Google hardly ever discounts its first-party Pixel Watch bands, but you don't have to settle for those overpriced options. Spigen is featured on the Google Store as a certified third-party seller of Pixel Watch 4 bands. That means these excellent bands from the brand are guaranteed to fit your Google Pixel Watch 4!

Thanks to Prime Day 2026, you can purchase all the very best Spigen watch bands for the Pixel Watch 4 for up to 67% off right now! I have listed my personal favorites here, from cheerfully colorful options like the Nano Pop to more mature-looking picks like the Lite Fit X. Have at it!

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Spigen Nano Pop Pixel Watch 4 Band

The waterproof Spigen Nano Pop Pixel Watch 4 Band band usually costs $29.99, which is typical of a Pixel Watch band. However, that regular price is currently slashed to a lowly $9.99 and that is something you do not want to miss out on.

The dual-toned Spigen Nano Pop Pixel Watch 4 Band is made of a soft silicone material and an aluminum pin-and-tuck, making it waterproof, adjustable, and pretty durable. It is available in 41mm and 45mm variants.

Choose from two colors: Blueberry Navy and Black Sesame. I personally prefer the brighter Blueberry Navy colorway, as it has a pop of yellow to contrast the dominant navy blue. But you can go for Black Sesame which has a black/gray combo if you're not big on bright colors.

Spigen Lite Fit X Pixel Watch 4 Band

The Spigen Lite Fit X Pixel Watch 4 Band only comes in one color variant: a black and gray checked pattern with slanted black lines embroidered on some parts of it. This is a sturdy nylon band that is highly elastic, so it stretches to adjust to your wrist.

The woven nylon material makes this a very breathable watch band that's suitable for daily wear. Available in 45mm and 41mm options, the Spigen Lite Fit X Pixel Watch 4 Band is 40% off with a coupon on Amazon.

Spigen Rugged Armor Pro Pixel Watch 4 Band

Looking for something that can take a beating? Spigen offers a more heavy-duty Pixel Watch 4 watch band in the for of the Rugged Armor Pro Pixel Watch 4 Band. This rugged number comes in an all black, faux carbon fiber ensemble.

The Spigen Rugged Armor Pro Pixel Watch 4 Band features a hard, scratch-proof polycarbonate exterior. It also incorporates flexible TPU for various parts and pieces, making the entire band impact-resistant to bumps and scrapes.

Not only does this band include a strap for the Pixel Watch 4, but it also has a case for the watch screen built in. Get it now for 16% off this Prime Day!

The Google Fitbit Air comes with three types of bands and seven colors overall, with a bonus Stephen Curry variant that costs $30 more than the others. Certain bands share colors, whereas a few of them are unique to a specific band. To simplify your decision-making process when selecting which Fitbit Air band color you should buy, I have listed every single color below.

Check out all the colors of the Fitbit Air bands first, as well as which band types come in each color. Then, you can narrow down which Fitbit Air band to buy.

Every color of the Fitbit Air band and the type of band each color comes in

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All these beautiful colors make it hard to settle on one Fitbit Air band color

The rich mix of colors, textures, and different colored metal clasps add depth to each Google Fitbit Air band colorway and band type. Placing all the options in once place helps you to compare and contrast all your options in a nutshell.

Now that you've studied all the possibilities, you know that four Fitbit Air band colors come as standard with the Fitbit Air itself, but only in the Performance Loop Band made of synthetic yarn. Namely, Berry, Lavender, Fog, and Obsidian.

Of course, if you want something different, you can also shell out $30 more and get the Fitbit Air Special Edition Stephen Curry Band in Rye as well.

I suggest choosing a basic color for the free Google Fitbit Air Performance Loop Band, something that goes with most of the casual, daily wear in your closet. This will be your most used strap, so it needs to be very versatile. Obsidian is the best option, unless you're like me and dress like a rainbow. In that case, just choose a color that's predominant in your wardrobe.

