The latest tech gadget from Apple isn’t what consumers were expecting in the company’s announcement Tuesday. Meet the iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knitted accessory marketed by Apple as a “piece of cloth,” built to carry the iPhone and “all pocketable items” while serving as a stylish addition to any wardrobe.
Yoshiyuki Miyamae, design director of Miyake Design Studio, explained, “The design of iPhone Pocket speaks to the bond between iPhone and its user, while keeping in mind that an Apple product is designed to be universal in aesthetic and versatile in use.”
Apple shared the pocket itself is inspired by the original ribbed pleats of Issey Miyake, the designer behind Steve Jobs’ iconic black mock turtleneck.
For some, the iPhone Pocket is stirring memories of a simpler Apple era. Back in 2004, Steve Jobs surprised audiences when he unveiled the iPod Sock, a colorful knitted sleeve for Apple’s innovative music player. Jobs’ announcement was met with laughter, but the product was well loved by consumers.
Hits, misses and the fine line between genius and failure
Apple’s accessory history is filled with both triumphs and stumbles. The MagSafe Wallet has generally been praised for its strong magnet connection and high-quality material, a win for Apple. However, not every innovation for the company sticks.
In an attempt to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, Apple began replacing leather accessories with fabric alternatives. One of those efforts, the FineWoven material introduced in 2023, received largely negative reviews for its poor durability and tendency to attract dirt, according to Consumer Reports.
Then there are ambitious ideas that never quite materialized for Apple. Airpower, announced in 2017, promised to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods all at once, until the project was canceled in 2019.
Apple’s experimentation
Alongside its uneven track record with accessories, Apple has also taken bold risks with larger-scale products — some groundbreaking, others less so. There was iTunes Ping (2010), a short-lived social network for music; the iPod Hi-Fi (2006), Apple’s attempt at premium speakers; and the G4 Cube (2000), a unique computer design that didn’t work out.
Apple’s list of triumphs is just as long. Some notable successes include the iPhone (2007), iPod (2001), iPad (2010) and AirPods (2016).
Back in the ’90s, Pippin (1996), Apple Lisa (1993) and the Newton MessagePad (1992) attempted to push boundaries, but the market wasn’t quite ready.
Where the iPhone Pocket will fall in Apple’s history of product development remains to be seen.