The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 42 mm and 46 mm Apple Watch models (2024), and were offered in sizes to fit 130–200 mm wrists (38, 40, 41, 42 mm) and 145–220 mm wrists (42, 44, 46, 49 mm).
Beginning in Fall 2024, Apple began offering bands in monotone colors—a design concept first available nearly 10 years prior with the original Apple Watch. This “Ink” color was a shade of black with a hint of dark blue. The connector and closure plastics also matched the ink color of the band.
Apple also began describing this band as “Carbon Neutral” and including a description of the environmental benefits along with the general product description:
“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Sport Loop features a hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy adjustment. The double-layer nylon weave has dense loops on the skin side that provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. This weave is made with 82% recycled yarns, some of which contain material from discarded fishing nets. This band is carbon neutral. The Sport Loop contains 45% recycled content by weight, 100% of manufacturing electricity is covered by clean energy, and 50% or more of all carbon neutral Apple Watch products are shipped without airplanes.”
This essential Apple Vision Pro accessory is quite personal—perhaps unique—and I feel it deserves its own entry. ZEISS Optical Inserts for Apple Vision Pro allow users who need vision correction and do not wear contact lenses to experience the Apple Vision Pro with precise visual acuity. ZEISS describes the lenses:
“ZEISS and Apple are setting the standard for optical inserts. For those who need vision correction, ZEISS Optical Inserts reveal the stunning visual experience of Apple Vision Pro—so you can enjoy Apple’s new era of spatial computing.”
After sending ZEISS your eyeglasses prescription, they custom-build lenses for you. ZEISS describes that the lenses are “crafted especially for your eyes in your unique prescription.” The extremely lightweight inserts snap into the Apple Vision Pro with magnets. When in place, the Apple Vision Pro “recognizes” the unique prescription and sets up the device with my user profile. When I remove my inserts, the device prompts a user for “Guest User” mode.
If an Apple Vision Pro user uses off-the-shelf “readers,” ZEISS also offers “ZEISS Optical Inserts – Readers” that are available in three common refractive ranges:
SPH +0.75 to +1.25D
SPH +1.50 to +1.75D
SPH +2.00 to +2.75D
ZEISS describes their company as “a global technology leader in the fields of optics, precision mechanics, and optoelectronics…shaping progress and advancing the world of optics for over 175 years.” In addition to optical lenses, the company works in the fields of microchip production, medical research, complex brain and eye surgeries, and award-winning films.
The Apple Vision Pro Travel Case is described by Apple as having “a retractable handle and specially designed compartments for your battery, ZEISS Optical Inserts, Apple Vision Pro Cover, and additional accessories.”
The exterior of the Apple Vision Pro Travel Case uses a material reminiscent of a windbreaker and loosely covers the polycarbonate protective structure. Apple refers to this white covering as “Ripstop,” defined by Wikipedia as “a woven fabric, often made of nylon, using a reinforcing technique that makes it more resistant to tearing and wear.” The case is printed on one side with the words “Apple Vision Pro” in light gray in Apple’s San Francisco font.
The outer retractable handle is light gray and borders the entire upper curve of the case. When not in use, it hugs tightly to the contour of the case.
The interior of the Apple Vision Pro Travel Case is lined with microfiber in a color and texture similar to Apple’s infamous polishing cloth. The Apple Vision Pro fits perfectly in the case and includes a velcro strap to securely hold the battery. A white circular drawstring bag fits in the space in the open area between the front of the headset and the headband.
The Apple Vision Pro Travel Case measures 11.69 inches tall, 8.78 inches high, and 6.5 inches deep.
The Verge offered: “The huge case costs an additional $199 and looks like a marshmallow from space. I love it.” I concur wholeheartedly that the case looks like a marshmallow from space, and add that it would pair well with a NASA or SpaceX spacesuit.
The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 42 mm and 46 mm Apple Watch models (2024), and were offered in sizes to fit 130–200 mm wrists (38, 40, 41, 42 mm) and 145–220 mm wrists (42, 44, 46, 49 mm).
