Each year, Apple celebrates Pride month, coming up in just over a week. This year, there are two Pride Edition bands for the Apple Watch, both going on sale now, and an upcoming Shot on iPhone campaign focused on pride. Oh, and this year’s Pride Watch face is available now, too.
Pride Edition Sport Loop
The new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Loop 2022
Ah, the Sport Loop, is the perfect partner for your sportiest activities. The material dries out quickly, the hook-and-loop fastener system keeps the band to the perfect tightness and the whole kaboodle is soft and lightweight.
Now, for the first time, there’s actual writing on the band. The word pride is woven into the band. It’s an effect achieved by removing some loops. As Apple puts it: “To create the Pride script, some of these textile loops were removed, resulting in a three-dimensional texture you can see and feel.”Wondering about the script that Apple used? It’s what the company calls “a cursive style inspired by the original “hello” greeting — displayed on the first Macintosh in 1984.”
If you thought that was the level of detail to which Apple went, well, you’re thinking of the wrong company. It explains the colours chosen for the band like this: “The team designed a colour gradient that incorporates the original rainbow colors with those drawn from various pride flags, including light blue, pink, and white, representing transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, and black and brown, symbolizing Black and Latinx communities. The colours also represent those who are living with or have passed away from HIV/AIDS.”
It’s on sale now for $49 (£49 in the U.K.) online and can be picked up from Apple Stores beginning Thursday, May 26.
The new Apple Watch Pride Threads Watch Face.
Pride Threads Watch Face
This requires Apple Watch Series 4 or later, running watchOS 8.6, the latest release, and iPhone 6s or more recent, with iOS 15.5, again, the latest version.
It’s pretty cool. The time appears digitally, with a series of threads that get thicker or thinner to show the time. Tap it, and the threads twang satisfyingly. It’s very cool and has two versions, dark and light. On Series 5, Series 6 and Series 7, the always-on screen dims from light to dark.
Apple Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop 2022.
Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop
A new Sport Loop for Nike edition Watch owners has also arrived. The Nike band is darker but very colorful, with bright rainbow stripes and dark edging. Here’s Nike’s philosophy for this band: “Along with Nike’s Be True collection, the Sport Loop honors individuals who are expanding sport for future generations and inspiring others to feel the joy of being authentically themselves. Be True is part of Nike’s broader commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, which focuses on recognition, advocacy, inspiration, and education.” This band also costs $49, £49 in the U.K., and is available to buy online now, and from Apple Stores from Thursday, May 26.
There’s also a matching rainbow-colored version of the Nike Bounce face.
Shot on iPhone pride campaign.
Shot on iPhone Pride Campaign
Apple’s regular Shot on iPhone campaigns continue with this pride series, showcasing places of historic significance to the LGBTQ+ movement, such as the Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco (pictured above with dancer Baobei).
The Pride Watch bands are a regular place in the Apple calendar and this year’s pair are fun, lively and, since they are Sport Loops, the most affordable bands Apple sells.
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