As with any wearable, I highly recommend grabbing at least one spare band, and two if you have the budget for it. This can be something waterproof, like the Active Band, or something more formal, like the Elevated Modern Band. It depends on your personal taste, lifestyle, and dressing preferences entirely. Happy shopping!

The Fitbit Air is Google's non-intrusive wearable, free of distracting screens. From pictures alone, at times it may look like the screenless wearable device is the band itself. That's not the case, however, and you can get one or two of the best Fitbit Air bands to dress it up as the occasion demands.

For now, first-party options are the only available straps for the Fitbit Air. I will be updating this guide periodically, so keep an eye on this space for third-party options once they're available. For now, here are the best Fitbit Air bands you can buy today.

Google offers some excellent — albeit limited — Fitbit Air band options

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The current roster of Fitbit Air bands is minimal but refined

Clearly, Google really learned a thing or two about what the public wants over the years. All of the Fitbit Air bands resemble the best Pixel Watch 4 bands, and the pricing is identical too. As someone who adores first-party Pixel Watch bands, I have no complaints in this regard. In fact, my only qualm is the lack of a metal band for the Fitbit Air.

The Google Fitbit Air Performance Loop Band and the Fitbit Air Active Band are priced the same at $34.99 apiece. Both bands come in the same four colors: Obsidian, Lavender, Berry, and Fog. These basic pieces blend seamlessly with any outfit and barely weight anything.

The synthetic yarn build naturally makes the Performance Loop Band lighter, but it is not waterproof. So if you want something more durable, you better grab the Active Band instead.

Meanwhile, the Fitbit Air Elevated Modern Band comes in three neutral colors that scream old money: Moonstone, Obsidian, and Porcelain. Here's the kicker — the fancy Elevated Modern Band costs a whopping $49.99. That's half the price of the wearable itself, so if you decide to purchase this luxurious strap, you must be feeling very extra. But if you can afford it, by all means, please treat yourself to this gorgeous band!

Once you're done shopping for the best Fitbit Air bands, check out this handy guide about the seven first things you should do with the Google Fitbit Air to make the most of it.

The Garmin Venu 4 comes in two case sizes, 41mm and 45mm. The smaller 41mm variant supports 18mm quick-release bands, whereas the 45mm version supports 22mm quick-release bands. Because this is a generic standard, the best Garmin Venu 4 bands are affordable, and the selection is huge. We've rounded up the best picks for you to choose from right here.

The best 18mm watch bands for the Garmin Venu 4 (41mm)

The best 22mm watch bands for the Garmin Venu 4 (45mm)

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Choosing the right Garmin Venu 4 watch band

Just like the Garmin Venu 4, almost all the best Garmin watches support universal quick-release bands. You just have to match the right-sized band to the case size of your model. If you've got the 41mm Venu 4, any 18mm quick-release band will fit it. And if you opted for the larger 45mm variant, stick with 22mm quick-release bands for perfect compatibility.

The Garmin Venu 4 comes with either a silicone or a leather band. Most people usually buy the silicone band set as it's a whole $50 cheaper than the leather strap bundle. If you fall into that category and are looking for an extra band, I suggest grabbing a metal watch band two-pack first. Both the ViCRiOR 18mm set and the GARTOO Metal Bands for Garmin 22mm kit are extremely affordable, priced below $20, and are made of waterproof stainless steel. This means they won't blacken over time, and neither will they get scratched or bent easily. A metal band is the fastest way to elevate any wearable, so don't skip this option!

Next, if you've still got some extra dough, I suggest getting a fabric band for everyday use. The Garmin Quick Release Bands ComfortFit Fabric comes in both 18mm and 22mm sizes, although the color options differ across sizes. Fabric is a sturdy material, comfortable, and more breathable compared to silicone or leather. The band's length is easily adjustable, which is another bonus. It's sure to alleviate some discomfort when you're working out or getting your daily steps in with the Garmin Venu 4.

The only drawback of getting Garmin's own first-party bands is that they are expensive. However, if you want the perfect fit, high-quality, and uniform branding, first-party is always the way to go.

