While Apple hasn’t disclosed actual sales figures for the Apple Watch, it’s estimated that there are 100 million units across different generations currently in use. If that’s anywhere near accurate, then the Apple Watch is easily the most popular watch in the world by a comfortable margin.
Because of that near-ubiquity, there’s a wide selection of accessories for the smartwatch, whether it be to provide reinforced protection, customize its aesthetics, or extend its effective functions. Even better, the watch hasn’t changed that much through the various generations, allowing many accessories to work with different models.
There are, however, a few things to keep in mind if you’re shopping for Apple Watch accessories. The most important is that the Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, and SE all share the same size body, with the Series 7 having a larger screen and the Series 3 having a thicker build. For bands, you have to know the size of the Apple Watch you have, with the Series 3 coming in 38mm and 42mm and the Series 7 coming in 41mm and 45mm. The other four models all come in 40mm and 44mm sizes. The Series 7, by the way, is backwards compatible for watch bands – that means, straps for older 40mm models will also fit on the new generation’s 41mm; same goes for the 44mm straps on 45mm models.
With that out of the way, here are our picks for the best Apple Watch accessories.
Ulanzi ST-09 Phone Tripod Mount
Prefer using the rear cameras on your iPhone for their better quality, yet can’t help but rely on the front camera for selfies? This mount solves that by turning your Apple Watch into a rear selfie screen for your iPhone, which it does by putting the iPhone on a clamp on one side and the Apple Watch in a dock on the other. You can use it by hand, if you want, although it comes with a standard connector for mounting on selfie sticks and tripods. It even comes with a cold shoe on top for attaching fill lights or a microphone, in case you want to turn it into a full vlogging setup.
Watch Strap Connector Adapters
Got a favorite watch band that won’t quite go on your Apple Watch? Get yourself a pair of these stainless steel adapters, which go on the band to make it fit flush on the smartwatch. Just makes sure to buy the correct size for the Apple Watch you own and this should let you use it with practically any wristband out there. Also, you want to make sure the fit is tight (use some adhesive on the screws if you have to), so it doesn’t come off while you’re in the middle of the day.
Elago W3 Stand
Yes, you can place your Apple Watch atop a charging dock on the nightstand when retiring to bed at night, but wouldn’t you rather have it transform into a 1984-era Macintosh computer? That’s exactly what you get with the Elago W3 Stand, which docks the smartwatch on a silicone enclosure resembling the vintage PC, allowing its screen to look like an 80s-era CRT monitor while it performs desk clock duties. It’s impossibly adorable. If the OG Macintosh isn’t your thing, they also offer similar docks in the likeness of a 1998 iMac, an iPod, and even a GameBoy.
Zagg InvisibleShield Glassfusion 360+
Designed to protect the Apple Watch from all angles, this combines a TPU bumper that wraps around the watch case and a hybrid glass screen protector on top. The bumper is very thin to preserve the device’s natural shape, but thick enough to keep nicks and scratches away, while the glass absorbs shock and disperses impact, allowing it to offer durable protection for the Apple Watch display. The glass is smudge-resistant and shatterproof, by the way, ensuring the watch display stays legible no matter what goes down.
Twelve South ActionBand
This sweatband comes with a dock for the Apple Watch, making it the ideal way to wear your smartwatch any time you’re working out. It’s made from soft and flexible terry cotton that wraps gently around your wrist and absorbs sweat, so it performs the same function of keeping your hands dry as regular sweatbands do. The Apple Watch continues to perform all its activity tracking functions, including heart rate monitoring, as the dock allows the back of the watch to come in close contact with the skin. It comes with two sweatbands – one with a dock and one without, so you can absorb sweat on both forearms.
Twelve South ActionSleeve
If you prefer wearing your Apple Watch a little higher up the arm during workouts or runs, Twelve South offers one of the best options in the ActionSleeve, a fabric armband that straps it anywhere on your arm. Similar to the ActionBand, it retains all activity tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, but with the ability to tailor the placement based on what works best for whatever activity you’re engaged in. Put it on your forearm when you’re lifting, around the bicep when you’re boxing, and everywhere else in between.
Satechi USB-C Magnetic Charging Dock
If you use a laptop with a USB-C slot, this accessory offers a convenient way to keep your Apple Watch charged. Just plug it into the port, lay down your smartwatch on top, and let it charge up. It’s MFI-certified, so it works with all generations of the Apple Watch, all while measuring barely bigger than the smartwatch’s housing, allowing you to drop it in a shirt pocket if you want to bring it on the go. While the USB-C connector sticking out is a bit of an annoyance, it more than makes up for the lack of cables you’ll need to carry.
Catalyst Impact Protection Case
Need better protection for your watch than what a slim bumper can provide? Check out this rugged case, which gives the Apple Watch military-grade drop protection, reinforcing it with an impact truss cushioning system that lets it withstand drops up to 9.9 feet. It comes with a hypoallergenic sport band integrated into the case to keep everything lightweight, while a raised bezel provides additional protection for the screen. This is strictly for 40mm and 44mm watches, by the way, with a similar version for the Series 7 still scheduled for later in the year.
Catalyst Waterproof Case
Want to wear the Apple Watch while kayaking, surfing, or trail running in inclement weather? You’ll need a waterproof case to ensure it stays safe and this offers capable reinforcement at a reasonable price. While it is admittedly bigger than most Apple Watch cases, it does deliver protection on all fronts. Not only will it waterproof the smartwatch to depths of up to 330 feet, it allows it to survive 6.6-foot drops while retaining most functionality (everything works except ECG/EKG monitoring).
Nightwatch
This unique accessory turns the Apple Watch into a bigger alarm clock for the nightstand by placing it in a dock with a large magnifying dome out front, supersizing its display, so you can easily make it out without having to pick your head up from the pillow (you will still need to reach out and tap the dome to turn the screen on, of course). The charging dock is supposed to fit in the dock, too, allowing you to charge your watch overnight, while integrated sound channels amplify any sounds coming from the Apple Watch, so you can get woken up by a louder alarm first thing in the morning.
Bucardo Pocket Watch Pinstripe
Designed for 40mm and 44mm Apple Watches, this accessory turns the smartwatch into a pocket watch, complete with a chain and a clip that can secure it to a belt loop. Of course, we don’t really see the point in keeping a smartwatch in your pocket when you already have a smartphone in there, but if you want to bring the watch for whatever reason without wearing it on your wrist, this offers the most stylish option by housing the watch in a stainless steel case with Rimowa-like grooves on the exterior.
Wristcam
Want to use your Apple Watch for taking selfies or video chat? This third-party band for the smartwatch does the trick by adding an 8MP camera right above the top end of the watch. Just glance at your Apple Watch the way you normally would, launch the companion app on the smartwatch, and you can take a quick selfie or HD video recording. It doesn’t support FaceTime as of now, but they do allow you to send video messages to both Wristcam users and folks using the Wristcam app on their smartphones. On the downside, it’s not the prettiest accessory, making it look really odd around your wrist. Still, if you want the ability to shoot selfie photos and videos without a phone, it offers a really convenient way to do it.
Apple Watch Hermes Circuit H Single Tour Band
If you want to elevate the Apple Watch to something even more luxurious, you can deck it in this fancy leather band, with a design based on the classic chain Hermes bracelet. Handcrafted by artisans in France, the band is printed with a modern chain motif that compliments the smartwatch really well. Comes in two sizes, allowing it to fit on all Apple Watches from the Series 3 up.