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13 best Apple Watch accessories to pair with your smartwatch

The Apple Watch is one of the best smartwatches around, but we’ve found a way to improve it just a little bit more with these 13 great Apple Watch accessories. The products below let you customize your Apple Watch experience, and they’re available to purchase from Apple directly as well as third-party manufacturers. 

If you’d like to pimp out your timepiece with a striking new look, or want to protect it from superficial damage, there’s an accessory out there that will do the job. As the Apple Watch 6 and Apple Watch 5 haven't changed too much from their predecessors, most of the accessories below should be compatible, particularly as Apple has continued to use the same straps and technology.

To create this list, we've scoured the web for the things we're most impressed by, offering some cool features to enhance the power of your smart timepiece. We've ranked these from cheapest to most expensive according to prices at time of writing  - however, some variation may occur over time.

Griffin Survivor

1. Griffin Survivor Tactical Case

A sporty case that adds protection

Colors: Green, Blue, White, Black, Coral Fire

Durable
Lots of color choices
Only suits a sporty setting
Doesn't use premium materials

Griffin knows all about extreme phone defense, and the company recently transferred its protective case smarts over to the Apple Watch, with decent results.

The Survivor Tactical Case boasts a tough screen guard to keep your watch's display safe from scratches without compromising the display's touch responsiveness, and a molded TPE/polycarbonate body clips over the case to protect the Digital Crown from above, while remaining accessible from below.

2. Wearlizer Metal Watch Band Clasp

Lets you use normal straps with your Apple Watch

Colors: Silver, Gray

Massively widens your strap choice
Not too pricey
Doesn't do much without a new strap
Not the most exciting present

We knew it was inevitable, but Apple ditching standard watchbands for something much more proprietary is still a blow, especially to those of us who don't want to splash out on the stainless steel link bracelet Apple is selling just to inject some metal into our watch.

Thankfully, this Wearlizer adaptor exists. Slotting into the wearable, it lets you attach almost any regular watch strap you want.

Best Apple Watch bands

3. Apple Sport Band

An official Apple band alternative

Colors: At least 15

Lots of colors
Simple and hard-wearing
Fastening isn’t for everyone
Not breathable

Want an alternative Apple Watch band for your wrist? We'd recommend this official choice from Apple, but there are a wider variety of choices out there so you can accessorize your watch.

It’s available in fifteen colors to suit most outfits and there’s a charity-helping Product Red version too. You don’t need to worry about getting the right size, either: you get S/M and M/L straps in the same box.

4. Nomad Pod for Apple Watch

A stylish way to boost your battery

Colors: Space Gray, Silver

Keeps your watch battery alive
Stylish design
A bit DIY
It's one more thing to carry with you

External power packs are a must for the Apple Watch if you plan to use it heavily. This particular one is sleek, molded from aluminum and packs an 1800mAh battery. It looks like it could have come from one of Apple's own design studios. 

It's a little 'DIY' though, as you have to use your own MagSafe charging cable, plug it into the battery and then wrap it around the interior to actually charge your Watch.

Still, being able to juice up the wearable a few times in our pocket sounds good to us.

5. Griffin WatchStand

One stand for two devices

Colors: Black, White

Holds your iPhone too
Affordable
Plastic
Only comes in two colors

Griffin's WatchStand is a nightly home for the wearable and your iPhone. There's a lip on the front that'll prop up your smartphone, while a raised arm proudly hoists your Watch into full view.

You'll be able to attach the MagSafe charger, but it doesn't look like there's anywhere for the iPhone cable. Saying that, it is one of cheaper docking solutions for the Apple Watch, and while it's not constructed from metal the matte black plastic still looks good.

Zens powerbank

6. ZENS Apple Watch Powerbank

Keeps your Watch charged while you're on the move

Colors: White, Gray

Compact
Provides multiple charges
Pricey
Won't charge other gadgets

Charging solutions don't come any simpler or smaller than this. Zens' minuscule Apple Watch power bank doesn't have a Lightning cable port - instead, it relies on an internal 1300mAh battery which is attached to an embedded inductive charger.

Four LEDs on the side indicate the battery's power level, and the cube packs three full charges before it needs to be plugged in for re-juicing via its micro USB port (although, irritatingly, adapter not included).

The Powerbank also supports Night Stand mode, making this a great all-round travel companion.

7. Twelve South HiRise

A classic stand made of metal

Colors: Black, Silver

Premium
Suits the Apple Watch
No cable included
Pricey

This is a rehash of Twelve South's older HiRise stands for iPhone and iPad (both of which we're huge fans of), but made to keep your Apple Watch charged up and visible when it's not attached to your wrist.