All Google Pixel Watch models use the same proprietary connector

The original Google Pixel Watch came in a single 41mm case size, followed by the Pixel Watch 2 in the same size. With the Pixel Watch 3, Google finally listened to what the people wanted and introduced a larger 45mm option in addition to the petite 41mm size. Naturally, the Pixel Watch 4 continued the tradition, so it too comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes.

Since the very first Pixel Watch, Google has always used the same proprietary connector for its bands. Although I was very disappointed with this decision initially, I am not as angry with this decision anymore. Sure, it would have been nice to have a universal connector like the quick-release pins that almost every other smartwatch in the world uses. But now that we're a few generations in, there are plenty of Pixel Watch bands to choose from, even if they use a different connector. That was my main source of frustration; the connector is perfectly functional otherwise.

Every single Pixel Watch band can be used on every single Pixel Watch model, as long as you have the 41mm size. If you opted for the larger 45mm size on your Pixel Watch 3 or Watch 4, then you can only use the 45mm bands made for both watches on either model. I still have my original Pixel Watch Active Band in Hazel, and it fits the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 perfectly.

Don't get me wrong, the third-party options still pale in comparison to alternatives like the Galaxy Watch 8 or the Amazfit Balance 2, but Google has since expanded its own range of Pixel Watch bands considerably. Then there are brands like Spigen, which offer decent, affordable straps that fit the Pixel Watch connector well. I myself use the Spigen Lite Fit stretchy nylon band on a daily basis. For formals, metal bands like the link, mesh, or slim ones from Google are excellent options.

So if you're using the Pixel Watch 4, there are plenty of diverse watch bands that you can buy, including straps made of fabric, metal, and fluoroelastomer.

Prime Big Deal Days offer some major last-minute discounts on Galaxy Watches, but for those who already have their new Galaxy Watch 8 or Watch 8 Classic, it's still a good time to save. Specifically, Samsung's official watch straps are discounted for Prime Day, and you definitely need to stock up!

Samsung redesigned its 2025 watches with a "Dynamic Lug" system that plugs strap tongues directly into the watch for a more snug fit. It's very comfortable and helps the sensors rest flat against your wrist, but it also means your old straps from generations of Galaxy Watches won't work.

Samsung's official bands are expensive, but you can get the Watch 8 Nylon Fabric Band for 15% off for a lighter, more comfortable fit in multiple fun colors like Mint, Navy, or Coralred. Or if you want a more traditional silicone fit, the official Samsung Sport band is also 15% off, so you can swap regularly for style or hygiene.

If these Prime Day accessory prices aren't low enough for you, don't worry! We've also got a guide on the best Galaxy Watch 8 bands, mostly filled with third-party options that are significantly cheaper.

For example, if you want a stylish Metal band to match your Watch 8 Classic (or spruce up the base model), this striking Milanese metal loop is only $15.10 (24% off), while this popular PanPinnacle steel band is only $12.59 (30% off) and comes in several light or dark finishes to match your watch case.

If you want a more comfortable and lightweight style, these braided nylon fabric bands are only $7–10 each (up to 49% off) and come in a variety of fun colors!

If your main focus is stocking up on a ton of budget bands, you can buy this Nylon band in multiple colors for just $7.99 (38% off), meaning you could grab five for less than one official Samsung nylon strap! Likewise, these MoKo silicone bands are $7.99 (20% off) and imitate Samsung's colorful stitching flourishes on the band, while these cheap TiMOVO six-pack sets start as low as $11.89 (37% off).

I don't know which watch strap material or colors you prefer, or if you're willing to skip the high-quality Samsung originals for quantity. But if you bought the Galaxy Watch 8 or Watch 8 Classic at launch, you'll probably appreciate having some new watch bands to spruce up your new watch's style! And this is the right kind of last-minute Prime Day deal to buy: something cheap that upgrades your current tech rather than an expensive impulse buy!

