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Apple Removes 14 Apple Watch Bands From Website, Many Others 'Sold Out' Ahead of September Event
We're just under one month from Apple's annual September iPhone event, which should also see the debut of the Apple Watch Series 4. Alongside each new edition of the Apple Watch, Apple typically updates its array of band accessories with new colors and styles. Echoing shortages from previous years, it appears that numerous Apple Watch bands have either been removed or are currently unavailable to purchase on Apple.com ahead of next month's event, as spotted by Reddit user ScaniaCB80.
Apple has long been upfront about its plan to offer seasonal availability of many new Apple Watch bands, with various styles and colors available only for a few weeks before disappearing from its official website. Still, massive removals and shortages like this week's have been a consistent indicator for new band refreshes, as the same events in June 2016, February 2017, and May 2018 have preceded fresh band colors and styles in September 2016, March 2017, and June 2018, respectively.
As of this morning, 14 bands across the Sport Loop and Sport Band families have been removed from Apple.com in the United States:
It appears that no other band types have seen removals, but many are sold out:
The Sport Loop now has one of the lowest available stock on Apple.com, with just four colors up for purchase in both 38mm and 42mm sizes. There are still eight colors of the Sport Band available to buy with the usual 2-day shipping estimate, although the Midnight Blue 38mm model is currently seeing a delivery estimate as far back as September 14 - 21 for free shipping.
In contrast, it appears that all of the Apple Watch Series 3 collections are still available to purchase on Apple.com in the U.S., in both GPS or GPS + Cellular, with the exception of many Hermès collections. This is a bit less common, as the collections (which bundle an Apple Watch case with a pre-determined band) have routinely seen shortages alongside the individual band shortages over the past few years.
Bands still available to purchase include every version of the Milanese Loop and Link Bracelets, which now date back to the launch of the original Apple Watch in 2015. Apple's more recent band refreshes have shied away from the expensive fashion side of the Apple Watch (which was a selling point of the original), now focusing on fitness and low-cost bands that can survive workouts and other external conditions.
As usual, stock shortages on Apple.com are far from a definitive confirmation of incoming hardware, but the timing does line up if Apple refreshes the bands next month alongside the Apple Watch Series 4. The new Apple Watch is expected to have a slightly new design with a 15 percent larger display, likely due to minimized bezels.
Just yesterday, six new Apple Watch model numbers were filed with the Eurasian Economic Commission, further confirming an incoming launch of the Apple Watch Series 4. Although specific hardware details will have to wait for Apple's keynote, as of now it's expected for Apple to continue supporting legacy Apple Watch bands on the Apple Watch Series 4.
Apple has long been upfront about its plan to offer seasonal availability of many new Apple Watch bands, with various styles and colors available only for a few weeks before disappearing from its official website. Still, massive removals and shortages like this week's have been a consistent indicator for new band refreshes, as the same events in June 2016, February 2017, and May 2018 have preceded fresh band colors and styles in September 2016, March 2017, and June 2018, respectively.
As of this morning, 14 bands across the Sport Loop and Sport Band families have been removed from Apple.com in the United States:
Sport Loop
- Marine Green
- Hot Pink
- Flashlight
- Tahoe Blue
- Midnight Fog (Nike)
- Cargo Khaki (Nike)
- Marine Green
- Hot Pink
- Flashlight
- Tahoe Blue
- Midnight Fog (Nike)
- Cargo Khaki (Nike)
Sport Band
- Marine Green
- Sky Blue
- Denim Blue
- Red Raspberry
- Lemonade
- Cargo Khaki/Black (Nike)
- Barely Rose/Pearl Pink (Nike)
- Black/White (Nike)
- Marine Green
- Sky Blue
- Denim Blue
- Red Raspberry
- Lemonade
- Cargo Khaki/Black (Nike)
- Barely Rose/Pearl Pink (Nike)
- Black/White (Nike)
It appears that no other band types have seen removals, but many are sold out:
Sport Loop
- Dark Olive
- Spicy Orange
- Pearl Pink (Nike)
- Bright Crimson/Black (Nike, 38mm)
Sport Band
- Peach
- Dark Teal
- Spicy Orange
- Pure Platinum/White (Nike)
Classic Buckle
- Spring Yellow (42mm)
- Electric Blue
- Soft Pink (42mm)
- Dark Olive
- Spicy Orange
- Pearl Pink (Nike)
- Bright Crimson/Black (Nike, 38mm)
Sport Band
- Peach
- Dark Teal
- Spicy Orange
- Pure Platinum/White (Nike)
Classic Buckle
- Spring Yellow (42mm)
- Electric Blue
- Soft Pink (42mm)
Woven Nylon
- Pride (42mm)
- Pink Stripe
- Blue Stripe (38mm)
- Gray Stripe (42mm)
- Black Stripe (38mm)
- Spicy Orange Check
- Berry Check (38mm)
- Dark Olive Check
- Midnight Blue Check
A large portion of the sold-separately Hermès bands are also unavailable to purchase at this time. As in previous years, the wording for each unavailable model isn't Apple's usual "Currently Unavailable" that typically appears when an item is temporarily out of stock for an undetermined period of time, but a more definitive "Sold Out."
