Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The Apple Watch Pro may be bad news for your watch band collection

If you’re anticipating the reveal of the Apple Watch Pro at next week’s Far Out event, you may want to look out for this little detail. There’s a rumor going around that the Apple Watch Pro may not be compatible with your existing Apple Watch bands.

According to a post by Weibo user Uncle Pan (via MacRumors), the Apple Watch Pro will have a 47mm/48mm screen, complete with a flat, squared-out display. That means that the watch strap will be a little wider than the 41mm/45mm bands that are currently being used for the Apple Watch Series 7. Despite the strap having the same design as the existing ones, this change may force Apple Watch customers to pay extra money for new bands.

The back of a blue Braided Solo Loop Band on the Apple Watch Series 7.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The prices of the Apple Watch bands range between $50 and $850, depending on the style and material in which they’re made. The silicone bands are always on the lower end of the price range, while the braided straps cost $100. The most expensive watch strap in the Apple store is the leather Apple Watch Hermès – 41mm Fauve Barénia Gourmette Double Tour.

The Apple Watch Pro, which will launch alongside WatchOS 9 and Apple Watch Series 8, will possibly cost about $1,000. The higher price is likely due to it having a bigger screen, longer battery life, and increased durability. Even with those improvements, folks aren’t going to be happy about the prospect of spending extra money on new bands — especially if they’ve amassed a large collection of Apple Watch bands over the years.

As with any rumor, there is a speck of hope for you and your wallet. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman tweeted that the current bands will still be compatible with the Apple Watch Pro. His only concern is that they may not fit well or look as great given the watch’s size and design. It’s difficult to say which rumor is true, but it’s definitely a point to watch out for when the Apple Watch Pro is made official next Wednesday.

Editors' Recommendations

Cristina Alexander
Cristina Alexander has been writing since 2014, from opining about pop culture on her personal blog in college to reporting…
Apple may have delayed a critical Apple Watch upgrade
Smart Stack on the Apple Watch Series 9.

It seems Apple’s highly anticipated display upgrades, especially for the Apple Watch, will have to wait a few more years. According to Bloomberg, Apple has shuttered in-house efforts to design and develop microLED panels that would have appeared on its smartwatches — and eventually more products down the road.

The current-gen Apple smartwatches rely on an OLED panel, but Apple has been eyeing microLED screens for the Apple Watch's future iterations. These in-house panels, which would have offered “brighter and more vibrant visuals,” were ultimately put on cold ice due to cost and complexity concerns.

Read more
Why you shouldn’t buy a new Apple Watch right now
The curved screen on the Apple Watch Series 9.

It has been over six months since the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 launched, and they are still considered two of the best smartwatches on the market. However, there are two significant reasons why you might not want to purchase either of these models.

Those reasons are the Apple Watch Series 8 and the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. That's right — buying a 2022 Apple Watch over the newer models might be a better choice for you.
Why now's a great time to buy an old Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 9 (top) and Apple Watch Series 8 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more
Do iPhone 14 cases fit the iPhone 15? Sort of, but not quite
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro showing the screens.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series have identical display sizes, but there are slight variations in their total dimensions due to design changes. This has led to a common question of whether the cases designed for iPhone 14 would fit the iPhone 15 models. While the answer probably won't surprise you, it will likely disappoint you.

Read more