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apple oem woven loop bands vs fake ones
- Thread starter UKBeast
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I read somewhere on MR that the ones sold by Urvoi on Aliexpress are good ones. I ordered a few, kept my favourites and am selling the remainder on well known auction site. There seems to be little difference between these and OEM loops IMO. The Velcro strips are very slightly narrower but that’s all I’ve noticed.
I have a few Apple sport loops and a few from different vendors on Amazon. I can't tell any difference.
I have yet to find any that are as good as OEM. I purchased a half dozen from one of the recommended Aliexpress sellers. I gave them all away. They are different thicknesses, lousy stitching, and they vary in length from strap to strap. If you're extremely picky, you'll be disappointed. If not, they'll be just fine.
Sure they may not be the same quality, but for the price who cares. If I can get 5 knock offs for the price of 1 original band, I'm all over it. I'm not a status symbol buyer and I've never been in a situation where I've been shamed or been banished from society for not having an original Apple watch band. For that matter, I've never had an issue using 3rd party bands either.
It is not buying 5 for the 1 price ,but buying the good with a much cheaper price. Replicas are about 2-3 usd dolars which means they are quite multiple times cheaper than the original. I am sure they will not match apple quality but does it worth to consider paying 45usd when you can get it for 2 dollars, is the difference day and night.
However many you get, I was just using 5 as an example. I just got a 5 pack from Amazon for 14.99usd, they’re alright I guess. I don’t notice a big difference with them compared to the Apple sport loop.
I’m not a status symbol buyer either, and never had anyone attempt to shame me for my product choices (it wouldn’t work, I’d likely laugh in their face), but I stick with the real Apple bands because I don’t like the quality of the knockoffs, and I’ve seen some shoddy ill-fitting mechanical interfaces (the lug mechanism) on many knockoffs - it’s not worth the cost of replacing my watch (if it falls and breaks due to a shoddy strap) to be able to save some money by buying knockoff straps. I see that as false economy. I’d rather just have a smaller number of genuine straps. So consider that when you think people are buying the real ones to show off. Personally, I expect people to judge me by my words and actions, not buy what things I buy.
Fantastic for you. I don't care less what people think either, BUT, there are those people who look for the latest and greatest as a status symbol and will only buy name brand items. Also some people think the knock off versions are complete garbage and yes, in some cases they can be, but not all the time. The cheap one's I've used have been perfectly acceptable for my needs/wants.
I have several Apple brand and 3rd party. I have decided, for me, that urvoi on aliexpress are good enough that I will no longer buy the Apple loops...just too much $$ for me. And I feel that the loops from urvoi are the best. Very similar to Apple. I am happy with the weaves, velcro and length. No doubt that all Apple brand bands are superior, but, the loops from 3rd party are much better now. I also like the different colors from some (Crested) and the all one color Pine Green loop that Apple didn't make.
Apple own bands defo superior than any 3rd party I have tried and read about online and see my friends 3rd party bands too. Because Apple bands cost quite bit money so I only buy ones I really really want. There one sport band I really want from Apple and they still haven't is nice bright bold blue, all their blue so far too pale or too dark. If they ever release that I defo get that.