- Pride (42mm)
- Pink Stripe
- Blue Stripe (38mm)
- Gray Stripe (42mm)
- Black Stripe (38mm)
- Spicy Orange Check
- Berry Check (38mm)
- Dark Olive Check
- Midnight Blue Check
The Sport Loop now has one of the lowest available stock on Apple.com, with just four colors up for purchase in both 38mm and 42mm sizes. There are still eight colors of the Sport Band available to buy with the usual 2-day shipping estimate, although the Midnight Blue 38mm model is currently seeing a delivery estimate as far back as September 14 - 21 for free shipping.
In contrast, it appears that all of the Apple Watch Series 3 collections are still available to purchase on Apple.com in the U.S., in both GPS or GPS + Cellular, with the exception of many Hermès collections. This is a bit less common, as the collections (which bundle an Apple Watch case with a pre-determined band) have routinely seen shortages alongside the individual band shortages over the past few years.
Bands still available to purchase include every version of the Milanese Loop and Link Bracelets, which now date back to the launch of the original Apple Watch in 2015. Apple's more recent band refreshes have shied away from the expensive fashion side of the Apple Watch (which was a selling point of the original), now focusing on fitness and low-cost bands that can survive workouts and other external conditions.
As usual, stock shortages on Apple.com are far from a definitive confirmation of incoming hardware, but the timing does line up if Apple refreshes the bands next month alongside the Apple Watch Series 4. The new Apple Watch is expected to have a slightly new design with a 15 percent larger display, likely due to minimized bezels.
Just yesterday, six new Apple Watch model numbers were filed with the Eurasian Economic Commission, further confirming an incoming launch of the Apple Watch Series 4. Although specific hardware details will have to wait for Apple's keynote, as of now it's expected for Apple to continue supporting legacy Apple Watch bands on the Apple Watch Series 4.
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Tag: Apple Watch bands
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[ 95 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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14 months ago
I hope they don't change the compatibility with the watch bands for the new watch, I want them all to still be useable. Also, I like that the screen size will be bigger, but I really want a round watch! It just looks so much better than square/rectangle, in my opinion.
Circular watch is a classic but the rectangular is what makes Apple's watch recognizable, at least that's what I think. With a round screen, you won't get a lot of room for apps.
14 months ago
"New watch bands! This is what EVERY SINGLE PERSON on MacRumors has been desperately waiting for!"
Said nobody ever.
Said nobody ever.
14 months ago
I hope they don't change the compatibility with the watch bands for the new watch, I want them all to still be useable. Also, I like that the screen size will be bigger, but I really want a round watch! It just looks so much better than square/rectangle, in my opinion.
14 months ago
I hope they don't change the compatibility with the watch bands for the new watch, I want them all to still be useable. Also, I like that the screen size will be bigger, but I really want a round watch! It just looks so much better than square/rectangle, in my opinion.
I hope this doesn't mean that our current bands won't work with gen 4.
Maybe I shouldn't have left this bit to the very last sentence :D: "Although specific hardware details will have to wait for Apple's keynote, as of now it's expected for Apple to continue supporting legacy Apple Watch bands on the Apple Watch Series 4."
14 months ago
Who buys overpriced bands from Apple when I can 3 or 4 for the same price on Amazon.
Why do you get to decide whats considered ‘overpriced’? Perhaps some perceive the value of Apples OEM bands to be a better quality and construction over third party bands.
14 months ago
why on earth would anyone purchase bands from apple when they can buy the exact same bands for a 10th of the price on any website... and get way better ones from companies like rockstar leatherwork and others...
Because Apples OEM bands are that *much* better quality over third-party bands for the most part in terms of materials, durability, thickness, and just overall construction is stellar. And yes, I can attest to that because I own a plethora of third-party (Sport bands, leather, ect) and Apple OEM bands, and none of those third-party bands even touch the quality of Apples bands.
If one wants to purchase a third-party band, you can save a significant amount of money, but don’t expect the quality that Apple delivers.
14 months ago
I'm in the market to get a new band or two and I was underwhelmed by apple's offerings. I'm hoping to see some vibrant colors
14 months ago
I hope they don't change the compatibility with the watch bands for the new watch, I want them all to still be useable. Also, I like that the screen size will be bigger, but I really want a round watch! It just looks so much better than square/rectangle, in my opinion.
Normally Apple puts form over function but I think they were right to go square for the watch. Watches are only round because hands rotate.
14 months ago
why on earth would anyone purchase bands from apple when they can buy the exact same bands for a 10th of the price on any website... and get way better ones from companies like rockstar leatherwork and others...
If you paid 1/10 Apple’s retail price for something that looks like something Apple makes, I promise it’s not the exact same thing.[ Read All Comments ]
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