Crocs, you can now add personalized charms to your Apple Watch band. I am a grown woman and the mother of two elementary-schoolers, and I am too old for this. However, my 7-year-old and 9-year-old also have Apple Watches and were thrilled at the assortment that WithIt sent.

WithIt's charms are designed to be used specifically with WithIt's own Band Candy straps (set $35), but I found that they worked well with the Nike straps or any straps with holes in them. These are sparkly and fun, but I feel obligated to point out that you can find almost any charms you can think of on Amazon at varied prices.

Cloth straps are comfortable and wick away moisture, but they hold the moisture and aren't very formal. Silicone straps are durable and waterproof, but they trap sweat. I have sensitive skin and need to wash silicone straps and let my wrist breathe occasionally if I don't want to get rashes. Leather, on the other hand, is durable. It's comfortable to wear and breathable, and it will mold to your skin. It's also far more stylish and professional than cloth or silicone.

Bluebonnet is a small Texas-based company that makes Apple Watch straps out of full-grain calf leather. I was very impressed by the thickness of the leather and the build quality of the Apple Watch inserts and buckle (whether the metal parts are silver or stainless steel varies depending on the color of the band). It fit my 41-mm Series 7 perfectly. But if you have a smaller wrist, you will probably need to punch an extra hole or two in the band. Avoid the temptation to use a knife—either get a leather hole punch or take it to a shop.

★ Alternative: Quince is a direct-to-consumer business that purports to offer luxury essentials at an affordable price. The leather on its Apple Watch strap ($30) is stiffer and thinner, the color is not as vibrant, and the hardware is weird—I'm not sure why the buckle has an extra loop on top. However, it comes in two sizes, and the small size fits my Watch SE well. If you want a cheaper option, this one will work.

In the course of testing for this guide, I've discovered that the best accessory isn't always the most expensive. We've tried several cheap jelly bands from Amazon, which fluctuate in and out of stock. The one currently in stock is this slim one, which former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano said she consistently gets compliments on and fits her watch well. Most importantly, it comes in pink!

The Watch Ultra 2 is great, but you can get many of the same sports-related features in the regular Apple Watch with watchOS 11. This rugged sports case from Nomad is expensive, but at $399 for the Series 10 and $120 for the case, it's still less expensive than a $799 Watch Ultra 2. Nomad's case fits the 45/44 mm Series 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and SE. The case has a tough stainless steel body with a protective TPU lining. I tried it with a 45-mm Series 8, and it fit fine, and the buttons work great. However, it's only compatible with the larger watch size. I also have a smallish 150-mm wrist, and it just barely fits me.

If this costs too much, check out Otterbox's Apple Watch bumpers ($40). They fit well and come in a wider variety of sizes and colors (and are also much cheaper).

Even the most restrained and minimalist among us probably have at least two bands: a nylon sport loop for everyday wear, and a titanium or steel band for when you have to dress up. (You will still probably look hopelessly dorky, but one can hope.)

You could always keep your spare bands in a shoebox on your dresser, but I really like this hanger from Twelve South. The wall mount is incredibly easy to use—just make sure you're not hanging it upside down and stick it on your wall. The bands slot neatly in a compressive groove at the top. Each holder fits up to six bands, but you can easily add more if your collection is bigger than mine.

Unlike a phone, a watch is worn on your wrist, so every millimeter of real estate counts. If all you want is a thin, affordable, and attractive bumper that will protect your watch from bumps and bangs throughout the day, this is my favorite. It's made from a matte thermoplastic urethane (TPU) that is extremely thin and fits a 41-mm watch well. The dark green color I tried is well represented by the images on the website. However, reviews say the lighter colors show dirt very easily, so I would stick with darker shades.

★ Alternative: The Spigen Thin Fit ($15) is also a very nice, minimal case. But it's a bit pricier, and the plastic is not as soft to the touch.

As with straps, the best protector is not always the brand-name option or the most expensive one. I tried screen protectors from Spigen and Zagg, but when I pushed or pulled a case on over them, the thin films peeled off or bubbled almost instantly. This screen protector—also made from TPU—was easy to apply and looks invisible once it's on.

I particularly like the small rubber installation pad, which held the watch much more securely than other installation plates. Even if it's reasonably easy to use, I recommend watching the short instructional video before putting the screen protector on. Don't worry—if you mess up, it includes several replacements.

You can overlay your fitness stats over your video while filming with the Insta360 X series. Simply connect the camera to your Insta360 X4 and authorize the Insta360 app to connect to Apple Health. The Insta360 X4 also connects to Garmin and GPS devices. Great for any vlogger showing the world their fitness journey.