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It may use proprietary connectors, but the upside to this is that the best Google Pixel Watch 4 bands can be swapped in a matter of seconds. The connection is sturdy, and it's far easier to disconnect and reconnect compared to universal quick-release pins. With bands that can be changed this easily, you can happily acquire a versatile collection of the best Google Pixel Watch 4 bands to pair with casual, formal, and semi-formal clothing.

Whether you need a classy leather band for a date or a sleek metal band for a formal meeting, we've got you covered. Not many reliable third-party accessories are available for the Pixel Watch 4 yet, so you'll notice that most of the best watch bands for the Pixel Watch 4 are either from Google or Spigen. Fortunately, many first-party bands are not as expensive as expected. As for budget shoppers, Spigen takes care of that with multiple affordable options that fit the Pixel Watch 4 nicely.

Keep at least one formal and one casual Pixel Watch 4 band in your arsenal

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Backwards compatibility with older Pixel Watch bands and the Pixel Watch 4

When looking to buy the best Google Pixel Watch 4 bands, folks with the smaller 41mm variant of the Android smartwatch are in luck. Since all Google Pixel Watches use the same proprietary connector, you get backwards compatibility. All Pixel Watch bands from the first to the fourth iterations share bands, but only for the 41mm size option.

Meanwhile, the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 can only fit older watch bands designed for the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 owing to the difference in measurements.

More on the best Pixel Watch 4 bands available right now

When looking at Pixel Watch bands made for the Google Pixel Watch 4, two brands stand out: Google and Spigen. There's always been a lack of third-party band options for the Pixel Watch, and this trend continued with the fourth Google wearable. While there are other accessory makers offering cheap options on platforms like Amazon, not many of them are from known names. Many of the cheap off-brand ones have a loose fit with the connector, so I don't recommend them often.

A good strategy when shopping for Pixel Watch 4 bands is to get one formal and one fun or casual option. That's the most versatile combo that won't be too heavy on your wallet. The formal option could be a pricey treat like one of the first-party metal bands, and the casual option could be something cheaper from Spigen. Of course, if money isn't an option, go ham. I would too, if I had the cash.

The Pixel Watch 4 comes with an Active Band, so I don't recommend getting more of the same. Instead, buy something like the Active Sport Band that's more durable and breathable. It can accompany you to the gym and on daily errands around town. If you want a cheaper option for rough use, I adore the Spigen Lite Fit stretchy nylon band. The only drawback with the flexible Spigen Lite Fit band is that it doesn't come in a 45mm option.

For special occasions like fancy dinners, birthday parties, or business settings, I recommend a metal band. I strongly believe every watch owner should have at least one metal strap in their arsenal. For the Pixel Watch 4, the lovely Pixel Watch Metal Slim Band is a superb option for smaller wrists. It isn't available in 45mm, so for the larger Watch 4 variant, you should get the classic Pixel Watch Metal Links Band instead. Although you only have two colors to choose from, the latter comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes. Both metal bands are made of stainless steel, which is incredibly durable, and come with extra links in the box so you can adjust the length. Google charges an arm and a leg for its metal bands, but it's a monopolistic situation, so you don't have any other choice.

Once you're done shopping for watch bands, be sure to get one or two of the best Google Pixel Watch 4 screen protectors as well.

Does your comfortable fluoroelastomer smartwatch band contain toxic chemicals that could transfer through your skin and cause eventual health issues? A scientific study suggests yes, but smartwatch brands like Apple and Google reassured me otherwise — at least about their straps.

Late last year, the nonprofit American Chemical Society posted a damning and concerning report, "Presence of Perfluorohexanoic Acid in Fluoroelastomer Watch Bands," by Wicks et al., suggesting that most common watch bands from the last few years have high levels of PFAS and PFHxA compounds with potential adverse health effects to the liver, thyroid, and other organs, as well as cancer.

The news made the rounds on consumer tech sites, and most readers had reason to worry: fluoroelastomer is one of the most common band materials for mainstream watches, along with silicone.

