The best Apple Watch cases, chargers and accessories

Thanks to a pretty extensive range of Apple Watch accessories, there's no shortage of ways to dress up your Apple Watch with a nice strap or give it a more stylish home when it's sitting on your bedside table getting charged up.

If it's a strap specifically that you're after, be sure to check out our dedicated best Apple Watch bands article for even more options.

But whether you've spent your hard-earned money on an Apple Watch Series 6, an Apple Watch SE or you're rocking one of the older versions of the company's smartwatch, it's likely that you're in the market for some nifty accessories to go with it.

Read this: Best Apple Watch apps

But with so many to choose from, which should you plump for first? Well, read on below for our pick of the best Apple Watch accessories you can buy right now across a range of budgets and styles.

Great Apple Watch straps

Southern Straps Brown Leather

Buy now: southernstraps.com | $99.95

Wareable

Makers of both leather and nylon watch bands for the Apple Watch, Southern Straps is one of our favorite brands when it comes to stylish watch bands for the Apple Watch.

The bands, which are handmade in the US, come in three different buckle and lug colors to match your Apple Watch: Gold, Silver and Black.

The leather bands are made from full-grain leather sourced from America's top tannery Horween and nylon bands are comfortable yet durable as they come with an unrivalled five year warranty.

Bands are handbuilt in the United States.

Pad & Quill Lowry Cuff

Buy now: padandquill.com | $99.95

Wareable

Picking the right Apple Watch strap is tricky business. With a style that can take you from board meetings to the pub, though, this fat leather cuff offers something that will only look better with wear.

Hewn from full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather, the luxurious Lowry Cuff is compatible with the 42mm and 44mm Apple Watch, and fits 125-215mm wrists.

Three colour options (tan, brown and black) help fit your personal style, with rugged, hand-finished stitching giving the strap a unique look. Finished with a metal buckle colour-matched to your watch, a suede underside ensures comfort all day long.

Apple Watch steel mesh

Buy now: Amazon (US) / Amazon (UK) |

Wareable

The official Apple Milanese loop is mighty expensive, but luckily there are plenty of shameless knock-offs out there for you to explore instead.

Luckily, they don't feel too different from the real thing, and they're a mere fraction of the cost.

As we say, with many to choose from, and different sizes and colours available, we'll direct you to the wide crop through the links above.

iGK Sport Band

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

Another impression of the official wares offered by Apple, iGK's silicon bands are perfect for those who like to get sweaty with their Apple Watch – that's why it's handy being able to pick these up for less than a tenner.

There are a bunch of colours available, and buying a few means you can leave one in your gym bag, so you'll never have to suffer wearing a Milanese loop on the treadmill.

Best Apple Watch docking stations

Native Union Drop XL

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

A place to home your Watch, iPhone and AirPods, the Drop XL lets you charge all three devices at once. The puck that holds your Watch in place can be detached and the main surface has the capability of charging other Qi compatible devices if you don't go all in with Apple.

The base is made from aluminium with a textile top and there's a long 6.5 foot cable to give you plenty of scope for positioning. It's also able to detect when a non-charging object comes in to close contact and is overall sleek surroundings to call home to your Apple gear.

Belkin PowerHouse

Buy now: Amazon / belkin.com |

Wareable

If you have an Apple Watch, that means you also have an iPhone. And since we're not yet at the point where our smart companions can make it a past a couple of days without charging, it's worth considering a docking station that helps you kill two birds with one stone.

Enter Belkin's PowerHouse. Unlike its counterparts, this charging dock nicely integrates both the Lightning charging cable and the Apple Watch's charging puck, meaning you don't have to faff around with your wires. However, be aware that this is still one of the most expensive entries in this crop, despite different versions of the two-in-one now being available for a couple of years.

Anker PowerWave+ Pad

Buy now: Amazon | $49.99

Wareable

Anker is an extremely popular maker of charging accessories, and for good reason. Its proprietary charging tech is fast, and brings fast-ish charging to almost every device out there.

The PowerWave+ Pad brings that fast charging to your iPhone, and will also let you charge your Apple Watch at the same time. You can't fast charge your Apple Watch, sadly. However, Anker is also known for well built products at an affordable price, adding to the allure.

Native Union Dock Marble Edition

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

If you want your charger to also be a statement piece, there are few more eye-catching than this one from Native Union. As much as small-scale art installation as a charger, it boasts a design that will fit in with any contemporary home, with both black and white bits of rock available.

Short on space on your nightstand? No worries, it can be positioned both upright or laying flat, each letting you make the most of your watch's nightstand mode. It also does away with unsightly cables and unnecessary elaboration, hiding the magnetic charging pad in a round, rotatable protrusion from its solid, square base.

Spigen S350

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

Just one of a few Spigen Apple Watch accessories in this list. If you're looking for an inexpensive night stand, this one is definitely worth considering. It's compatible with every model and size Apple Watch.

You'll have to use your existing Apple Watch charger, which conveniently slots into the back alongside handy cable management. The stand has a Nanotac base, which firmly sticks to a surface, ensuring it doesn't slip.

Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock

Buy now: apple.com |

Wareable

We'll throw this one in at the end here, since many of you will no doubt be drawn by the lure of Apple's official charging dock and Apple AirPower remains in the wind.

The downside here, like with all of Apple's products, is that it doesn't come cheap. But, again, like with all of Apple's products, it does have the simple elegance that could see you favour it over some of the third-party options listed above. Users can sit the Watch flat or on its side, meaning it also helps the device double up as an alarm clock.

Elago W3

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

A bit of a novelty, but one that we expect long-time Apple fans will be on board with. That's right, the Elago W3 is actually based on the design of an old school Macintosh, with the back opening up to allow your Apple Watch to sit in the screen gap.

There's no fancy way to store the wire behind the display (just like the Mac itself), but this is certainly one that'll be strong addition to your bedside table, along with the rest of your recharging gizmos.

Best Apple Watch portable chargers

Newdery USB charger

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

Compatible with all of the Apple Watch models, this portable USB charger lets you drop your smartwatch on top for that extra battery hit.

Your Watch can sit on top of it when it's plugged in to a socket to charge itself up and small enough to keep in your pocket with a the keychain design letting you hook it onto your bag to keep it close by when you're on the move to make it a handy travel companion.

Twelve South TimePorter

Buy now: Twelve South

Wareable

Now this is one handy Apple Watch accessory. First off, it's a compact travel case that can hold your Apple Watch charging cable, a USB wall plug adaptor and extra Apple Watch bands.

Even better, it can act as a charging stand. Letting you rest your Apple Watch on the outside and even propped up at an angle for Night Stand mode. Inside there's a spool to manage the excess cable and keep things all neat and tidy. The inside is silicone lined so won't damage anything.

You'll have to provide your own original Apple Watch charging cable. This Apple Watch accessory is compatible with every Apple Watch model. If you're a frequent traveller, this is a perfect way to get all your gear organised.

Best Apple Watch protective cases

Spigen Tough Armor Case

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

Your Apple Watch is a beautiful bit of kit. The difficult part is keeping it that way, especially if you're mountain biking, rock climbing or just doing some DIY. This hard-wearing, ruggedised case means you can keep it strapped to your wrist, feeding you notifications and capturing your fitness data, without the worry of unsightly scuffs and scratches.

Crafted from TPU and polycarbonate, it will protect your watch from stray branches, accidental knocks and falls, all without interfering with your standard strap. Air Cushion Technology further helps big up the protection while keeping it relatively thin. Leaving all the Watch's controls open and accessible, a 2mm lip further helps protect the screen from scratches.

Twelve South Action Sleeve

Buy now: Twelve South |

Not every entry is here to just solely keep your Apple Watch safe – some manage to double up and give you a bit more practicality, too. Take the TwelveSouth Actions sleeve, for example.

Maybe you're on the punchbag in the gym, or maybe you just don't like having something around your wrist when lifting weights due to knocks or arm tension; either way, this allows you to attach the Watch's core to the upper arm belt in a similar way to how you would with a smartphone, and you can still check progress, pause your activity and mix up your music as normal.

It only works on Series 1-3 watches, but Twelve South does is working on a new version that'll fit for new Watches.

Catalyst Rescue Ranger

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

If you've not yet upgraded your Watch from the original or the Series 1, you're going to want to make sure your device is waterproof. And that's what this IP68 certified case is for.

The rough, tough, overside of Catalyst's Rescue Ranger is a case and moulded strap in one, coming sturdy enough to withstand the biggest of drops. It's not the cheapest case out there – not even close – but it's cheaper than the cost of upgrading to a later edition just for waterproofing.

It's also now compatible with new Apple Watches if you want to add some extra rugged protection

Casetify

Buy now: casetify.com |

Wareable

No one knows better than you what your perfect Apple Watch strap is going to look like, so why not design your own? That's exactly what Casetify lets you do: you can pick a photo from Instagram, Facebook or your computer to create your own strap through Casetify's website or smartphone app.

You can also select from a variety of layouts once you have the image you want, or choose one of Casetify's suggested strap designs if you find yourself stuck for inspiration. The ordering process lets you specify whether you're getting a 38mm or a 42mm Apple Watch, or the new 40mm/44mm sizings, and free shipping is available.

Best Apple Watch screen and case protectors

Piuellia

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

One made specifically for Series 4 and above this polycarbonate option gives you complete protection from any knocks and bumps, whether you're rocking the 40mm or 44mm variation of the smartwatch.

We'll admit it's not the prettiest case out there to protect your case and screen with, but there's precious few options out there at the moment, and the budget price tag makes this one a no brainer consideration.

BRG case

Buy now: Amazon |

Wareable

Want to keep your Apple Watch looking just the way it did when you first opened the box? The super-clear case might be the protective cover for you.

This transparent jacket is made of soft, flexible material to absorb the shocks and protect the brushed steel edging of your device from getting scratched and chipped as you slump to the tarmac at the end of your street, forgetting that buying a smartwatch alone isn't going to make you fit.

As a bonus, it comes with screen protector bundled in, great for preventing those eye-catching scratches.

This one comes in 38mm, 40mm, 42mm and 44mm size options, so should work nicely with most Apple Watches.