A startup is planning to make an Apple Watch band that could help keep the upcoming device charged throughout the day, potentially addressing concerns about the smartwatch’s longevity.
According to the product’s website, the so-called Reserve Strap‘s raison d’etre is as follows:
We love Apple devices because they’re not just functional, they’re a delight to play with and we don’t expect the Apple Watch to be any different. The Reserve Strap is the best way to extend the life of the Apple Watch while keeping it on your wrist, where it belongs.
The charging strap will have a silicon band embedded with lithium polymer cells and an “inductive charging cradle” that goes between both watch face and wrist. It’ll charge the device through magnets, similar to how the Apple Watch is expected to be charged, the company told 9to5Mac.
The company is currently taking pre-orders for the Reserve Strap. The device costs $250. “We don’t have a firm release date or price point,” the site adds, along with another caveat: The first run will be “extremely limited.” (It’s also a still unproven concept.)
Although the Apple Watch is much-hyped, it’s unclear how large the third-party accessories market will be when the device launches next month. Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin told Fox Business: “People need to understand more about what this product is, and what it does, and I think that will evolve over time.”
The Apple Watch will reportedly come equipped with a “reserve mode” that’ll help save the battery during the day. When the feature is on, it’ll just show the time.
Expect Apple to reveal new details about the Apple Watch during a Monday event.
