Sport Band 4-pack, Pride Edition (M/L, 2022)

On May 9, 2023, Apple introduced this Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band. This Sport Band was introduced along with a matching watch face and iOS wallpaper. The design is a first for Apple and includes the most colors ever incorporated into a Sport Band. Apple described the Sport Band:

“…the new Sport Band design showcases the original pride flag rainbow colors and five others — black and brown symbolize Black and Latin communities, in addition to those who have passed away from or are living with HIV/AIDS, while light blue, pink, and white represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.”

Even the band’s manufacturing process is unique to this design:

“This year’s design integrates a joyful rainbow of geometric shapes on a white base, which are compression-molded into the final band. In the forming process, the base material flows around each individual shape, creating small variations in their layout. No two bands are exactly alike, reflecting the individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

The following organizations are supported by Apple’s sales of this Sport Band:

  • Equality Federation Institute
  • Encircle
  • Equality North Carolina
  • Equality Texas
  • Gender Spectrum
  • GLSEN
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • PFLAG
  • The National Center for Transgender Equality
  • SMYAL
  • The Trevor Project
  • ILGA World

This particular object in my collection includes a four-pack box, likely intended only for an Apple Watch Band distributor. When it arrived, I was not certain what it was since it was shipped as a plain-white, unmarked box with a cardboard zip-style opener. I was surprised to find that the box contained four identical Pride Edition Sport Bands in size M/L.

Source: Apple (Product, Newsroom)

Apple Watch SE (Generation 2, silver, 44 mm, GPS, Winter Blue Sport Band, 2022)

The Apple Watch SE Generation 2 was released along side of the Apple Watch Series 8 on September 7, 2022, and was described by Apple: “The redesigned Apple Watch SE delivers the core Apple Watch experience at a new starting price.” Apple positioned the SE Generation 2 as:

“…a great way for users to start their Apple Watch journey, use with Family Setup, or gift to their loved ones. Powerful upgrades include the S8 SiP advanced dual-core processor, the same processor that is in Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, making it 20 percent faster than the previous generation, along with Crash Detection and international roaming.”

Notably, the Apple Watch SE Generation 2 used a back case made of a nylon composite material that made the Watch lighter, but arguably decreased the durability offered by the ceramic backs of the other models. While the Series 8 case sizes of the time increased to 45 mm and 41 mm, the Apple Watch SE Generation 2 remained at 44 mm and 40 mm.

While the Series 8 used an Always-on Retina display, the SE Generation 2 retained a Retina display that showed only when you looked at your wrist. Although the SE Generation 2 lacked the ability to run the ECG app, it had many of the same features of the Series 8 and even used the same S8 processor. The Vitals app on the SE Generation 2 included heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep duration, but lacked wrist temperature and blood oxygen sensors. The SE Generation 2 included Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, fall detection, crash detection, water resistance up to 50 m, Siri, Find My, and the same 18-hour battery life ast the Series 8.

The Apple Watch SE Generation 2 (GPS) was available only in Aluminum and in three colors, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. The 44 mm size measured 44 mm x 38 mm x 10.7 mm and weighed 32.9 g; while the 40 mm size measured 40 mm x 34 mm x 10.7 mm and weighed 26.4 g. The screen sizes were 368 x 448 pixels (977 square mm display area) for the 44 mm option and 324 x 394 pixels (759 square mm display area) for the 40 mm option.

This Apple Watch SE Generation 2 example is a silver GPS model and shipped with a Winter Blue Sport Band.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, compare, specifications), Wikipedia

Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, Cellular, Green Aluminum, Clover Sport Band, 2021)

The Apple Watch Series 7 is similar to the Series 6 that preceded it, but has a larger, edge-to-edge display, a more durable case, and faster charging capabilities. Like all previous Apple Watch models, the Series 7 uses Apple’s Digital Crown and a touch display with haptic feedback. Apple described the Series 7 as having “a reengineered Always-On Retina display with significantly more screen area and thinner borders.”

The Series 7 introduced two new sizes, 45mm and 41mm. This example uses a 45mm display. The display is a 396×484 LTPO OLED (approximately 1.9 inches) and is “Always On.” The display is protected by Apple’s scratch-resistant Ion-X glass.

Apple described the color choices:

“Apple Watch Series 7 introduces five beautiful new aluminum case finishes, including midnight, starlight, green, and a new blue and (PRODUCT)RED, along with a range of new band colors and styles. Stainless steel models are available in silver, graphite, and gold stainless steel, along with Apple Watch Edition in titanium and space black titanium.”