However, the study didn't say which smartwatch straps they tested had toxic chemicals, except that they purchased 22 bands "across numerous brands and price points" from Amazon and Best Buy in 2023 and that 13 of the 22 tested bands were advertised to contain fluoroelastomer.

I got my hands on the full paywalled report, which shows how they used particle-induced gamma-ray emission and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine which bands contained fluoride, PFAS, or PFHxA chemicals. The first is an expected ingredient in fluoroelastomer bands; the latter two are likely dangerous if ingested.

Of the 13 bands advertised as fluoroelastomer, seven had significant PFAS/ PFHxA chemical concentrations, while six had none or safely negligible concentrations. Of the other nine — likely using silicone or other common strap materials — only one had high PFAS/ PFHxA concentrations, and its high fluoride percentage suggests it might be a fluoroelastomer band in disguise.

What does this tell us? Fluoroelastomer bands aren't inherently dangerous because some brands remove or avoid using harmful chemicals in their manufacturing. The problem is that a majority of brands don't bother to do so, either out of negligence or ignorance of the implications. And we don't know which brands these are.

Will your fluoroelastomer band actually make you sick?

Ingesting or inhaling PFAS compounds is dangerous, but most people aren't going to eat their smartwatch straps. The question is whether or not "dermal absorption" of these chemicals is likely over years of wearing your smartwatch.

The team behind this ACS report can only answer this question vaguely because "dermal absorption of PFAS is poorly described" in a few scant studies. But because people wear smartwatches for 12+ hours per day, it "poses an opportunity for significant transfer to the dermis and subsequent human exposure."

They specifically suggest that the "additional sweat contact and open skin pores" caused by wearing fitness smartwatches for workouts could pose an additional risk — though thankfully, many fitness watches default to sweat-wicking silicone or nylon bands.

The study cites tests on mice that indicate PFAS and PFHxA will eventually absorb into your organs and bloodstream if placed on the skin. An "in vitro human skin equivalent model" absorbed "more than 50% of a PFHxA exposure dose."

Despite all this fearful language, it remains educated conjecture, not a certainty. It's unclear how much PFAS and PFHxA will actually transfer into your body over time and whether it would ever reach high enough levels to pose a health risk.

The study itself concludes that the findings "highlight a critical need for a more comprehensive exposure study of PFHxA that arises from fluoroelastomer watch bands worn on human skin." They never conclude a direct correlation between wearing a fluoroelastomer band and getting sick.

A relevant parallel to this fear-inducing study is the recent panic over black plastic cooking utensils and pans with high levels of flame retardants (via the New York Times), with evidence suggesting that these chemicals could leach into your food over time, especially in the presence of high cooking temperatures and oils.

That report probably led to some mass-dumping of black plastic spatulas, but it arose later in 2024 that the scientists had made a math error that magnified the issue by 10X, making it look worse than it was. And truly, the only way that the retardants will transfer to your food in significant quantities is if you leave your spatula sitting in hot oil for minutes at a time, which most people naturally wouldn't do.

My point is you can certainly replace your fluoroelastomer band; there are so many watch band alternatives like silicone, nylon, metal, and leather, if you're concerned. However, until there's concrete evidence of the rate or impact of dermal PFAS/PFHxA absorption in humans, you shouldn't panic about the years you've spent wearing a fluoroelastomer strap.

Plus, your fluoroelastomer band may not have any PFAS or PFHxA chemicals to begin with!

Brands like Apple and Google say their bands are safe

I emailed my contacts at Apple, Google, and Samsung about this report, asking if they have any comment on the findings, if their customers have reason to switch bands, and if they'll change any manufacturing processes in the future.

Apple and Google readily shared white papers indicating that they're already aware of the potential dangers and proactively remove PFAS from their smartwatch bands.

"Pixel Watch bands meet industry standards with regard to PFAS," Google told Android Central. "We proactively limit PFAS in our products and are committed to minimizing PFAS beyond what is required by law." Its white paper references PFAS, saying it would avoid "detectable levels" or up to 25 ppb of the compound in any device.

