Skip to main content

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

Apple employees celebrate LGBTQ Pride with rainbow Apple Watch bands

This past weekend, the world lit up in colors of the rainbow in a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ community. In San Francisco, the annual Pride Parade drew hundreds of thousands of supporters, including Apple employees and CEO Tim Cook. And to commemorate the momentous occasion, the tech giant broke from its generally monochromatic color scheme, giving employees Apple Watch bands bearing the many colors that have come to symbolize the LGBTQ community around the world.

The bands, which are not currently available for purchase by everyday consumers like you and me, were first revealed on Reddit when user Sakusuhon posted a picture of the band, noting that they were “distributed as gifts for registration.” The special watch bands were accompanied by a placard that reads: “Apple’s first Diversity Network Association, Pride, turns 30 this year and we’re thrilled to celebrate this tremendous milestone with you! As recognition for everyone who registered to participate in the Pride event this year, we created something special. This limited-edition band is a symbol of our commitment to equalit, and we hope you’ll wear it with pride.”

Recommended Videos

Apple certainly has significant ties to the LGBTQ community, with CEO Tim Cook recently ranked as the most influential LGBT person of 2016 in Out Magazine’s 10th annual power list.

And while you could ostensibly buy a third-party Apple Watch band to show off your pride, they don’t look quite as nice as the nylon Apple-sanctioned ones. That said, you can check out the available selection here.

The Cupertino, California-based company has consistently come out with new bands, and, of course, a number of luxury brands have partnered with the tech company to design bands of their own. But this band may just be the best thing that we’ve never had. Who knows — maybe if we raise a large enough ruckus, we, too, will be able to enjoy Pride bands of our own.
Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
I bought a $12 ‘Apple Watch’- and it’s bizarre
Homescreen on a $12 Apple Watch Series 10 copycat product

One of my favorite things about Huaqiangbei, the world's craziest tech market, is the diverse range of wares available in its various stalls. Visit this market in Shenzhen, China, and you'll find thousands of small retailers selling a wide range of products, with the majority being branded or inspired by Apple. 

I found $9 AirPods Pro that were original and a great bargain, as well as a host of drones and other tech products. The strangest purchase? This $12 Apple Watch Series 10, which resembles the original Apple Watch at least until you start using it. 

Read more
Apple Watch owners can earn an exclusive reward to celebrate its 10th birthday
Activity Rings on the Apple Watch Series 10.

Apple is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch by marking April 24 as Global Close Your Rings Day, giving owners an exclusive reward when they close all their Activity rings.

The company shared plans for the Apple Watch's milestone birthday in a press release on Monday, encouraging users to be more active throughout the day and close their move, stand, and exercise rings in order to receive an exclusive reward created especially to celebrate the Activity rings that came with the first batch of the Apple Watch line, as well the Activity app on iPhone. If you close all your rings by doing the exercises you love and move around more during the day, you'll get a limited-edition badge with gold borders, plus 10 colorful animated stickers for the Messages app.

Read more
Apple Intelligence is coming to the Apple Watch in a limited capacity
A person wearing the Apple Watch SE 2.

In his most recent Power On newsletter, Apple insider Mark Gurman says the Apple Watch won't be receiving onboard Apple Intelligence, but it will still get useful features that are powered by AI. While the Apple Watch isn't receiving a major overhaul, Gurman says it will get some new interface elements and give users a "smaller taste of the big shifts underway at Apple."

These upcoming changes will be announced in more detail at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC). Gurman says the two main subjects of the June event will be Apple Intelligence and something called Solarium, the internal name for a new design language Apple plans to implement for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Read more