What Apple Watch accessories are actually worth buying?

[codeberg]

I'm a total newbie when its comes to Apple Watch. Any sage advice?
I've been looking into Apple Watch accessories and there's a lot more out there than I expected.

Straps, chargers, cases, stands, screen protectors, etc.

Some of them look useful, others feel like things you'd buy once and never use again.

A few I've been considering:

Apple Watch Sport Band
Spigen Rugged Armor Case for Apple Watch
Belkin BoostCharge Apple Watch Charger
Anker Portable Apple Watch Charger

Main things I'm trying to figure out:

are protective cases actually worth it or overkill
do third party chargers work reliably long term
are extra straps worth having or do people just stick to one

Also wondering if there are any accessories people bought and ended up never using.

Would be good to hear what's actually worth it vs what's just extra clutter

[Totally]

Extra straps are definitely worth it.

I ended up switching depending on what I'm doing.

Sport band for gym, something nicer for going out

[QuantumDay]

I tried a case and took it off after a week.

Makes the watch feel bulky and kind of ruins the look.

Unless you're rough with it, probably not needed

[QuantumKnight]

Portable charger is actually useful.

Especially if you travel or forget to charge overnight.

Saved me a few times already

[codeberg]

Third party chargers are fine if you stick to known brands.

Wouldn't trust really cheap ones though

[Quanta]

That is the obvious answer but not always the right one. The amount of time people spend on complicated fixes when the answer is usually a startup item is remarkable.

Give it a go and report back

[Quanta]

That is the practical answer rather than the theoretical one. The amount of time people spend on complicated fixes when the answer is usually a startup item is remarkable.

That is the sensible starting point

[QuantumKnight]

Portable charger is actually useful. Especially if you travel or forget to charge overnight. Saved me a few times already.

From what I saw that checks out. There is usually a quieter more important story sitting just behind the obvious headline.

More to come on this I suspect

[codeberg]

There is a bit more to it than that I think. The problem with most advice online is it assumes a clean install which most machines are not.

Worth trying before anything more drastic

[Totally]

I don't know about that. Nice one

[codeberg]

That is the obvious answer but not always the right one. The amount of time people spend on complicated fixes when the answer is usually a s

Yes, and I would add that it is even more true if your hardware is older. A lot of guides overcomplicate it, usually one or two sensible changes do most of the work.

Post back with what you find and we can go from there

[QuantumKnight]

Not sure that is the whole picture. I find the best analysis usually comes a week or two after the initial coverage settles down.

Interesting to see where it goes

[QuantumDay]

Cheers for that. Nice one

[Totally]

Good shout. You are not wrong.

Ha, fair enough

[QuantumKnight]

Seems like it from what I have seen. Context gets lost very quickly once something becomes a trending topic.

Worth watching closely

[codeberg]

Yes, and I would add that it is even more true if your hardware is older. Post back with what you find and we can go from there

[codeberg]

Not fully convinced by that part of it. Nine times out of ten it is something boring like a driver or a startup item rather than the hardware itself.

Let us know how it goes

[Totally]

That is the obvious answer but not always the right one. The amount of time people spend on complicated fixes when the answer is usua

Couldn't agree more. Same here honestly.

Nice one

[VB]

Cannot really disagree with that. Let me know what you think.

[One-One-Five]

Yeah that is about right. That makes sense actually.

Cheers.

[NinaVrina]

That is the conclusion most people land on eventually. I have fixed more machines by doing less than by doing the obvious dramatic thing.

Worth trying before anything more drastic

[veritas.io]

Solid point, that matches what I ran into. The problem with most advice online is it assumes a clean install which most machines are not.

Should sort it if the basics are fine

[codeberg]

Cannot really argue with that. That is the sensible starting point

[TommyB_20]

That is my view too if I am being straight. Home advantage is still massive and gets written off too easily.

Good debate though, fair play

[John]

That is one way of looking at it. You are not wrong.

Good thread this.

[VidiTechnica]

Yeah that is about right. Legend.

[MayanHan]

Feels like the right read on it. Most people form opinions on things like this before the full picture is available.

That is my read on it anyway

[PlanetOftheApes]

I have heard that but I am not sure it holds up. Cheers

[Grover26]

No chance, I completely disagree. Fitness levels at this stage of the season separate the top sides from the rest.

Interested to see where this goes

[Matticus]

That is my view too if I am being straight. Ask me again in six weeks.

[StringTheory83]

That is the honest assessment and people do not want to hear it. Experience in big games counts for a huge amount and younger squads often find that out the hard way.

Still think I am right on this

[Fox]

I don't know, I had a different experience. The thing that keeps me going back is usually the atmosphere more than the mechanics.

Worth a try if you get the chance

[One-One-Five]

That is the honest assessment and people do not want to hear it. Experience in big games counts for a huge amount and younger squads often f

That is exactly it. Nice one.

[Beth3.0]

Ended up in the same place, yeah. Rushing the drying or setting time is where most jobs go wrong.

Should be fine if you take your time

[JustMartin]

That checks out. Not a life changer but it adds up

[EntangledOne]

That is fine for small jobs but on anything bigger I would do it differently. I find the YouTube tutorials are better than any written guide for the tricky bits.

Worth doing it properly rather than rushing it

[SGHolly]

Fair point, that is a better way of looking at it. The more I read about this the more I realise how much I do not know.

Going to look that up properly

[Di87]

I am not having that. Ask me again in six weeks

[Outlaw92]

Charging stands are actually way more useful than I expected
At first I thought it was just a gimmick but having a dedicated spot on your desk or bedside makes it way easier to keep it topped up

Plus it stops the cable mess which is always a win

[RayOfLight31]

Honestly the first accessory I'd say is worth it is a decent sport band alternative
The default ones are fine but once you try a softer silicone or braided loop it just feels way more comfortable for daily wear

Also makes it easier to switch styles depending on work or gym without thinking about it too much

[QuantumKnight]

I'd say a proper sport loop strap is the best first upgrade
It's super lightweight, breathable, and way more comfortable if you wear the watch all day

I switched from the standard band and never went back honestly

[Daemon55]

Not really an accessory but a case with a bumper can be useful if you hit door frames or gym equipment a lot
The watch glass is strong but not invincible

I just treat it like insurance, you forget it's there until it saves you

[Slay]

Honestly the best accessory is probably just a good cleaning cloth
Sounds boring but keeping the screen clean makes a bigger difference than people expect

Plus it keeps that new device feel going for way longer

[Raven]

A good screen protector is underrated for Apple Watch
People always debate whether it's needed but if you're clumsy like me it saves you from tiny scratches that slowly annoy you over time

Just get a thin one though, the thick bulky ones ruin the feel of the screen

[Luca73]

If you use it for workouts, a heart rate chest strap that connects to the watch can be a game changer
The built-in sensor is good but not perfect for high intensity stuff

Makes your data way more accurate if you're serious about fitness tracking