Thursday, November 14, 2024

Some of the best new Pixel Watch 3 bands aren’t made by Google

Must read

Key Takeaways

  • Few reputable manufacturers remain for high-quality, durable, and stylish leather smartphone and wearable accessories.
  • Bellroy bands come in two, non-interchangeable sizes, with leather outers and a textured polymer underside for long-term wear resistance and comfort.
  • While pricey, Bellroy bands offer luxury and long-lasting construction but don’t support the larger variant.



Most leather smartphone and smartwatch accessories are overrated. For a good-looking Pixel Watch band that’s at least partly natural and won’t easily break, you need to choose a reputable manufacturer. Bellroy remains one of the few such brands, and its Pixel-compatible bands are finally up for preorder after the third-gen model’s release.

Related

It’s time to put ‘real’ leather cases out to pasture

Meaningless terminology and cut corners are all reasons to go synthetic


The few, the proud, the expensive

You won’t find any better options covered in leather

The Pixel Watch 3 worn on a wrist with the Bellroy leather band in terracotta

Source: Bellroy


Unfortunately, Pixel Watches don’t support traditional bands, but the upside is that the Pixel’s unique lug fixture is stable and secure. To be clear, they’re not entirely leather — the “textured polymer underside” increases long-term resistance to wear and tear, reduces slippage, and delivers the most consistent comfort and construction possible.

Related

Your Google Pixel Watch 3 questions, answered

You asked, we answered

The caveat is that they’re not cheap. Then again, neither are the Pixel Watch 3 nor Google’s first-party straps, other than the relatively bland silicone options. Also keep in mind that the introduction of the larger, 45mm Pixel Watch 3 form factor means there are now two band sizes to consider, and they’re not interchangeable. It’s also worth picking up a quality Pixel Watch 3 case and screen protector.


All those qualifications aside, they are really nice watch bands. A $69 splash-out delivers your choice of black or terracotta in either size, and they’re slated to ship within a month. If you’ve already invested in Google’s premium wearable, one of the luxurious straps makes a lot of sense.

A render of the Bellroy Pixel Watch 3 strap in terracotta

Bellroy leather strap for Pixel Watch 3

Bellroy’s one of the rare companies to still produce high-quality leather accessories, including phone cases and these black and terracotta bands for the Google Pixel Watch 3.


Latest article