11 Apple Watch Cases That'll Safeguard Your Timepiece in Style

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Maybe you're rocking an ancient Apple Watch Series 3. Maybe you've got the big new Apple Watch Ultra 2. A nice Apple Watch band will keep any watch looking nice, but to protect your little wearable, you're going to want an Apple Watch case.

At this point, the smartwatch can pretty much stand in for the smartphone, and like an iPhone case, a protective Apple Watch case is the guardian—besides you—that’ll elongate your device's life expectancy. Thankfully, none of these cases are extremely expensive, and they'll all keep a watchful eye over this beloved piece of tech.

And actually before we start... don't forget, we're dealing with Apple here. Apple watch faces have changed sizes—by variations of a millimeter—over the course of the product's reign. So, we feel it's absolutely necessary to give you a rundown of the existing Apple watch sizes across generations, as well as the older, discontinued models, so you can get the appropriately-sized case for your wearable. The good thing is, unlike iPads, the variations are in millimeters, so some older cases can fit newer watches and vice versa.

All Apple Watch Models

• Apple Watch Ultra: 49 mm case

• Apple Watch Series 9/Series 8/Series 7: 41mm or 45mm case

• Apple Watch SE/Series 6/Series 5/Series 4: 40mm or 44mm case

• Apple Watch Series 3/Series 2/Series 1: 38mm or 42mm case
  

Rugged Armor

Spigen's Apple Watch case will get you thinking in five years: "This case is easily why I still have a watch". Not only does it come in a slick matte-finished build that's flexible and shock-absorbent, but each of its colors also matches the OG Apple Watch color. Put it on, and it'll look like your Apple Watch has evolved like Digimon on its own.

Compatibility: 40mm, 41mm, 44mm, 45mm

316L Stainless Steel Luxury Rugged Metal Case Band For Apple Watch Band 41mm 44mm 45mm Protective Case Cover for iWatch Series 9 8 7 41mm 45mm and Series 6 5 4 SE 44mm Mod Kit(45MM, silver)

Want to make your Apple Watch look like a real watch? We can do that. There's plenty of little Amazon brands that make versions of this product, but this is our favorite. The slight taper in the band gives it a more sophisticated look, and it pairs nicely with those bigger sized Apple Watches.

Compatibility: 41mm, 44mm, 45mm

Stainless Steel Apple Watch Ultra Band

Same idea as the one above it. This brand looks a little worse than the previous, but it's the best we could find for the Apple Watch Ultra. It'll do the job, though, since it looks a lot better than the regular cases.

360 for Apple Watch Ultra 2

The thing with the new Apple Watch Ultras is they don't really require a case. They're rugged outdoor watches to start with. They've got a titanium case and a sapphire crystal screen, both of which are exceptionally durable and scratch resistant. Nothing you do to the watch is going to functionally damage it.

A Ultra 2 case would really serve the purpose of totally protecting your watch from any cosmetic damage, and that's totally fine. You're dropping $800 on this thing, you want it to look brand new. All I would say is don't spend big on the case. This thin little case-plus-screen protector from Spigen is all you'll ever need.

Compatibility: 49mm

for Apple Watch Ultra

Love your Apple Watch Ultra but wish it looked more like a G-Shock? Don't worry, I got you. This brand amBand makes a big-ass band and case combo that gives your Apple Watch a full-on tactical look.

Compatability: 49mm, 42/44/45mm, 38,40,41mm

All Day Case

OtterBox's durability is fabled. It's one for the books. Its All Day case, luckily, inherits that legend in a slim, futuristic form. What makes it even more appealing is that it's crafted with 90 percent recycled plastic and antimicrobial coating—the latter is a catch, especially in this time of living.

Compatibility: 40mm, 41mm, 44mm, 45mm

Impact Watch Case

A brushed aluminum raised bezel protects your screen while upping the look of your standard Apple Watch. Pair it with a matching band for the full look.

Our only gripe is the Casetify branding on that bezel. When you're wearing it, it's not immediately obvious. But it is there. Not ideal if you want something super sleek—really comes down to personal tastes. Still, you can't beat Casetify's protection, and the ability to match your case and band makes for a really slick look.

Compatibility: 40mm, 41mm, 44mm, 45mm

Hard PC Case with Screen Protector

Having a screen protector will guard your Apple Watch from more BS... namely, your BS. A raised bezel will only do so much—anything involving dropping and hitting the floor, that is. A screen protector expands to any air-based threats, like your saliva, greasy fingerprints, raindrops, hails, stuff like those.

Compatibility: 40mm, 44mm, 38/41/42/45mm

Rugged Case

Think of all the (previously) terrifying cataclysms that'll wreak havoc on your otherwise naked Apple Watch: Scuffs, scratches, spills, wears, drops, shatters, bumps, greasy fingers, atomic bombs... This TPU case with a built-in tempered glass screen protector can weather them with ease. It's the ultimate "me against the world" showdown.

Compatibility: 38/40/41/42/44/45mm

Clear Case

Because why mess with perfection? An Apple Watch case, after all, should be an accessory that complements the main course, not obscures it. This transparent case comes with all the right specs like HD tempered glass, precise cutouts, and easy installation to protect your gadget sans swallowing it up.

Compatibility: 40/41/44/45mm

Waterproof Case

If you’ve always dreamed of beating a white shark underwater with an Apple Watch on your wrist recording the activity level, this is the case for it. Now, Apple Watch itself is already submersible up to 50 meters; thus, Goton's waterproof case simply dials up its toughness against above-ground water, like sweats from working out and sports.

Compatibility: 38/40/41/44/45mm

Types of Apple Watch Cases

There are two most common styles of Apple Watch: Those with a raised bezel and those with a screen protector.

Raised Bezel Cases: Offers protection by means of not letting the screen get damaged by the impact from being dropped.

Screen Protector Cases: Offers more well-rounded protection, such as from when something sharp is dropped onto the screen, or from spills or your own oily fingers.

That said, raised bezels are more common, have better looking options, and won't affect the sensitivity of your watch's touchscreen. In either case—yeah, a pun there—they'll provide access to every button with precisely fitted cutouts around the case.

How to Choose an Apple Watch Case

Case size: Like we said at the start, every couple of years the watch changes size by a few millimeters, rendering every previous case useless. Check which watch you have, how large the screen is, and choose only something that says it will fit that.

Protection type: Whether you want the supreme protection of a screen protector, or just the standard raised bezel.

Why Trust Esquire?

Because we are the only people that will tell you the hard truth: A lot of tech accessories are hideous. I'm a tech editor, so I see everything that goes to market. A lot of it is cheap, ugly, and bad, but I see other publications cover it as though it's not.

Also! I'm the only person that'll tell you what the materials actually are. My peers drink the marketing Kool-Air, and they're telling you a watchband is made of fluoroelastomer or thermoplastic polyurethane. You know what those really are? Rubber and plastic. I'll tell you that straight.

And, unlike everyone else, I'm looking at these things as a watch-lover from a watch-loving magazine. There's a high bar to clear, and only a few brands do it. I've compiled all of the best luxury Apple Watch bands into this list. These were the criteria:

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