Apple's statement echoes Google's, and the company shared its 2022 white paper outlining its PFAS policy.

"Over a decade ago, we successfully eliminated two PFAS members — PFAS and PFOA — from our products," Apple told Android Central. "Apple has been working to phase out PFAS from all our products and manufacturing processes, which includes engaging with all of our supply chain partners and developing safer alternatives."

Update: After publication, a Samsung spokesperson reached out with the following statement: "At Samsung, customer safety and satisfaction are our top priorities. We remain committed to using safe and sustainable materials, while maintaining high-quality products."

Ideally, this would mean Samsung doesn't use these compounds either, though the statement doesn't say so explicitly. According to the Samsung Electronics Standards for Control of Substances used in products, PFAS is listed among "Potentially Risk Substances" and PFHxA in its "Restricted Substances" list with a 25㎍/kg maximum.

However, the latter lists July 2026–2027 as the implementation date to restrict PFHxA, so Samsung's "skin contact textiles" may currently use them, with the goal of eradicating them in the next couple of years.

At the very least, it's comforting that the biggest smartwatch brands have recognized the dangers of toxic compounds in smartwatch straps and taken steps to remove them. It's possible that two of the PFAS-free fluoroelastomer bands in the 2023 study came from the Apple Watch S9 and Pixel Watch 2.

If your Android watch comes from another brand, I still urge you not to worry prematurely. But most brands offer an easy way to swap out straps if you don't want to stress about it, and we do have guides on alternative bands — like Galaxy Watch 7 bands — if you want to shop around.

What you need to know

• An unannounced Pixel Watch band, referred to as the "Performance Loop Band," has appeared for a second time.
• After accidentally showing up in an Amazon listing last month, the bands popped up yet again on Best Buy and Amazon's online Canadian sites. 
• The existence of a soft Performance Loop band would fill a massive gap in the Pixel Watch ecosystem, offering an alternative to Apple's Sport Loop bands.

Google recently launched the Pixel Watch 3, but there's still one more thing wearable fans have been waiting for. Shortly after the Pixel Watch 3 was officially announced, an Amazon listing appeared for a "Performance Loop Band," which was seemingly posted in error. It was pulled, and Google never officially acknowledged the existence of the Performance Loop band. However, as spotted by Droid Life, the band recently appeared in another pair of retail listings before being quickly removed. 

The listings were posted to Best Buy Canada and Amazon Canada on Sept. 19 and were fairly detailed. There are band options in at least four colors, called Dark, Light, Mojito, and Cosmic. The first two are basic black and white colorways, but the latter are bright green and pink hues. Here's how Best Buy describes the Performance Loop in the most recent listing (via Droid Life): 

"Functionality and style comes with the Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) Performance loop band. Your new run buddy is micro-adjustable for the perfect fit, featuring the right amount of stretch during workouts. It’s made with comfortable recycled fabric."

Although this description only notes that the Performance Loop is for the Pixel Watch 3 (41mm), that's just because there are separate listings for sizes and colors. A few product pages appeared for the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, signaling that this fresh strap will support the entire Pixel Watch family. It is marketed as a fitness-first smartwatch band with superb breathability and comfort, kind of like the Sport Loop band that Apple sells for the Apple Watch. 

Similarly to the Sport Loop, the Performance Loop has a fabric material and an elastic strap design, using a "micro-adjustable" Velcro closure mechanism. However, compared to the Woven Band, it has thinner and tighter stitching. The entire band uses nylon, recycled polyester, and elastane yarn. 

All signs are pointing to the Performance Band costing around $60, if not cheaper. The first Amazon listing priced the strap at $43.04 in U.S. dollars, while the second set of product pages priced it at $79.99 in Canadian dollars. If the Performance Loop matches the price conversions of existing Pixel Watch bands between U.S. and Canadian dollars, it would cost $59.99 in U.S. dollars. This is all to be confirmed because Google hasn't even officially announced this band yet. 