Its aluminum body, available in either black or silver, is Apple-esque and the finish, especially the soft silicone coated edges that'll stop any scratches appearing when you lift up or set down the wearable, is certainly premium.

You'll need to provide your own MagSafe cable, so it's probably best to pick up a spare unless you want this to be your charging solution.

8. Twelve South TimePorter for Apple Watch

A compact travel companion

Colors: Black, White

Room for an extra band
Doubles as a charging stand
Charging cable not included
Closing mechanism a bit iffy

This neat-looking capsule works as both a case and a stand for your Apple Watch, and the fact that it can hold a charging cable, USB charger, and an extra watch band makes it a compact travel solution.

The charging disc slots into an integrated opening in the top of the case, which feeds power to your Apple Watch when it's draped over the front. The hinges are also stiff enough to keep the case open at an angle, allowing your watch to go into Nightstand mode as it charges.

9. Moov HR Burn Sports Chest Strap

A more accurate way to track your heart rate

Colors: Black

Very accurate HR readings
Adjustable chest strap
Comfort may be an issue for some
Kind of pricey

The fitness features of the Apple Watch are a big draw, especially for runners and swimmers, but like all smartwatches, the accuracy of the wrist-based heart rate monitor suffers during more complex exercises involving varied movement, such as high-intensity workouts.

The Moov HR Burn gets around this problem by recording your heart rate using chest-based sensors, where readings are more consistent. It also pairs with Apple Watch over Bluetooth, making your iPhone fitness data more accurate in the process.

10. Sena Leather Watch Case

Lets your Watch travel in style

Colors: Black/Gunmetal

High quality
Magnetic lid
High price
Only comes in one color

Sena makes brilliant leather sleeves for iPhones, iPads and more. This is a neat travel case that protects the Watch when it's in your luggage. It also works as a charging stand.

It's compact and light, though there's a useful compartment in the base for the charging cord. This is handy when you're travelling, in case there's no convenient surface to rest the Watch on in your hotel room, say. It also means that you can leave the charging cable permanently connected.

The lid is magnetic, too, so you can be sure the Watch stays safely inside.

Apple AirPods (3rd generation)

(Image credit: Apple)

11. Apple AirPods (3rd generation)

The latest AirPods with spatial audio

Colors: White

Spatial audio
Adaptive EQ
Cheaper options out there
No noise cancelling 

The latest Apple AirPods, these will take seconds to pair with your Apple Watch and other Apple devices. They now offer spatial audio with dynamic head tracking along with adaptive EQ so they sound better than ever before. With skin-detecting sensors, they'll also detect when you take them out or when you put them back in, saving you plenty of hassle.

While there's no active noise cancellation like the Apple AirPods Pro, these sweat and water resistant earbuds are still ideal for your daily workout or simply relaxing at home. Working so well with your Apple Watch helps all the more.

Beoplay

12. B&O Beoplay H5 Wireless Earphones

High-end earphones packed full of features

Colors: Black, Dusty Rose

Great sound
Well designed
Very expensive
Only two color choices

If you like to keep track of your fitness activities using your Apple Watch but crave a little musical motivation on those long and lonely runs, then Bluetooth earphones are the way to go.

These premium buds by Bang & Olufsen sit at the high end of the wireless earbuds market, but the H5's are brilliantly designed. The magnetized buds snap together around your neck and auto-power off when not in use, they sound excellent, and you can even take calls thanks to the built-in microphone.

They also come with a neat magnetized charging cube and plenty of spare ear tips for matching your comfort and size needs.

The Von Holzhausen Watch Band Pouch

(Image credit: Apple)

13. The Von Holzhausen Watch Band Pouch

Stylish storage

Colors: Black

Stylish way to store watch bands
Vegan material
Expensive
Far from essential

If you've collected a few different watch bands over the years, you might be struggling to store them easily. That's where the Von Holzhausen Watch Band Pouch helps. It has three compartments for straps along with two elastic pockets too so you can store your watch and a charging puck. 

Created from Technik-Leather, it's 100% vegan too and made from sustainably made performance fabric so it's durable and good for everyone. Even the inner lining is made from recycled plastic water bottles. If you only have one strap though, this is an expensive bag. 

Insuring your Apple Watch

An Apple Watch is something you wear everywhere, so it's especially vulnerable to damage - while being so small means it could be easy to lose. For coverage against all that - plus loss - those in the UK might want to consider getting it insured with GoCompare's best contents insurance deals.



source https://www.techradar.com/news/best-apple-watch-accessories/

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