Best Apple Watch Accessories, Starting at Just $7 – CNET [CNET]

The Apple Watch is arguably the single best smartwatch for iPhone owners. For that reason, I’m willing to pay a premium price. But when it comes to accessories, Apple charges way too much for things like bands, wireless earbuds and charging docks. Why pay the full price when you can save by choosing worthwhile competitors? 

Thankfully, there are excellent, affordable alternatives. Whether you’re taking a trip and want a portable charger or you’re looking for a more stylish strap, there are options aplenty out there for you and your Apple Watch. Tons of them, in fact — the sheer number of choices can be mind-boggling.

That’s why we decided to cut through the noise and spotlight some of the best ones. If you’re looking for the best Apple Watch accessories, read on. I’ve tried some of these myself; others I’m including based on user reviews or other factors. I’ll update this list periodically.

Inexpensive Apple Watch bands

Thanks to easy-to-swap bands, the Apple Watch can quickly alter both its look and its function. A leather band for work. (Someday.) A sport band for the gym. (Eventually.) A Milanese loop for the theatah. (Sigh.)

Buy any of these at an Apple Store and you’ll pay anywhere from $30 to $150. How absurd is that? Here are some examples of Apple Watch bands you can get for less — in some cases way less.

Check out more great Apple Watch bands you can get from Amazon.

Inexpensive Apple Watch chargers

Traveling with an Apple Watch can be a hassle because you have to recharge it pretty much daily. That means unplugging your charger from whatever nightstand setup is in place, then hoping it doesn’t get lost along the way.

A better bet: Pack a portable charger. Not a portable stand, mind you, one that uses the stock Apple charger, but a rechargeable power bank with its own Apple Watch magnetic charging module.

Granted, this can be something of a hassle as well, as you’ll probably have to recharge the charger after a few uses. But leave it plugged into your laptop or any other USB port, and it’ll be good to go by evening.

As with choosing a power bank for your phone, the higher the battery capacity, the more charges you’ll get. But before settling on a Belkin or Griffin charger from the Apple Store and spending at least $60, check out some of the other options.

Here are more Apple Watch chargers available on Amazon.

Inexpensive Apple Watch headphones

One of the Apple Watch’s best tricks (if you have a Series 3 or later, that is) is onboard storage for music and podcasts. To take advantage of that, you’ll need a pair of wireless headphones.

Like maybe AirPods? No question, those are a good match for your Apple Watch. They’re also a $159 match, or $249 for AirPods Pro, so no thank you. (On the plus side, there are AirPods deals that come around on a regular basis, so you might be able to get a lower price.)

I’d definitely start by perusing CNET’s roundup of the best sports headphones, which includes my top pick for runners, the AfterShokz Aeropex. But those are pricey, too, and we’re here to talk (er, listen) cheap. So check out these affordable Bluetooth earphones that can pair perfectly well with your Watch — and our roundup of the best cheap AirPods alternatives. Here’s a top pick:

OK, those are my picks for inexpensive (but still great) Apple Watch accessories. What would you add to this list?

This article is periodically updated with the best new Apple Watch accessories.

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