While we still don't have an official release date, the fact that the Performance Loop has appeared once again in multiple listings could mean a launch is imminent.

Where are all the Pixel Watch bands?

A Sport Loop competitor feels long overdue for the Pixel Watch band lineup, as Google offers a few other competing versions of popular Apple Watch bands. The Stretch Band, a continuous loop of similar fabric material to the unreleased Performance Loop, matches up well with Apple's Solo Loop. The Active Sport Band compares to Apple's Sport Band, and so on. However, for people who don't find Google's first-party Active Sport Bands or Stretch Bands comfortable for workouts, something was missing. 

Being that the Pixel Watch product category is only a few generations old, the market for third-party watch bands isn't as robust as for, say, Apple or Samsung watches. It doesn't help that the Pixel Watch uses a proprietary band connection system. It's specific to the Pixel Watch family, much like the Apple Watch system. Since the Pixel Watch simply doesn't command the same sales as the Apple Watch, there is less incentive for watch band manufacturers to support the lineup. 

Apple succeeds in the first and third-party band markets because it moves enough volume to sell an assortment of different SKUs, and Apple Watch owners are willing to pay for great third-party bands. Samsung, on the other hand, avoided the Pixel Watch's current problem by not using a proprietary band connection system at all. The Galaxy Watch 7 uses standard 20mm watch bands, just like previous Galaxy Watch models. 

There are pros and cons to going with a proprietary band connection system or choosing to stick with a standard. Historically, the watch lugs of a Galaxy Watch don't look as seamless as the design of a Pixel Watch or Galaxy Watch. With that being said, Galaxy Watches can tap into a rich market of third-party watch bands, which is a real plus. 

I've tried a Pixel Watch, and the disappointing band selection was one of the many things that pushed me back to watches from Apple and Samsung. Hopefully, Google can start improving this by making the rumored Performance Loop available for Pixel Watch owners soon. 

This week, Polar released a 22mm "Payment Wristband" with an NFC chip embedded into the strap, enabling tap-to-pay if your watch doesn't support it. We haven't seen tech-filled watch bands since the early days of Pebble and Galaxy Gear, but Polar's modular tech has me curious if this abandoned idea deserves a renaissance.

Smart straps died for several reasons. Put tech in a strap, and it naturally loses its flexibility, is more prone to failure, requires a power source, and is generally less comfortable. It also prevents users from swapping in their own straps since it means losing functionality.

Instead, with massive watches like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 on the rise, designers use lightweight bands as crutches to offset the extra weight. A thick, tech-filled band would be counterproductive. 

With that context, it's hard to imagine why anyone would want "smart straps" to return. Still, handled correctly, smartwatch bands have untapped potential, and some companies have begun to explore that potential.

A brief, ill-fated history of 'smart' watch bands

The original Samsung Galaxy Gear packed a 720p camera with autofocus, two mics, and a speaker into its band. Samsung's engineers saw that extra band space as an opportunity to keep the main watch more compact, instead of cramming everything into one space. 

Our original reviewer called the 73g Gear "bulky and uncomfortable" and the strap's camera sensor a "wart." Samsung's engineers agreed. The Gear 2 moved the camera and mic/speaker tech onto the watch, and future iterations like the Gear S2 had a much greater focus on style and comfort. From then on, you could swap any band onto a Gear or Galaxy watch without losing essential tech. 

In that same early era, Pebble launched Pebble Time, its 2nd-gen watch, on Kickstarter with a unique "Smartstraps" gimmick. It featured a "smart accessory port" so third-party strap makers could pack tech and sensors into their straps that would sync directly with the watch. 

Pebble offered $1 million in funding for Smartstrap devs, promising users add-ons like GPS, heart rate, or extended battery life. There was even an NFC payment strap from Pagaré. However, once Fitbit acquired the failing Pebble brand the following year, the concept died before it could truly begin. 