Beginning with the Apple Watch 10, the 42 mm description became arguably more confusing, as the larger model of the original Apple Watch (Series 0 and 1) was described as “42 mm,” and now the smaller model of the current Apple Watch (Series 10) is described as “42 mm.”
Beginning in Fall 2024, Apple began offering bands in the monotone colors—a design concept first available nearly 10 years ago with the original Apple Watch. This Blue Cloud color is pale blue/light gray. The connector and closure plastics also matched the pale blue/light gray color of the band (as opposed to using contrasting colors for the plastics).
Apple also began describing this band as “Carbon Neutral” and including a description of the environmental benefits along with the general product description:
“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Sport Loop features a hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy adjustment. The double-layer nylon weave has dense loops on the skin side that provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. This weave is made with 82% recycled yarns, some of which contain material from discarded fishing nets. This band is carbon neutral. The Sport Loop contains 45% recycled content by weight, 100% of manufacturing electricity is covered by clean energy, and 50% or more of all carbon neutral Apple Watch products are shipped without airplanes.”
The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 42 mm and 46 mm Apple Watch models (2025), and were offered in sizes to fit 130–200 mm wrists (38, 40, 41, 42 mm) and 145–220 mm wrists (42, 44, 46, 49 mm).
Beginning with the Apple Watch 10, the 42 mm description became arguably more confusing, as the larger model of the original Apple Watch (Series 0 and 1) was described as “42 mm,” and now the smaller model of the current Apple Watch (Series 10) is described as “42 mm.”
Beginning in Fall 2024, Apple began offering bands in the monotone colors—a design concept first available nearly 10 years ago with the original Apple Watch. This Neon Yellow color is bright yellow. The connector and closure plastics also matched the bright yellow color of the band (as opposed to using contrasting colors for the plastics).
Apple also began describing this band as “Carbon Neutral” and including a description of the environmental benefits along with the general product description:
“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Sport Loop features a hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy adjustment. The double-layer nylon weave has dense loops on the skin side that provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. This weave is made with 82% recycled yarns, some of which contain material from discarded fishing nets. This band is carbon neutral. The Sport Loop contains 45% recycled content by weight, 100% of manufacturing electricity is covered by clean energy, and 50% or more of all carbon neutral Apple Watch products are shipped without airplanes.”
The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch models, and were offered in sizes to fit 130–200mm wrists (41mm) and 145–220mm wrists (45mm).
This Winter Blue band is a slate blue color with slightly darker slate blue edges. The connectors are darker shade of blue, and the closure plastic is a contrasting shade of purple.
Apple described the Apple Watch Sport Loop band:
“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Sport Loop features a hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy adjustment. The double-layer nylon weave has dense loops on the skin side that provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. On the reverse side, the attachment loops are securely anchored for superior durability.”
The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch models, and were offered in sizes to fit 130–200mm wrists (41mm) and 145–220mm wrists (45mm).
This Light Pink band is a pale shade of pink and has slightly darker pink edges. The connectors are a matching light pink color with a contrasting dark pink closure plastic.
Apple described the Apple Watch Sport Loop band:
“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Sport Loop features a hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy adjustment. The double-layer nylon weave has dense loops on the skin side that provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. On the reverse side, the attachment loops are securely anchored for superior durability.”
Beginning in 2024 Apple began offering the entry-level AirPods 4 product in two versions: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. These AirPods 4 are the “base” model without the additional features.
As Apple often mentions, “AirPods 4 are the best headphones Apple has ever created.” The updated headphones offer “open-ear design, setting an entirely new benchmark for fit and comfort.”
Apple improved the fit and comfort of these AirPods:
“The new design is built with an unparalleled data set that uses advanced modeling tools, like 3D photogrammetry and laser topography, to precisely map and analyze thousands of ear shapes and over 50 million individual data points in total. This process helped refine the design to deliver the most comfortable AirPods ever with one shape that naturally fits even more users around the world.”
