Apple Kicks Off Black History Month With Black Unity Collection Apple Watch

Ahead of Black History Month, Apple today unveiled a limited-edition Black Unity Collection Apple Watch.

The smartwatch is an Apple Watch Series 6 with a Unity watch face and a red, black, and green Black Unity Sport Band. “Truth. Power. Solidarity.” are laser-engraved on the inside of the stainless steel fastening pin. The watch itself features a black body and a red rim on the crown.

As Apple explains, "the Black Unity Collection pays homage to the rich tradition and craft of quilting in the Black community and celebrates the colors of the Pan-African flag: red for the blood that unites people of the African Diaspora and was shed for their liberation, black for the people whose existence is affirmed by the flag, and green for the vibrant natural wealth of Africa, the Motherland."

The GPS version of Series 6 Black Unity starts at $399, while the GPS + cellular version starts at $499. Sales begin Feb. 1 at Apple and Target and go through the end of the month.

Unity Activity Challenge badge (Image: Apple)

If you already have an Apple Watch, grab the Black Unity Sport Band for $49; it also arrives Feb. 1 and will be on sale throughout 2021. The Unity watch face will also be available for anyone with watchOS 7.3, which arrives today, an iPhone 6s and up and iOS 14.4.

Those who close their Move rings seven days in a row during February can also earn a limited-edition award, like the badge above.

As part of its Black History Month efforts, Apple says it will support six global organizations: Black Lives Matter Support Fund via the Tides Foundation; European Network Against Racism; International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights; Leadership Conference Education Fund; NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.; and Souls Grown Deep.

Also next month, look out for hubs and curated sections across Apple products, from Apple Music and the App Store to Apple TV and Apple News, with stories, videos, and resources on Black-owned businesses, entertainment, and more.

Earlier this month, Apple celebrated Chinese New Year with limited-edition ox-themed AirPods Pro. For more, check out 21 Tips Every Apple Watch Owner Should Know.

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Chloe Albanesius

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I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

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Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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