Pixel Watch 5 comes with '2nd Gen Active Band' – here's what changed, and why you should care

Google’s Pixel Watch 5 ships with an “Active Band” just like all prior generations, but now with a “2nd Gen” version that’s made from a new material.

Like sporty bands seen on the Apple Watch, Google’s “Active Band” for Pixel Watch has been made from a material called fluroelastomer. It’s a much more durable material, both in use and over time. Where silicone bands start to show age after a year or even just a few months, fluroelastomer can last years. If you own both an “Active Band” and an “Active Sport Band” for Pixel Watch, you’ll notice this firsthand. The latter is made from silicone and wears down much faster.

But, for the new “2nd Gen Active Band,” Google is moving its default Pixel Watch 5 strap over to a new material.

That new material is Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR), which Google says gets a “soft-touch coating” on top. This material seems to be popping up in diving watches, but it’s not used in any other major smartwatches as far as we can tell. It’s generally considered to be in the same class as fluoroelastomer, but with a key difference being that it (essentially) does not contain PFAS.

PFAS – better known as “forever chemicals” – have been a controversial part of the use of fluoroelastomer in watch bands. While generally considered safe, Apple was actually sued in 2025 over the use of this material, and the company is planning to phase out the use of PFAS in its products, though Apple Watch bands still use fluoroelastomer today.