The Apple Watch Series 7 has a ceramic and sapphire crystal back. Upon release, Apple offered eleven pre-configured options:

  • Green Aluminum with Clover Sport Band
  • Starlight Aluminum with Starlight Sport Band
  • Midnight Aluminum with Midnight Sport Band
  • Blue Aluminum with Abyss Blue Sport Band
  • (PRODUCT)RED Aluminum with Red Sport Band
  • Gold Stainless Steel with Dark Cherry Sport Band
  • Gold Stainless Steel with Gold Milanese Loop
  • Silver Stainless Steel with Starlight Sport Band
  • Silver Stainless Steel with Silver Milanese Loop
  • Graphite Stainless Steel with Abyss Blue Sport Loop
  • Graphite Stainless Steel with Graphite Milanese Loop

Two aluminum Apple Watch Series 7 Nike options were available at release as pre-configured options:

  • Starlight Aluminum with Platinum/Black Sport Band
  • Midnight Aluminum with Anthracite/Black Sport Band

Two Apple Watch Series 7 Hermès options were available at release:

  • Space Black Stainless Steel case with patterned blue and black leather Circuit H Single Tour Band
  • Silver Stainless Steel case with brown leather Single Tour Deployment Buckle

In addition to the included Hermès-designed bands, Apple Watch Series 7 Hermès devices with black housings include a black Hermes Sport Band and models with silver housings include an orange Hermes Sport Band.

This example is cellular 45mm Green Aluminum and shipped with a Clover (medium green) Sport Band. The cellular version of the Apple Watch can send and receive calls without a tethered iPhone for an additional cost of about $10 per month.

Sources: Apple, EveryMac

Sport Band, Pride Edition (M/L, 2022)

On May 9, 2023, Apple introduced this new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band. This Sport Band was introduced along with a matching watch face and iOS wallpaper. The design is a first for Apple and includes the most colors ever incorporated into a Sport Band. Apple described the Sport Band:

“…the new Sport Band design showcases the original pride flag rainbow colors and five others — black and brown symbolize Black and Latin communities, in addition to those who have passed away from or are living with HIV/AIDS, while light blue, pink, and white represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.”

Even the band’s manufacturing process is unique to this design:

“This year’s design integrates a joyful rainbow of geometric shapes on a white base, which are compression-molded into the final band. In the forming process, the base material flows around each individual shape, creating small variations in their layout. No two bands are exactly alike, reflecting the individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

The following organizations are supported by Apple’s sales of this Sport Band:

  • Equality Federation Institute
  • Encircle
  • Equality North Carolina
  • Equality Texas
  • Gender Spectrum
  • GLSEN
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • PFLAG
  • The National Center for Transgender Equality
  • SMYAL
  • The Trevor Project
  • ILGA World

Source: Apple (Product, Newsroom)

Apple Watch Sport Band (45mm, Stainless Steel Pin, (PRODUCT)RED, 2020)

The Apple Watch Sport Band was made from a flexible rubber material called fluoroelastomer with a metal pin closure. Sizes ranged from S/M, M/L, or L/XL. When purchasing an Apple Watch Sport Band, the S/M and M/L sizes are included in the box, allowing the band to fit wrists 140–210 mm.

Apple describes the Apple Watch Sport band:

“Made from a custom high-performance fluoroelastomer, the Sport Band is durable and strong, yet surprisingly soft. The smooth, dense material drapes elegantly across your wrist and feels comfortable next to your skin. An innovative pin-and-tuck closure ensures a clean fit.”

The Apple Watch Sport band has been available in the most colors so far. As of October 2022, 117 Apple Sport Band colors were available with an additional 41 Nike Sport Band colors (according to the Bandbreite app).

This example is Red with a stainless steel pin and is part of Apple’s (PRODUCT)RED line. The box states, “Apple is proud to join (RED) in funding programs to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

Source: Apple, Bandbreite app

Apple Watch Sport Band (45mm, Graphite Stainless Steel Pin, Midnight, 2021)

The Apple Watch Sport Band was made from a flexible rubber material called fluoroelastomer with a metal pin closure. Sizes ranged from S/M, M/L, or L/XL. When purchasing an Apple Watch Sport Band, the S/M and M/L sizes are included in the box, allowing the band to fit wrists 140–210 mm. This example is the less common L/XL size.

Apple describes the Apple Watch Sport band:

“Made from a custom high-performance fluoroelastomer, the Sport Band is durable and strong, yet surprisingly soft. The smooth, dense material drapes elegantly across your wrist and feels comfortable next to your skin. An innovative pin-and-tuck closure ensures a clean fit.”

The Apple Watch Sport band has been available in the most colors so far. As of July 2022, 113 Apple Sport Band colors were available with an additional 37 Nike Sport Band colors (according to the Bandbreite app).

This example is Midnight, Apple’s current name for “black.” It includes L/XL size bands for the 45mm Apple Watch, and is also compatible with earlier larger-sized Apple Watch models.

Source: Apple, Bandbreite app

Apple Watch SE (44mm, Abyss Blue Sport Band, 2020)

The Apple Watch SE was announced on September 15, 2020, as an entry-level Apple Watch that lacked some of the features of the Series 6. According to Apple, the Apple Watch SE offered:

“Powerful features to help keep you connected, active, healthy, and safe. Advanced sensors to track all the ways you move and to measure your favorite workouts. And available cellular so you can go without your phone. Apple Watch SE is a lot of watch for a lot less than you expected.”

