Apple Announces Nylon Watch Bands, Drops Starting Apple Watch Price to $299

At Apple's March 2016 event today in its Cupertino headquarters, the company announced a brand new band material for its Apple Watch: woven nylon. Apple also announced several new colors for other Apple Watch bands, including a black Milanese Loop. The Apple Watch will also see a price drop, with the Apple Watch Sport now starting at $299.

wovennylon

The new woven nylon bands, which are the signature addition to the new "spring collection" of Apple Watch bands, are priced at $49 and come in 7 colors: Gold / Red, Gold / Royal Blue, Royal Blue, Pink, Pearl, Scuba Blue and Black.

Other new bands include Red and Marine Blue Classic Buckles, Marigold and Blue Jay Modern Buckles, White and Storm Gray Leather Loops, Space Black Milanese Loop, and Yellow, Apricot and Royal Blue Sport Bands.

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Tags: Apple Watch bands, March 2016 event

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Top Rated Comments

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dsburdette

45 months ago

I'm interested in an Apple watch at a price point of about $99-$129. As someone who abandoned watches a long time ago, I just cannot get excited at all. That's not speaking against the array of features it has, but more that I'm completely disinterested in this category.

Rating: 6 Votes

OldSchoolMacGuy

45 months ago

Big price drop..
Sales must be lower than they expected/want.

They sold for that much around Xmas. They just have room to discount and are taking advantage of that to drive more sales before they roll out an upgrade.

Rating: 6 Votes

cloudness

45 months ago

Just finished browsing the updated Apple Store (nylon bands are priced as sport bands) and getting increasingly frustrated by lack of options for black watches.

Rating: 4 Votes

nburwell

45 months ago

I'd have to see these bands in person before I pass judgment. However at first look, I'm not really a fan.

FYI, Best Buy and Target have the AW starting at $249 for the sport model. I picked the rose gold sport model up for my girlfriend for her birthday yesterday.

Rating: 3 Votes

vooke

45 months ago

Underwhelming

Rating: 3 Votes

doelcm82

45 months ago

It doesn't help Apple's image either. Other than the original iPhone (which was a brand new market category for the entire cell phone industry - which the watch is not), I don't think Apple has ever dropped the price on a product less than a year old without releasing a new one to take its place.

Very telling.

Those who owned smartphones before Apple came out with the iPhone (and who argued to anyone who would listen, that the iPhone wasn't even very "smart") will take exception to your assertion that the smart phone category was created by Apple, while the smart watch category was already mature.

Or were you talking about some other category? If so, what is that category called in the industry press?

In what ways does lowering the price on the year-old Apple Watch damage your personal opinion of Apple?

Rating: 3 Votes

blairh

45 months ago

Still too expensive. Should start at $250. This is coming from an AW user and fan.

Rating: 2 Votes

parseckadet

45 months ago

One of the biggest appeals of nylon watch bands is they often look great while being cheap compared to other options. I fail to see how Apple can justify $50 for a nylon band that probably costs them 50 cents to make.

Rating: 2 Votes

chriscrk

45 months ago

They should have made watch bands with new sensors imo...

Does anyone think they'll release a new Apple Watch this year? Or they will update every two years?

Rating: 2 Votes

btrach144

45 months ago

They should have made watch bands with new sensors imo...

Does anyone think they'll release a new Apple Watch this year? Or they will update every two years?

The same rumors that stated we'll only see new bands today claim that Apple Watch 2 is slated for a September release. So 1.5 years after launch.

Rating: 2 Votes

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