Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap review: at this price, I can overlook a few negatives to enjoy the Milanese Loop look without the Apple price tag

Easy to wear, but not hardwearing

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A black-coloured metal mesh watch strap wrapped around a woman's wrist.
(Image: © Cesci Angell / Future)

TechRadar Verdict

The Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap proved very comfortable to wear, easy to put on and take off, and satisfyingly breathable. There were a few downsides, however: the edges of the mesh strap collected fibers from garments, and the hardware showed a lot of scuffing after just a week of wearing. There's a considerable range of colours to choose from, although the cost varies slightly depending on your choice. Despite these niggles, I enjoyed wearing this Watch strap, and, for the price, I'm tempted to add a pink Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap to my collection.

Pros

  • +

    Comfortable fit

  • +

    Breathable

  • +

    Lots of colours available

Cons

  • -

    Mesh easily collects fibres

  • -

    Hardware scuffs easily

  • -

    Insertion and removal a bit stiff

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Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap review

The Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap is a low-cost equivalent of the official Apple Milanese Loop. The black model that I tested has a list price of £10.99, but the cost varies depending on colour choice, with a minimum list price of £8.99 for the Starlight option, and a maximum of £15.99 for the blue Watch strap. This is a substantially lower-priced Watch strap compared to the Apple Milanese loop, but the build quality of the Milanese Loop, plus the use of 80% recycled stainless steel mesh goes some way to explain the chasm between the costs.

The strap I reviewed was the Series 10 38/40/41/42 model in black, but there are also options available for series 1, 2, and 3 Apple Watches. There are twelve colours available, including pink, rose gold, and silver, so there are plenty of colours to choose from to match your Apple Watch or your outfit.

The strap looked good for the price, or at least it did until I began wearing it and found that it would pick up fibres from my clothes and blankets. This was mostly along the edges of the strap, which resemble a flat-edged saw, with the little gaps easily picking up any loose threads or fluff. This would occasionally happen in the middle of the strap, as the tiny gaps would capture fibers too.

Attaching the strap proved a bit of a task as I found myself wrestling with the strap’s connectors and my Apple Watch to get them fixed in place. I had a similar issue when trying to remove the strap too, so my assumption was that the dimensions of the connectors, or this particular example may have been slightly out of tolerance.

Yoohoo didn’t reinvent the wheel with this magnetic closure, but I love it all the same. I found it really easy to loosen the strap by pulling away the two magnetic areas, one at the end of the strap, and the other next to the metal strap holder. It was easy to tighten the strap around my wrist, and I didn’t experience any issues with it loosening through the day or night.

The product information states that the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap uses “super wear-resistant stainless steel material”, and while I can’t comment on the structural elements of the strap, the coated finish on the hardware at the ends of the straps became noticeably scuffed and marked after just a week of wearing.

Overall, this is a nice enough Apple Watch strap alternative for the price. The strap feels sturdy enough to last, but the finish on the hardware lets the aesthetic down as it tarnishes so easily. The Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap’s insistence on de-fluffing my clothing for me was also a bit of a bugbear, but even with this in mind, I’m still considering buying myself a pink one to match my Apple Watch. If this Watch strap doesn’t quite meet your needs, or would rather stay true to Apple and purchase an official Apple Watch strap, we’ve got plenty of suggestions over in our selection of the best Apple Watch bands.

A black-coloured metal mesh watch strap wrapped around a woman's wrist.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap review: Price & specs

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Price£8.99 – £15.99
MaterialsStainless steel, magnets
Band sizes available38 / 40 / 41 / 42mm
Compatible withApple Watch Series 10
ResistancesSweat resistance
Sustainable aspectsNone stated

A black-coloured metal mesh watch strap wrapped around a woman's wrist.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

Should I buy the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap?

Buy it if…

You want an adjustable fit
Thanks to the easy-to-fasten and well-holding magnetic closure, it is easy to adjust the fit of the watch strap as needed.

You want something breathable
The mesh design helps with the breathability of this watch. I didn't find myself taking extra care when doing my skincare routine as moisture didn't get trapped under this band as it has with silicone alternatives.

Don't buy it if…

You want something that won't show wear
Unfortunately, the nature of the coating on the black metal strap I tested showed signs of scuffing quickly, becoming noticeable by the end of a week of continuous wearing.

You don't need another lint catcher
I'm already well-stocked on lint rollers, so there was no need for this watch strap to keep collecting fluff like it did. It was likely more noticeable due to the colour, but nonetheless, it was a frustrating occurrence.

Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap review: Also consider

Apple Milanese Loop
If you've got the budget, then I would look at the official Apple version of this metal mesh Watch band. Not only is the build quality better, but 80% of the stainless steel used is recycled, so they are a little less impactful on the environment.

Cesci Angell
Cesci Angell
Staff Writer

Cesci is a Reviews Staff Writer for TechRadar. She writes in-depth reviews based on her real-world testing across a variety of categories, but has a particularly keen interest in home tech, and has written features and reviews about gadgets ranging from headphones to smart lights to graphics tablets. She also has a broad range of experience from working in different industries, from sustainable materials and packaging to skin care.