Although Apple smartwatch sales have been solid, the Reserve Strap is addressing a major complaint of the gadget that its battery drains fast and needs to be recharged after a short period. The Apple Watch replacement band, like smartphone power cases, is a possible game changer that will charge up the wearable device while it is on the user's wrist. It can reportedly extend the battery life from 18 hours to 48 hours.
The new smartphone band is available in white, black, and grey. Reserve Strap is 25 mm (1 in.) wide, between 3 and 9 mm (.1 to .35 in.) thick, and complies with guidelines for the Apple Watch Band. The accessory is also water-resistant.
Users of the watch strap must attach it to their Apple Watch, and then push a tiny switch under the band to activate its accessory port. When the wearable is running low on juice and needs its battery life extended, users simply press the watch band's power button, in order to start charging via a micro USB port, according to TomsGuide.
The smart watch can then maintain a constant full charge. Users can also press the power button again in order to stop the charging.
A helpful tool of the replacement strap is a LED light that functions as a charging indicator. It glows red, yellow, or green to signal a high, medium, or low charge, respectively.
The new accessory powers up the Apple Watch and extends its battery life by using a hidden 6-pin port below the smartwatch's strap connection. This innovative tech eliminates the need for charging docks.
Reserve Strap is available for the 38-mm and 42-mm sizes of Apple Watch. It will have a price tag of $250 and be shipped out starting in November, according to ABC News.