New 'Solo Loop' Style Bands Optimized for Apple Watch Series 4 and Later

Apple has new band styles for the Apple Watch out today, called the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop. In the details on each band's store page, Apple points out that these bands are aimed at the Apple Watch Series 4 and later watches.

solo loop compatibility
The reason for this is because these new bands come in eighteen different size options. Apple gives customers a printable tool to find their perfect fit for the Solo Loop bands on Apple.com.

Once you print the tool out and wrap it around your wrist, Apple gives you a number of 1-12, which corresponds to which case size (40mm or 44mm) and band size you'll need. There is some overlap between 40mm and 44mm case sizes, increasing the band size count to eighteen.

printable apple watch tool
These sizing options omit the older Apple Watch case sizes of 38mm and 42mm. To keep things simple, Apple is noting that the bands are only compatible with modern models of the Apple Watch, essentially including Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

Still, these new bands should technically fit on the equivalent 38 and 42mm casings from Series 3 and earlier, but you may have to size up a bit to account for the slightly smaller casing if you want to use one of these bands with an older watch. We should get more detailed information about fit and compatibility for these new bands once they start arriving to customers later this week.

Catch up on today's news by reading our full coverage on the Apple Watch Series 6.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 10, Apple Watch SE
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

iamMacPerson Avatar
61 months ago
‘Only compatible with modern models of Apple Watch’.

Ummm they still sell the Series 3...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
61 months ago

What? I’ve never had a band start to smell, and I don’t clean them nearly as often as I probably should.
Given your username, I am rather surprised that is the case. :P
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
61 months ago
It's too bad they didn't simply say "if you're wearing your band on this hole on 40 or 44mm watch, this is the size you need"

referencing the sport bands of course.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chewie16 Avatar
61 months ago
Did you guys notice that this band is made from silicone and not fluoroelastomer?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stromos Avatar
61 months ago

The sport bands are made out of fluoroelastomer due to their lower allergic reaction rates. IIRC Apple made a point of this when they released them.

Silicone on the other hand is a common allergy nuisance.

The Watches all use the same slot, the only difference is a very minor difference in the corner radius.

How can it be that they are not compatible with all models?
Think its more likely the sizes are different on the watch itself. So the sizing tool isn't going to be accurate.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JimmyBanks6 Avatar
61 months ago

Think its more likely the sizes are different on the watch itself. So the sizing tool isn't going to be accurate.
If that was the case you would think Apple would just release two sizing tools depending on your model though.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)