TicWatch is one of the easier smartwatch brands to buy bands for, because Mobvoi uses standard quick-release spring bars rather than a proprietary fitting. Get the width right and almost anything fits.
Three widths, not two
Most guides say TicWatch takes 20mm or 22mm. There is a third size, and it covers the newest and most popular models.
24mm: TicWatch Pro 5, Pro 5 Enduro and Atlas.
22mm: TicWatch Pro, Pro 2020, Pro 3 GPS, Pro 3 LTE, Pro 3 Ultra GPS, Pro 3 Ultra LTE, Pro 4G/LTE, Pro S, S2, E2, GTH 2 and GTX.
20mm: TicWatch GTH, GTH Pro, E, E3, and the C2 and C2+ in both Onyx and Platinum.
Note that "Pro" does not mean one size. The Pro 3 range is 22mm and the Pro 5 is 24mm, so the model number matters more than the family name.
How to check yours
Take the current band off and measure the gap between the lugs with a ruler. You are distinguishing 20 from 22 from 24, so precision is not the issue.
Measure the gap, not the band. Bands are usually cut a fraction narrower than the space they sit in, which is why measuring the old band gives the wrong answer about half the time.
Standard fittings widen your choices
Because TicWatch uses ordinary spring bars, a band made for a Samsung Galaxy Watch, a Garmin or a traditional watch fits a TicWatch of the same width.
That matters more for TicWatch than for bigger brands, because the TicWatch-specific aftermarket is small. Shopping by width rather than by brand name opens up far more options in materials and colours.
Choosing a material
Silicone is the everyday default: sweat, showers, swimming, easy to clean, comfortable for sleep tracking.
Woven nylon is lighter and more breathable, better for long wear and hot weather, and it adjusts continuously rather than by hole.
Leather suits the round models, whose proportions are close to a traditional watch. Keep it dry.
Stainless steel and magnetic mesh give the most formal finish. Mesh adjusts to any position rather than to the nearest hole.
Matching the band to the case
The Pro models are larger and carry substantial bands well: a wide leather strap or a link bracelet looks proportionate. The slimmer 20mm models suit narrower bands, where a chunky outdoor strap looks out of scale.
Changing a TicWatch band
Turn the watch over and find the small lever on the spring bar inside the band. Slide it toward the centre of the band and lift that end away from the case.
Fit the new band by seating one side of the spring bar in its lug hole first, then sliding the lever so the pin drops into the opposite hole. Tug each half gently to confirm.
No tool needed for quick-release bands. If a band has plain spring bars with no lever, you will need a spring bar tool.
Fit and heart-rate accuracy
TicWatch models read heart rate optically from the wrist, which needs steady skin contact. The watch should sit snug about a finger's width above the wrist bone.
Too loose and the sensor reads motion rather than pulse; too tight restricts blood flow and skews it the other way.
Shop TicWatch bands.
