Almost six months after the release of the Google Pixel Watch, the accessory ecosystem is starting to catch up. While we had only a limited choice of mounts, chargers, straps, straps, and cases in the beginning, that is no longer the case. Both well-known brands and white-label companies have jumped on board and there are plenty to choose from. I’ve been digging through my hoard of accessories online to find some options that work for me and I’ve landed on four Pixel Watch protective cases and bands that I enjoy using for various reasons.
It’s worth noting, though, that I keep my Pixel Watch band/case on about half of the days I wear it. I really enjoy its smooth, curved, snag-free design that slips into pockets and under long sleeves without getting caught. But I’m a pretty clumsy person, so there are situations where I know I need a bumper around the glass dome to avoid scratching or breaking it. That’s when I turn to these bands and cases.
Can you change the Google Pixel Watch strap?
Yes. The Pixel Watch has removable watch straps, but the mechanism is unique. You have to press the bracelet release button and slide the strap towards it. Check out our detailed tutorial on how to change the strap of your Pixel Watch.
My favorite Pixel Watch band: Caseology Nano Pop
The navy and yellow colors of the Caseology Nano Pop immediately attracted me. The yellow edge of the band creates an eye-catching border around the Pixel Watch’s screen, which works especially well with the yellow-tinted watch faces. Yes, I like when things match. Even better, the Nano Pop design is available for phones too, so you can get a similar case for your phone. My only regret here is that the band isn’t made in the “avoid green” manner that Caseology offers on other Nano Pop products.
As we pointed out in our Pixel Watch review, the design is one of its unique selling points, so it’s a bit of a shame to see it disappear within this range. But, I think this gives the watch a unique and sporty look, and makes me feel like I have two completely different watches.
The Nano Pop gives the Pixel Watch a sportier look and makes me feel like I have two completely different watches.
The all-in-one Pixel Watch strap protects the body of the device, creates a raised bevel around the screen to avoid scratches (which takes a while to get used to when swiping), and wraps around in non-removable 22mm straps with a metal buckle. I like the soft but durable rubber material of the band, and the clickable app launch button, but I like its design around the crown. I would have liked to see a thinner material here or a larger hole to allow for a better grip when turning the crown. Not a deal-breaker for my use, but keep this in mind if you rely on the Crown a lot.
A solid alternative: Spigen Rugged Armor Pro
If the Caseology Nano Pop is a cute, streamlined Pixel Watch band, the Spigen Rugged Armor Pro is just that. Although it lives up to its name. It reminds me of the designs of the Casio G-Shock watch, with four thick bumpers protruding from the left and right sides. The band is quite long – enough to fit a 215mm wrist and fixes one of the original Pixel Watch issues for people with thick wrists. It is 24mm wide with an indentation after each adjustment hole. The system is so well secured that there is no way for the free ring to slip off while you are wearing it.
This isn’t the band I wear while doing my high-end office work, but it’s the one I’ve started turning to when I go hiking or on other outdoor adventures. A raised lip around the screen is enough to provide protection without impeding gestures, and surprisingly enough, the crown is slightly more reach here than on the sleeker Caseology band. Rugged Armor definitely looks more “manly” on my wrist, but hey, I wouldn’t wear this to a wedding.
The Simple Everyday Option: Caseology Vault
I wasn’t a fan of the Vault when I first saw it, but it has slowly grown. Now it’s my favorite Pixel Watch case when I want to keep the all-black design minimal while adding a little protection. Unlike the previous two options, this is just a case that wraps around the body of the Pixel Watch; You should still attach the original ranges after installing it.
The Vault appealed to me because it’s minimal and the leather-like pattern around the screen doesn’t look too cheap. The case also maintains the nicely rounded shape of the Pixel watch (unlike the Spigen Liquid Air which takes an oval shape on the side of the speaker), but still provides a bumper around the entire body. If you don’t mind the oval shape of the Spigen Liquid Air ($18.99 on Amazon), I think it’s a good alternative: the material is thinner but has a slightly raised lip around the screen, the crown is more easily accessible, and the app launcher button is more clicky there. I wish there was a case with the best features of both, but as it is, the Vault has won its place on my wrist.
Transparent option: Spigen Thin Fit
Transparent TPU isn’t the most stylish of materials, but there’s a reason so many of us keep coming back to it: It lets us see what’s underneath. Which is why the obvious Spigen Thin Fit grabs a post on this list. As its name indicates, it’s a pretty slim around dome case for the Pixel Watch, but it’s just what you need to avoid random bumps and scratches.
The translucent material isn’t my favorite—it often picks up dust particles and sometimes looks cheap with a rainbow-like effect—but it can also look good in some lighting conditions. My favorite feature here, though, is the completely unobstructed crown. I can easily reach for it and turn it on, as if there was no case at all.
This isn’t my favorite material, but I do like unhindered access to the Pixel Watch’s crown.
Spigen also offers it in a black version, but this one is made of hard plastic and seems to break after a few weeks of use for some users. I’d certainly get a thin black rubber case if the company started offering them, but the obvious is the only option at this time.
I’m still monitoring the Pixel Watch ecosystem of accessories and will see if there are other bands and cases that catch my eye. For now, though, these are the ones I’ve settled on and recommend you buy.