The Apple Watch Sport (the least expensive model) comes in five flavors, seen above. I have simple tastes. I didn’t want anything too ostentatious. A Sport with a black band was fine with me. The problem: The black band only comes with a “space grey” (read: black) Apple Watch Sport seen below.
In total, Apple offers ten Sport models to choose from online, but none of them pair the “silver aluminum” (read: “white-ish”) casing with a black band.
If you want the white-ish “silver aluminum” Sport watch, your choices for bands are white, blue, red, and green. No black.
Even though Apple offers free, unlimited in-store try-ons, they don’t have every combination available for you to see on your wrist (there are simply too many combinations). Apple set up the program to alleviate buyer’s remorse if the band you ordered online didn’t look and feel the way you thought it would. The specialist said that was an option for me and I was more than happy to take advantage of it.
Yesterday my watch arrived. White face with a white band. My first thought was that it was actually pretty striking, even though it was the most basic model available. But I had my heart set on the black strap, so to the Apple Store I went. I told them I wanted to swap out the white band for a black one. I was their first in-store band swap, and they were happy to make it happen. The specialist went to the back, got the new band, then started processing the transaction on her handheld device.
But there was a problem. She got a weird error message. She went to retrieve to a manager.
The manager then told me he’d try to get the swap to go through.
But he couldn’t get it to work, either.
The problem: Turns out the black band isn’t in the same “class” as the other bands that come with the Sport models.
It’s the same price. Same material. Just a different color. What?
A little more investigation revealed this isn’t a glitch. It’s very intentional. The fine print in Apple’s band swapping program is that you’re limited to only swapping for other bands that you could’ve bought at the time of purchase. A black band wasn’t an option for my white Sport watch at my time of purchase, therefore it’s not eligible.
Here’s where it gets interesting, though: If you ordered the more expensive stainless steel Apple Watch (non-sport model), which is available to order with either a white or black sport band, you could swap a white for a black one, no problem.
Unlike the Sport model, the more expensive sterling silver Apple Watch can be built-order with either a black or white sport band.
If you buy the stainless steel Apple Watch, the white and black sport bands are in the same class.
But if you ordered the Sport model, all of a sudden, those same two bands are now in a different class.
So if you really want a black band for your white Apple Watch Sport, your only choice is to pony up $50 to get one as an additional accessory.
The only possible explanation for this is that Apple really prefer owners of the silver aluminum Sport watch to not use it with a black sport band. But why?
And you know what? I actually found myself preferring the white band that originally came with the watch. You can’t tell from the photos, but the black band on the silver aluminum watch has a very ’80s Casio vibe. The issue isn’t too much black, since the Space Grey sport watch looks really good with the black band. The issue is that there isn’t enough silver aluminum. It’s just boring to look at, especially with the screen off (which it will be 95% of the time).
The silver aluminum casing with the black sport band looks a bit cheap in person, especially compared to all the other options Apple offers. It has a very “plastic-y” feel to it. I think that’s why Apple offers the space grey Sport model and only pairs it with the black band. Space Grey/Black is a more interesting combination Silver Aluminum/Black.
As for the white band that came with my white Sport watch, it was far less ostentatious than I was expecting. I wound up returning the black band and keeping the white one — and doing so gladly.
So why doesn’t Apple want you to get a white Apple Watch Sport with a black band?
One possible answer: Because they think it’ll be a popular option and want to get an addition $50 out of many users.
But the more likely answer: Because it’s just not that pretty.
If you’ve got a better explanation, I’m all ears.
Either way, it’s pretty clear Apple has made an official decision to discourage that combo’s availability at launch.
ps – if you got here from Reddit, thanks for reading this far! But please be kind… this is all in good fun!
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Hi, great blog and a very interesting observation. But why then can you get a black sport strap with the silver steel Apple watch ? Does the same reasoning not apply there ?
I bought the black band/space grey watch combination as well but didn’t like it. I took it back to the local Apple store and they gladly exchanged it for a white one. Then like you, I purchased the black band with the silver fastener (there are two black bands – one with a silver aluminum fastener and the other with a space grey aluminum fastener). I like the combination. I thought the black/grey combination was a bit “Timex-y”. I use the black band mostly for sports and casual activities and the white on occasion for accessorizing with appropriate compatible attire. I’m happy with this situation as the price is right vs. the higher priced Apple Watch with the black band and silver casing.
Excellent observation & I think you are spot on. Thanks!
Interesting. The lengths that they go to to prevent people from doing something lol! The silver Sport/black band combo was what I originally intended to get. I didn’t think it was going to be an offensive combo. But there’s got to be a reason it’s not available off the shelf, right? After reading about your experience (great blog btw) with it and seeing some firsthand pictures, I started to think twice. You’re right. It does look a little cheap. And apparently, The Juggernaut is right too. They just know what’s best for us.
I have the stainless steel sport Black/Black band combo. I purchased several extra bands to change the look. some was purchased from apple and some i purchased from a 3rd party. Well yesterday i wore my watch and had the 3rd party band on all day, it worked fine. last night I placed it on the charger like usual and this morning it would not come on. I couldn’t even see the lightening bolt or anything. I tried several things to try to get it to respond. I finally said i would take it back to the store. So i removed the band so i could put the black band back on and it came on. So i am guessing that apple has done something to prevent you from using other bands. I would assume if you are having issues and you are using bands that are not purchased by apple that you switch back to see if you get better performance. Has anyone had this same issue?
THE APPLE WATCH SPORT BAND are very interesting watch from another. We just be like black watch band because this band is already like almost . I like black watch band because this look very nice in pair black and white. Then i want purchase it . THANK FOR SHARING.
Apple watch sport bands comes in two band size option Apple watch sport bands 42mm and Apple watch bands 38mm. You will also get these sizes by third party Apple watch sport bands manufacturer. These bands fit wrists up to 8.9 inches in circumference and fully-adjustable.thanks for sharing this post with us.
Personally, I’m thinking of the ‘white’ watch/black band combo – but I like it (based on your picture). But I haven’t seen it in person, so I could be mistaken… I just figure a white band will get dirty fast!