Sunday, December 22, 2024

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

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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.

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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.

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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.


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