The Apple Watch Pro will apparently support older bands, but they may not fit perfectly.

You may need to buy new bands for your Apple Watch Pro, although existing ones may work even if they don’t fit perfectly and look natural.

• What is happening? An insider believes Apple’s upcoming rugged watch, tentatively dubbed “Apple Watch Pro,”could force people to buy new bands because their old Apple Watch bands apparently won’t work. But as it turns out, existing straps can work with new watches – with a small caveat.
• Why care? Because with the upcoming Apple Watch Pro, you may need to buy new bands if the ones you already have don’t fit perfectly or sloppily.
• What to do? You still have your old watch straps, don’t you?

Will you need to buy new bands for your Apple Watch Pro?

MacRumors found a post on Chinese social network Weibo from user UnclePan claiming that Apple’s rugged watch may not be 100 percent band compatible due to its design. The so-called Apple Watch Pro will be a large wristwatch with a 48mm screen and a durable titanium case.

Its boxy shape may require a wider band, meaning your existing Apple Watch bands may not be compatible with future Apple Watch Pros.

Today, all Apple Watch bands are compatible with all models.

Does this mean that a rugged Apple Watch will make your existing bands obsolete? Depends on how you look at it. If you don’t mind an imperfect fit, you’ll be better off reusing existing tapes, at least in the beginning.

But if Apple decides to release straps made specifically for its rugged watches, then it’s safe to assume that the Pro straps won’t work with older watches.

Imperfect fit

While “UnclePan”has a history of accurate leaks, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has a much better track record and says the old band will work with the new watch, but the fit may not be as perfect.

“I believe the Apple Watch Pro will support the old bands – though they may not fit as well or look as organic given the size of the new watch,”Mark tweeted .

I believe the Apple Watch Pro will support the old bands – although they may not fit as well or look as organic given the size of the new watch.

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) August 29, 2022

The rugged Apple Watch should be designed for extreme athletes, bikers, and more, as it will feature a hardened case made from a more durable titanium compound. Rumors also point to an almost flat Apple Watch Pro display, extended battery life, a body temperature sensor, and other benefits.

When will the Apple Watch Pro be released?

Apple is hosting a “Far Out”event on September 7th to introduce the iPhone 14. The new watch usually generates interest at iPhone events, which means we should be learning about the Apple Watch Series 8 family, the next Apple Watch SE, and the aforementioned Apple Watch. Pro during the keynote, which starts at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET.

Apple’s pre-recorded presentation will be streamed via the Apple Events microsite, YouTube, and the TV app.