Right on schedule, Apple has announced this year’s special-edition Apple Watch band to celebrate and shine the light on LGBTQ+ communities.
What started as a gift to Apple employees in 2016 has evolved into an annual tradition. Each year, Apple unveils a new Pride Edition Watch Band in early May, a precursor to the Pride month, showcasing its ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community.
It’s unclear whether Apple intended to make this a regular occurrence when it handed out those first rainbow-colored Apple Watch bands to employees. That occasion was an insider affair to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Apple Pride, the company’s first Diversity Network Association.
However, that band was clearly a hit, and in 2017, Apple released that same version for sale to the general public, with a portion of the profits going to support LGBTQ advocacy organizations. New watch band designs arrived in 2018, 2019, and 2020, accompanied by custom Pride watch faces built into watchOS 4.3, watchOS 5.2.1, and watchOS 6.2.5.
Before the 2021 release, Apple had introduced downloadable watch faces in watchOS 7, which allowed it to switch to an App Clip on the Pride Band packaging to let users download the new face directly. That was simpler than releasing a watchOS update to coincide with the release of the new bands.
Last year, Apple changed things up again by not only releasing a special edition watch band and face but also providing a Pride-themed iPhone wallpaper built into the customizable lock screens introduced in iOS 16 the year before.
Last year’s Pride Edition band was also a departure from the previous themes, replacing the more traditional vertical stripes with a confetti-like array of colors that Apple described as “a joyful rainbow of geometric shapes” shown against a white background.
However, the company is returning to form this year with a Braided Solo Loop rather than a Sport Band that weaves together “a vibrant, fluorescent design inspired by multiple pride flags.”
The new Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop evokes the strength and beauty of LGBTQ+ communities with a vibrant, fluorescent design inspired by multiple pride flags, and features a laser-etched lug that reads “PRIDE 2024.” The colors black and brown symbolize Black, Hispanic, and Latin communities, as well as those impacted by HIV/AIDS, while the pink, light blue, and white hues represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Apple
Apple is only pre-announcing the Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop today; it won’t be available until May 22. At that time, it can be ordered from the Apple online store or purchased in Apple Store locations in the US and Canada for $99 (US). It will be available in other regions on May 23.
Like past Pride Edition bands, Apple will use some of the profits to support LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations “whose efforts are bringing about positive change,” including ILGA World, the Human Rights Campaign, and several smaller regional advocacy organizations.
A new Pride Radiance watch face and dynamic iOS and iPadOS wallpapers will accompany the Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop.
Signaling hope, strength, and fellowship to LGBTQ+ communities, the beams of light glow against a dark background, and stack on top of each other to represent the everlasting impact of LGBTQ+ activism and its role in illuminating the path to greater equality for future generations.
Apple
These will arrive in iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, and watchOS 10.5, which Apple says will be “available soon.” The Pride Radiance watch face will also be available for download through the Apple Watch app and Apple Store app, although Apple hasn’t said when that will be available.