• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechGoogle

Google’s Latest Step To Make Android Wear Devices More Fashionable

By
Jason Cipriani
Jason Cipriani
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jason Cipriani
Jason Cipriani
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 26, 2016, 1:00 PM ET
Android Wear Mode watch bands
Google

Google is helping owners of Android Wear smartwatches to be more fashionable by making it easier for them to swap watchbands.

The tech giant on Tuesday introduced a new line of watchbands that give Android Wear owners more flexibility in choosing which band to wear, depending on the occasion. Watch owners can change their band before going to the gym, for example, and then again before going out to dinner—all without needing jeweler’s tools to make the switch.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The new bands, called Mode, have a small switch on their underside. By sliding the switch away from the watch body, the band releases a pin and is easily removed. Installing a band follows the same steps, but in reverse.

The new bands come in 16 different colors, in four sizes each (16, 18, 20, 22 millimeter).

I’ve been wearing the Huawei Android Wear watch with a Mode band for a few days, switching between a black leather band and a blue silicone band that required only minimal effort. At first, I was a bit hesitant about how sturdy the sliding mechanism would be.

I feared it would be easy for the switch to inadvertently move during normal wear, causing the band to disconnect from the watch at some inopportune moment. I can now admit, my fears were unfounded because I had no problems over several days.

For more on Android Wear watch our video.

Google’s attempt to standardize watchbands across its Android Wear lineup is a welcome approach. The current process of switching bands varies depending on the make and model of the watch, and only gets more complicated if you buy a third-party band.

Previously, I had replaced the metal band that came with the Huawei (HUAWEI) watch with a more comfortable leather band. Huawei’s standard metal band features its own mechanism to quickly remove the band.

However, placing an inexpensive third-party band that uses the popular spring pins on the watch was an exercise in frustration. Ultimately, I spent nearly 20 minutes fighting with a tiny screwdriver and pins before I was able to complete the band swap.

Switching bands on competing products such as the Apple Watch is a simple affair that require merely pushing a button and sliding the band out. Customizing the look and feel of a watch is surprisingly addictive. As someone who had always settled for the standard band that came with each watch, I now own four different bands for the Apple Watch and switch them out regularly. Not to mention, the more investment you put into a product line that you use regularly, the less likely we are to switch to a rival product.

For more read Huawei Watch might be the best Android Wear watch yet

The most important part about today’s premiere is that Google’s new bands are compatible with all Android Wear watches, and for that matter, any traditional watch that uses a pin to attach the band.

That means that users still clutching on to the original Moto 360 smartwatch or sporting a more recent Huawei smartwatch can buy a Mode band and use it.

The new bands are available starting today through the Google Store. Leather bands are $59, with the silicone version priced at $49. Included with each band are the necessary pins and a tool for affixing the band to a traditional watch.

Google is making the quick release mechanism available for free to accessory makers and Android Wear manufactures to build into future products. Third-party integration must pass reliability testing and get the Mode mechanism from a Google approved vendor.

 

About the Author
By Jason Cipriani
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

NewslettersTerm Sheet
The one-person unicorn: Myth, miracle, or the future of startups?
By Allie GarfinkleMarch 26, 2026
15 minutes ago
kennnedy
CommentaryDrugs
America is handing its mRNA lead to China—and RFK Jr. is to blame
By Jeff CollerMarch 26, 2026
26 minutes ago
jerry
CommentaryEducation
The college degree isn’t dead. But the wrong kind could cost you $2 million
By Jerry BalentineMarch 26, 2026
56 minutes ago
Successthe future of work
The scientist who helped create AI says it’s only ‘a matter of time’ before every single job is wiped out—even safer trade jobs like plumbing
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMarch 26, 2026
1 hour ago
Photo: Donald Trump
EconomyMarkets
Trump says he wants the war wrapped up as fuel prices nuzzle up to $9 a gallon in California
By Jim EdwardsMarch 26, 2026
1 hour ago
NewslettersFortune Tech
Meta’s back-to-back courtroom losses: a harsh reality check to delusional hubris
By Alexei OreskovicMarch 26, 2026
1 hour ago

Most Popular

Magazine
The youngest-ever female CEO of a Fortune 500 company is fighting Trump's cuts to keep Medicaid strong
By Fortune EditorsMarch 24, 2026
2 days ago
Success
Palantir’s billionaire CEO says only two kinds of people will succeed in the AI era: trade workers — ‘or you’re neurodivergent’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 24, 2026
2 days ago
Commentary
The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
3 days ago
Success
JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon says remote work breeds ‘rope-a-dope politics’ and stunts young workers’ growth
By Fortune EditorsMarch 25, 2026
21 hours ago
C-Suite
'I didn’t want anybody shooting me': Five Guys CEO gave away $1.5 million bonus to employees over botched BOGO burger birthday celebration
By Fortune EditorsMarch 25, 2026
16 hours ago
Success
The job market is so bad that ‘reverse recruiters’ are charging $1,500 a month just to help people look for jobs
By Fortune EditorsMarch 25, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.