- Tips - Turn medication reminders off/on 💊
- Trivia - Test your Apple Watch knowledge 🧠
- Deep Dive - Discover the best accessories for your watch ⌚
- Health Challenge Update - Join our April 2026 Challenge! 🏆
- ⌚ Unpair your watch to upgrade models.
- 💊 Turn off annoying medication reminders.
- 📱 Transfer a call from watch to phone.
While your Apple Watch is equipped with a plethora of sensors, it doesn’t currently have a camera. But did its predecessors? True or False: One Apple Watch model had a camera.
✅True
❌False
Did you get it right? Scroll down to find out!
My job at iPhone Life has given me the unique opportunity to try out just about any Apple Watch accessory that piqued my interest. I'll make sure to give several options for each category to help you decide which accessories might be right for you!
My Favorite Apple Watch Bands for Different Occasions
The one must-have accessory every Apple Watch wearer needs is a watch band. I can confidently say that I've tested hundreds of them, and I have some thoughts.
Apple's Watch Bands
Apple sells a pretty small variety of pricey bands, with even fewer offered for free with an Apple Watch. I have enjoyed their Ocean Band (which costs $99 when purchased on its own but free with certain watch models) and worn it with my Ultra for diving because it's comfortable, waterproof, and can be adjusted to fit snuggly so I don't lose it even if I'm jumping off of cliffs. For daily wear, I really like Apple's fabric Trail Loop bands with velcro (which also cost $99 when purchased on its own but free with certain watch models). They are the most comfortable for everyday wear and activities like typing. They are also better than rubber or metal materials for sensitive skin, but the downside is that if they get wet, it'll take a while to dry. Apple's most expensive bands are the ones they make in partnership with brands like Hermès which can cost as much as $1,100.
The only time I ever purchased an Apple band that didn't come with a phone was to test their Solo Loop band that isn't adjustable for $49. While they have a size chart online and are open to exchanges, I highly recommend buying their non-adjustable bands in-store to get the right fit. I really liked my Solo Loop, but after six months of daily wear, it stretched out! Once your watch screen starts locking even while you’re wearing it, that's a sign that your band is too loose. A loose band messes with heart rate monitoring and everything else the watch tracks, which is why the correct fit is so important!
Third-Party Bands from $6 to $299
I used to have a case filled with at least five dozen bands, and I realized that my go-tos were the fabric velcro bands that I bought from Amazon for just $16 for a 6-pack.
These bands aren't the best for more formal events, so for those occasions, I go for metal bands. My favorite fancy band is Sandmark's Titanium Band ($299) because of its timeless style.
I've also worn lots of metal bands from Amazon that were more affordable and dainty, like this blingy bracelet-like band for just $7! Unfortunately, I developed an allergy to most metals and had to retire many bands.
Cool Functional Bands
One of my all-time favorite bands was the Wristcam band ($422) that doubles as two Apple Watch cameras. Does the average Apple Watch wearer need this? No. Did I have fun taking action videos with it on ziplines, rollercoasters, underwater, and other places I couldn't bring my phone? Yes!
Another one I enjoyed was the Reliefband ($29.99) attachment for my Apple Watch, which helps with nausea if you get car- or boat-sick. While it did help me feel a little better, I didn't like the bulk it added to my watch, and the band was not comfortable for long-term wear.
Best Apple Watch Chargers
While I prefer to use the regular charger my Apple Watch came with, I did use i.VALUX Portable Wireless Charger ($36) to have a backup wireless charging option while I traveled. It doesn't replace your need for a charger, as it can only charge your watch a little and is quite slow, but it can be a lifesaver in a pinch and offers some peace of mind. I also briefly used a Qi2.2 25W 3-in-1 Wireless Charger ($59) dock to charge my iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. It looked cute, but it wasn't as fast, and I found it a bit too gimmicky and switched back to Apple's standard chargers. But I do have colleagues who swear by the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock ($149).
Best Protective Accessories
The most practical accessories for your watch are those that help extend its longevity. If you want to protect the sides of your watch display, I like to get bumpers that don't include screen protection. I like these silly, blinged-out ones, but Amazon has lots of options in every style and color. At first, I bought a bumper to protect my screen for extra safety, but I kept getting water droplets under the screen every time I washed my hands, and it wasn't possible to dry out without removing the whole thing, which was annoying. If you want to protect your screen, try a sticker-type protector. I struggle to get these on right without seeing bubbles or debris, so I like the MAGIC JOHN 2 Pack ($13) because it comes with a self-aligning kit.
Did I miss your favorite Apple Watch accessory? Email OntheWatch@iphonelife.com and let me know!
❌ False
There were rumors for a bit that Apple was working on an Apple Watch model that would have a camera, but those plans were reportedly scrapped sometime last year. As of now, we haven’t seen an Apple Watch model that’s able to snap a photo, but there is a third-party watch band that does, you can learn more about it in the Deep Dive!
The April Challenge has begun, and if you join now, you can still get credit for all the activity you’ve done—as long as you’ve worn your Apple Watch during this time!
The monthly iPhone Life Challenge is a great way to come together as a community and motivate each other to reach our health goals by staying active. We’ll be doing a weekly accountability post for subscribers in our Insider Facebook group. Join to share struggles, trade tips, and support one another on our journeys.
To join the challenge, download the free Challenges app on your iPhone and enter the code 2F3U when prompted. Need help? This article explains the steps and tells you more about the app.
The top participants of the 2026 March Challenge are:
- John - 2,744 pts
- Becky Poe - 2,744 pts
- Keith Moehring - 2,611 pts
- Tanksi Thomas - 2,523 pts
- charliedornbos - 2,346 pts
- rmele - 2,048 pts
- Steve Reynolds - 1,923 pts
- Icraft464 - 1,820 pts
- mjosslad - 1,714 pts
- a jeshortmd - 1,710 pts
Are you enjoying the challenge? Do you have any suggestions for how we can make it even better? Email OnTheWatch@iPhoneLife.com and let me know.
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