Apple Sport Band

Apple Sport Band

Content

Apple Sport Band

One of the first bands Apple released for the first version of the Apple Watch was the Apple Sport band. It is made of fluoroelastomer which makes the bands not only tremendously strong but also surprisingly light and soft. The material is very flexible and falls nicely around your wrist and feels comfortable on your skin. Apple has used an innovative inclusion which ensures a secure fit.

Different collections

Apple has released different collections, such as the (RED) collection, Pride Edition and Black Unity, which support charities against AIDS and human rights organisations. For the Sport Band, Apple has also created bands to match these three collections. For instance, they have designed a strap for the Black Unity collection with the colours of the Pan-African flag. For the Pride collection Apple created a design with many different colours, each band is unique because it is hand-crafted, according to Apple. And for the (RED) collection Apple released an all-red strap. By buying these straps, you can do your bit for causes fighting AIDS, human rights for black people and the LGBTQA+ community. 

Click here if you want to know more about the special Apple Sport Band collections.

A better fit makes for better measurements

The best results with features such as wrist detection, the Taptic Engine and the electrical and optical heart rate sensors are obtained when the back of the Apple Watch makes contact with the skin. If you wear the Apple Watch properly fitted (not too tight, not too loose and with enough slack so your skin can breathe), the Watch will sit comfortably on your wrist and allow the sensors to do their job.

You may want to tighten your Apple Watch band during workouts. Then loosen it again when you're done. Also, the sensors only work when you wear the Apple Watch on top of your wrist. If the Apple Watch does not stay in place properly or if the sensors do not measure your heart rate, tighten the strap slightly. The Apple Watch should be snug but comfortable.

Too loose

Just right

Een Apple Watch die te los om een pols wordt gedragen Een Apple Watch die correct om de pols wordt gedragen

Maintenance

Keeping your Apple Watch and strap clean and dry will keep it comfortable to wear and will ensure that your Apple Watch and strap will still function well in the long run. This is especially important after a workout or exposure to liquids such as sweat, soap, sunscreen and lotions that can cause skin irritations.

How do you clean the Sport band?

It is important to take good care of your Apple Watch straps, as this will help them last as long as possible and keep them functioning properly. To clean your Sport band, follow these steps: 

Follow the following steps to clean the leather of the Sport strap: 

      1. Clean the strap with a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth. Moisten the cloth lightly with clean water if necessary. You can also clean these bracelets with a mild hypoallergenic hand soap.
      2. Dry the bracelet with a lint-free, non-abrasive cloth before attaching it to the band of your Apple Watch.

For cleaning your other Apple Watch bands, you can find more information here: How to clean your Apple Watch band.

How to (dis)assemble the Apple Sport band from your Apple Watch?

Changing your Apple Watch strap is very easy! What you need to check beforehand is whether you have the right size strap for your Apple Watch. You have two different sizes; 38mm/ 40mm/ 41mm and the 42mm/ 44mm/ 45mm/ 49mm. If you are not quite sure which size Apple watch you have, click here. 

Follow these three steps to change your Apple Watch strap:

      1. Turn your Apple Watch over so that you have the back of the Apple Watch.
      2. Hold down the strap release button on the Apple Watch.
      3. Slide the band out of the slot to remove and slide the new band in. Does the band not move? Then press the unlock button again and try sliding the band out of the slot.

See the image below for a visual representation:  

Never force a band into the slot of the Apple Watch. If you fail to remove or insert the Apple Watch band, press the band's release button again.

A better fit ensures better measurements

For optimal performance of your Apple Watch, it must fit snugly on your wrist. For the sling detection, tactile notifications and heart rate sensor functions to work best, the back of the Apple Watch must make good contact with the skin. When the Apple Watch is snug on your wrist, with a bit of slack left so that your skin can still breathe, you can do anything and the sensors will work properly. The Apple Watch only works when you wear it on top of your wrist!

Fake or real band?

      1. Original packaging - Is the original packaging included?
      2. Two lengths - Original Apple Watch straps come in three pieces.
      3. Price - A band cheaper than €20 is not realistic, as Apple often maintains its value.
      4. Size print - The Sport band has a print on the inside with e.g. the but S/M and 40mm on the other side.
      5. Imprint 'Assembled in China' - Apple's connector says 'Assembled in China'.
      6. Imprint on the side of the connector pin - There is a very small imprint of a code on the side of the connector pin. 
      7. Other materials and colours - Look carefully at the material of the straps that it is not plastic. See the Bandbreite app to make sure the colour is actually released by Apple.
      8. Neater finish - Look closely at the finish of the edges. Apple always ensures a smooth and nice finish.
      9. Inform yourself - The more you know about the original straps, the sooner you can fish out the fake versions.
      10. The (PRODUCT) Red collection also has a logo on the inside.  

Sports straps are the most counterfeited straps because they are so popular. Fortunately, they are one of the easiest straps to distinguish from the real ones, as the fakes are often made of a completely different material.

Tips to avoid skin irritations

No Nickel was used during the production of the Apple Sport band, in fact, they chose to use stainless steel for this product. The Sport band is made of: : fluoroelastomer with stainless steel, ceramic, titanium or 18-carat gold.

Tips to avoid skin irritations or hypersensitivity 

 

Indications that it is a genuine Apple Band 

Indications that it is a fake Apple Band 
The colour of the connectors (the 3 notches that click onto the lugs in the watch) matches the colour of the band itself. This is the quickest way to spot a fake band.   The connectors are black instead of the colour of the strap.
The bottom of the strap with the pin is marked with the watch case size (38/40/41 mm or 42/44/45 mm) in a circle near the lugs.   The middle connector is made of metal instead of plastic.
The bottom of the bands with the holes are marked "S/M" or "M/L" in a circle. The strap is made of silicone (will feel different and collect lint) instead of fluoroelastomer.
The words "Assembled in China" are marked on the edge of the M/L band for 42/44/45 mm bands and on the edge of the S/M band for 38/40/41 mm bands.
There are no markings for case size or strap size, such as S/M or M/L).
The seller has provided feedback and appears to be a genuine person or shop that consistently resells original Apple items.

No markings for "Assembled in China" and no S/N in any of the pins.

  • NOTE: If your strap has no serial number, but all other indications are of an original strap, it is probably genuine.
There is no Apple logo anywhere on the band
Straps made before autumn 2022 include both S/M and M/L holes in the box. 
Sometimes newer Apple bands have serial numbers in one of the connectors , but the oldest (2015-early 2016) do not.