These "optional" health and fitness add-ons became default features in fitness watches over time. Watch designers have become so efficient at squeezing useful components into a 13mm case that pushing tech into a thick band would unnecessarily complicate matters.

Sony took a different approach, selling standalone smart straps that you attach to non-smart luxury watches. Its 2015 Wena Wrist Pro tracked your steps, calories, and sleep. It even had a bizarre sliver of an OLED screen that displayed tiny contextual data along your wrist. However, its excessive price and limited features made it a novelty that never caught on.

It also sold a standalone fitness tracker with built-in GPS and HR data called the Wena Wrist Active. I mention it because Sony designed it with a unique connector that lets you mount any watch onto its front, adding classic style while keeping the health data.

Besides the 2013 Hands On Talk Watch, which had a mic and speaker embedded in the strap (thanks Wikipedia), I don't know of any other smartwatches with smart bands. The concept seemed to die off quickly, as most brands emulated Apple or Galaxy Watches in design.

The perks and challenges of modular watch upgrades

Polar's €59 Payment Wristband has one straightforward application: It is designed to make consumers pay for NFC themselves rather than add the tech to its Polar Vantage V3 or other watches. It's a niche tool, unlikely to achieve high sales, but still quite useful.

Are there other smartwatch "extras" that could fit inside a 20mm or 22mm watch band? It's complicated. 

Ultramarathoners would love the original Pebble concept of a battery-enhancing, swap-on strap. Here's the problem: You'd need an energy-receiving port in the strap connector — probably not Quick Release-compatible — and engineers would need to keep the band light and flexible despite how thick batteries typically are. Plus, encasing batteries in TPU material leaves them vulnerable to damage and failure.

I don't have a design or engineering background, but an add-on strap with Ultra Wideband seems more feasible. UWB lets iPhone 15 owners pinpoint their lost Apple Watch or use their watch as a digital car key; the next Pixel Watch could add UWB as well. But an UWB strap, like an NFC strap, could theoretically work as a standalone add-on for any watch.

Straying freely into wish-fulfillment territory, I suspect most Garmin watch fans would love a strap that added LTE compatibility. Since the Forerunner 945 LTE, they've waited in vain for more cellular options that would make Garmin watches more useful in emergencies. 

Like a battery strap, though, an LTE strap would be difficult to implement. Despite how small a 5G chip is, a standalone receiver with the necessary power source would be the opposite of portable. You'd need a physical connection through the strap to the main CPU, and I just don't know if that would work. 

For any other potential watch add-on, the engineering challenge alone makes it more likely that smartwatch brands would simply...put the tech in the watch. For example, you might assume a band could track an athlete's sweat loss, but this Apple patent shows how a watch would track that data directly from the main body.

The future of smart straps

Currently, the only practical application I know of for a dynamic watch strap is found on portable blood pressure watches. Several models have inflatable straps that expand during BP readings for more accurate results, in theory. I couldn't tell you if the Galaxy Watch 6's BP readings are more or less accurate with a normal watch band.

The next frontier is all about neural interface bands. Think of the Double Tap feature made popular with the Apple Watch, only with much better accuracy because these bands can read the signals from your brain, knowing that you intend to make a pinching motion even if your fingers barely move. 

The Mudra Band, released this year, replaces your typical watch strap and becomes a neural controller for any Apple computer, TV, Vision Pro, or other devices. Tech nerds could get a lot out of this, though it costs nearly as much as the Series 9 itself. 

Meanwhile, Meta is making its own neural EMG band, promising mid-air typing to chat with an AI. CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims the "neural interface continuously gets better over time at understanding each person" and says it'll be product-ready in a couple of years. I'd have to assume it'll be pricey, as well. 

Perhaps that's the future of smartwatch strap tech that we should expect: expensive, niche, a bit gimmicky, and with cool implications. More straightforward smart straps with feature additions or battery enhancements sound pretty neat in theory, but a bit too impractical and costly to the consumer for companies to invest in the idea.