The Apple Watch SE shared several features with the Apple Watch Series 6, including, “the same accelerometer, gyroscope, and always-on altimeter…and with the latest motion sensors and microphone, it offers robust health and safety capabilities including fall detection, Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, and the Noise app.”

Because the Apple Watch SE replaced the Apple Watch 3, the previous entry-level Apple Watch of the time, several comparisons were offered:

“Apple Watch SE features a stunning Retina display, with thin borders and curved corners, that is 30 percent larger than Series 3… With the S5 System in Package (SiP) and dual-core processor, Apple Watch SE delivers incredibly fast performance, up to two times faster than Apple Watch Series 3.”

The Apple Watch SE lacked ECG (electrocardiogram) and Blood Oxygen sensors, and it did not use an always-on display watch face.

This 44mm example is the GPS model (without cellular), has a silver aluminum case, and shipped with an Abyss Blue (dark blue) Sport Band.

Sources: Apple (product page, Newsroom)

Apple Watch Sport Band (44 mm, Black Unity, Spring 2021)

The Black Unity Apple Watch Sport Band was part of an effort during the first time Apple referred to a product as part of a “collection”—in this case, to celebrate Black History Month in 2021. According to a press release:

“To celebrate Black History Month, Apple is bringing customers a variety of new and updated collections and exclusive content that highlight and amplify Black creators, artists, developers, and businesses. From curated features across the App Store, Apple Music, the Apple TV app, Apple Books, and Apple Podcasts, to new Apple Maps Guides, the Apple Watch Black Unity Collection, Today at Apple sessions, and more, here is a look at what is in store across Apple’s products and services this February.”

The Apple Watch Black Unity Collection included three elements: “a limited-edition Apple Watch Series 6, the Black Unity Sport Band, and a Unity watch face.” In this example, the Black Unity Apple Watch Sport Band is paired with an Apple Watch Series 7 in silver stainless steel.

Apple described the Black Unity Sport Band:

“Designed by Black creatives and allies throughout Apple to celebrate and acknowledge Black history and culture, the Black Unity Sport Band is inspired by the colors of the Pan-African flag and pays homage to the rich tradition and craft of quilt-making. Three individual pieces of colored fluoroelastomer are assembled by hand and compression-molded as one. Complemented by the dynamic Unity watch face, which displays an ever-changing pattern of irregular shapes as Apple Watch moves, these colors are brought together in a unique tapestry. The innovative pin-and-tuck closure is laser-etched with ‘Truth. Power. Solidarity.'”

During this effort, Apple reported that they would support six global organizations to “help advance their missions in promoting and achieving equality and civil rights in the US and around the world: Black Lives Matter Support Fund via the Tides Foundation; European Network Against Racism; International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights; Leadership Conference Education Fund; NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.; and Souls Grown Deep.”

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, Product)

Nike Sport Band (44mm, Stainless Steel Pin, Pride, 2020)

The Apple Watch Sport Band is made from a flexible rubber material called fluoroelastomer with a metal pin closure. When purchasing an Apple Watch Sport Band, the S/M and M/L sizes are included in the box, allowing the band to fit wrists 140–210 mm.

Apple describes the Apple Watch Sport band:

“Made from a custom high-performance fluoroelastomer, the Sport Band is durable and strong, yet surprisingly soft. The smooth, dense material drapes elegantly across your wrist and feels comfortable next to your skin. An innovative pin-and-tuck closure ensures a clean fit.”

The Nike Sport Band differs from the Apple Sport Band in that the Nike version uses a perforated design to make it slightly lighter and more ventilated. This Pride Edition design is primarily white, and each perforation uses colors from the LGBTQ flag. The Pride version package states that “Apple and Nike are proud to financially support LGBTQ advocacy organizations working to bring about positive change.”

The Apple Watch Sport band has been available in the most colors so far. As of December 2021, 110 Apple Sport Band colors were available with an additional 36 Nike Sport Band colors (according to the Bandbreite app).

This example comes with S/M and M/L sizes for the 44 mm Apple Watch that is also compatible with 42 mm and 45 mm sizes.

Sources: Apple, Bandbreite app

Apple Watch Series 1 (38 mm, silver aluminum case, white Sport Band, 2016)

The Apple Watch Series 1 models were similar to the original Apple Watch (also known as “Series 0”), but used a more powerful dual core processor. Like its predecessor, this Apple Watch was controlled with a Digital Crown and a Force Touch display, and it needed to be paired with iPhone 5 (or newer).

This Apple Watch Series 1 model is a 38mm version (a 42mm version was also available) and used a 272 × 340 display.

The Apple Watch Series 1 was originally sold in four standard configurations:
silver aluminum case with white Sport Band
gold aluminum case with cocoa (dark brown) Sport Band
rose gold aluminum case with midnight blue Sport Band
space gray aluminum case with black Sport Band

The Sport Bands were made of fluoroelastomer rubber. This Apple Watch Series 1 version has a silver aluminum case with white Sport Band.

Source: EveryMac.com