AirPods 4 offer the following core technologies:
Custom high-excursion Apple driver
Custom high dynamic range amplifier
Voice Isolation2
Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking3
Adaptive EQ
Vent system for pressure equalization
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation add 4 features, including Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, and Conversation Awareness. These additional features also allow this model to use Live Translation for communicating across languages.
AirPods 4 are powered by Apple’s H2 headphone chip. Built-in sensors include:
Dual beamforming microphones
Inward-facing microphone
Optical in-ear sensor
Motion-detecting accelerometer
Speech-detecting accelerometer
Force sensor
These sensors offer many new features not available in previous “base” AirPods models:
“With the H2 chip, AirPods 4 unlock intelligent audio experiences only Apple silicon can deliver, such as Voice Isolation, enabling clearer call quality no matter the environmental conditions, and Siri Interactions, allowing users to simply nod their head yes or gently shake their head no to respond to Siri announcements. For even more control, AirPods 4 also feature a new force sensor on the stem to play or pause media and mute or end calls with a quick press.”
Each AirPod 4 is 1.19 inches (30.2 mm) x 0.72 inch (18.3 mm) and 0.71 inch (18.1 mm) deep. Each weighs 0.15 ounce (4.3 grams). The AirPods 4 case measures 1.82 inches (46.2 mm) x 1.97 inches (50.1 mm) and is 0.83 inch (21.2 mm) deep. The case weighs 1.14 ounces (32.3 grams).
The base AirPods 4 allows only USB-C connector charging, while the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation adds Apple Watch or Qi‑certified charging. AirPods 4 allow up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge, however, 5 minutes of charging provides around 1 hour of listening time.
This is a somewhat rare example in my collection of a Beats accessory. Beats has been owned by Apple since 2014 as “a leading audio brand founded in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine” that primarily sells “premium consumer headphones, earphones, and speakers.”
The Beats website offers the headline for the Beats Solo Buds: Designed for music first. They describe that “Every design decision was focused on accurate music reproduction—from the drivers to the vents to the position of each intricate component inside…[resulting in] cleanly balanced tuning that gives you the full range and emotion of all your music, as the artists intended.”
Apple’s website describes these headphones as the “tiniest case we’ve ever made” and touts that “these mighty small earbuds are packed with incredibly big sound.” Each of the product’s features are outlined:
Designed for music first
Custom dual-layer drivers
Laser-cut venting
Four eartip sizes
Battery all day
iOS and Android friendly
Crystal-clear calls
The case measures 2.6 x 1.4 inches and is 0.9 inch thick. The case weighs 22 grams. Each earbud measures 0.75 x 0.81 inch and is 0.73 inch deep. Each earbud weighs 5.7 grams. The entire product including the case and 2 earbuds weighs 33.4 grams.
Wireless connectivity includes Class 1 Wireless Bluetooth.
The Apple and Beats websites offer the Beats Solo Buds in 4 colors: Matte Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple, and Transparent Red. However, this Matte Ivory color is available exclusively at Walmart in the United States.
Apple described the Smart Folio for iPad Pro 11-inch:
“The Smart Folio for iPad Pro is thin and light and offers front and back protection for your device. It automatically wakes your iPad when opened and puts it to sleep when closed. The Smart Folio attaches magnetically, and you can easily fold it into different positions to create a stand for reading, viewing, typing, or making FaceTime calls.”
The Smart Folio design was released along with the Smart Keyboard Folio design for the iPad Pro Generation 3. The Folio form factor added the functionality of allowing both folios to attach to the back of the iPad with strong magnets. Both Smart Folio designs offered back protection, while previous Smart Cover designs only offered front protection.
This Smart Folio is compatible with all iPad Pro 11-inch models released until 2023, including Generations 1–4.
This Smart Folio is Charcoal Gray, a shade of dark gray.
