Pixel Watch 5 bands: the Stephen Curry edition and the full catalog, which one is right for your use
Index
The Pixel Watch 5 arrives with a refreshed band lineup designed to match the colors of the Pixel 11 line, a second-generation Active Band in every box, and a special edition made with Stephen Curry that is sold as a closed bundle. Here is what is available, how much the price really changes, and which one is right depending on how you use the watch.
The Stephen Curry edition: what it includes and how much it really costs
It costs $579 and launches on September 3, two weeks after the rest of the line. It pairs the Satin Pyrite case with an orange and stone woven band, plus an exclusive watch face designed for the occasion.
It is worth doing the math carefully. This edition exists only in 45 millimeters and only with LTE, and the standard 45-millimeter LTE model costs $529. In other words, the exclusive band and watch face add $50, not the $150 suggested by comparing it against the entry-level model. Seen that way, it is one of the more reasonable signature editions on the market.
The detail Google did not highlight
The band has a water-repellent coating intended for training. But in the footnotes of its own material, Google clarifies that this protection is not permanent: it may be reduced or disappear completely with normal use, environmental exposure, and wear.
This is not a misleading detail; it is how these treatments work on any textile: they are a surface layer that wears away with friction and washing. It is worth knowing before paying extra for a band bought with the gym in mind, because the fabric will keep absorbing sweat once the coating gives out. If you train hard every day, a silicone band can be washed and has nothing to lose.
The other particularity is commercial: the band and watch face are sold only together with the watch. There is no way to buy them later if you end up liking the style.
Second-generation Active Band
This is the band that comes in the box with every model, and in this generation it changes material: it moves to HNBR rubber with a soft-touch coating, which is more resistant to oil and temperature than standard silicone. Each watch includes two, one small and one large, so sizing is handled without buying anything extra.
The rest of the catalog
The refresh is most noticeable in the palette: the new bands are designed to match the colors of the Pixel 11 line and the Olive green introduced with the Pixel Buds Pro 2. There are sporty options in smooth and perforated silicone, woven nylon with a loop closure, and metal bands in Milanese mesh or link styles.
The breakdown is simple. Silicone and nylon are the ones that handle sweat and clean up quickly; metal mesh and links completely change the watch’s look and move it into more formal territory, at the cost of added weight and not being comfortable to sleep in.
Sizes and compatibility
The 41-millimeter model covers wrists from 130 to 210 millimeters, and the 45-millimeter model covers 150 to 215. The Curry edition is one size and fits 140 to 215.
The attachment system has not changed from previous generations, so bands from earlier Pixel Watch models should still work. What has never been interchangeable is size: a 41-millimeter band does not fit a 45-millimeter case, or vice versa, so when buying you need to check the number before the color.
Which one is right for your use
If you train often, stick with the Active Band that comes in the box or add a perforated silicone one: they rinse under the faucet and do not retain odor. This is where the woven band, with or without coating, loses.
If you wear the watch all day and sleep with it, the woven nylon band is the most comfortable: it does not sweat against the skin like silicone or weigh as much as metal.
If you want it to pass as a watch rather than a device, the Milanese mesh changes the perception of the product the most, although it is worth having a second band for the gym.
If you like the Curry edition, decide now: since it is sold only with the watch, you will not be able to add it later.
Frequently asked questions
Do Pixel Watch 4 bands work with the Pixel Watch 5?
The attachment system remains the same as in previous generations, so earlier bands should fit without issue. What does matter is case size: 41-millimeter bands are not compatible with 45-millimeter ones.
Can you buy the Stephen Curry band separately?
No. Google sells it only as part of the Pixel Watch 5 Stephen Curry Edition bundle, together with the exclusive watch face, in the 45-millimeter LTE version.
How many bands come with the watch?
Each Pixel Watch 5 includes two second-generation Active Bands, one small and one large, so there is no need to buy anything extra for it to fit.
Correa Stephen Curry Edition
The special edition’s orange and stone woven band, with an exclusive watch face and available only as a bundle with the watch.
Pros
- Adds only $50 over the 45-millimeter Pixel Watch 5 with LTE.
- Includes an exclusive watch face that cannot be obtained any other way.
- The woven fabric is comfortable for extended wear and sleeping.
Cons
- The water-repellent coating wears down with use.
- It is not sold separately from the watch.
- It exists only in 45 millimeters with LTE.
Active Band de segunda generación
The sport band included with every model, now made of HNBR rubber with a soft-touch coating.
Pros
- Two come in the box, one small and one large.
- HNBR rubber resists oil and temperature better than silicone.
- It washes under the faucet without retaining odor.
Cons
- It sweats against the skin during extended use.
- It is the most casual option in the catalog.
Author
Alexis PaezReport based on official announcements and verified public sources at the time of publishing.
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