At any normal price, the new iPhone Pocket is silly. At $230, it’s silly and pretentious. Apple charges a hefty fee for an unholy union between a scarf and a sock.
It’s easy to mock, and the internet did plenty of that Tuesday after Apple took the wraps off its latest iPhone accessory. But the iPhone Pocket drew immediate fans, as well. In fact, Vogue said the fashion-forward iPhone sack “could just be the season’s must-have accessory.”
The $230 iPhone Pocket nobody asked for
Good news — you can be free of the convenience of keeping your iPhone in your pants. Now there’s iPhone Pocket, an extra place to hold the handset. There are two versions: one that you carry on your wrist ($149.95) and a longer variant to be worn around the neck ($229.95). It has a 3D-knitted construction and comes in a range of colors.
iPhone Pocket is a collaboration between Apple and Miyake Design Studio, which was founded by the Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake.
“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,” said Yoshiyuki Miyamae, design director of Miyake Design Studio, in Apple’s press release announcing the accessory. “iPhone Pocket explores the concept of ‘the joy of wearing iPhone in your own way.’”
A sock with straps
Photo: Apple
Much of the online criticism for the new product can be summed up in a Reddit post: “‘I was just thinking I should get a sock for my iPhone.’ Said no one ever.”
The price comes in for plenty of condemnation, too.
“$150 for a piece of cloth to put your phone in? To quote Stanley from The Office: “Are you out of your damn mind?” What a ridiculous price. Sad thing is people will still buy this,” said one Reddit post.
And of course, there’s this:
iPhone Pocket looks great pic.twitter.com/uTugcJIjvC
— Mike Rundle (@flyosity) November 11, 2025
Steve Jobs would love the iPhone Pocket
None of the criticism of the iPhone Pocket better include the phrase, “Steve Jobs wouldn’t have done this.” Because he absolutely would have.
The late Apple co-founder admired Miyake’s design philosophy and approached him in the early 1980s after seeing how Sony used uniforms to build a sense of identity. While Jobs couldn’t get Apple employees to adopt a company-wide outfit, he personally embraced Miyake’s work. His signature black turtlenecks were created specifically for him by the Japanese designer.
That’s the type of person Jobs was: pretentious. When he wanted a simple look, he didn’t go to Target and buy a bunch of black shirts. No, he had a world-renowned clothing designer make him some that cost about $300 each in today’s dollars. Whether you think that’s brilliant or ridiculous says a lot about whether you’re likely to buy an iPhone Pocket.
If you still doubt that Steve Jobs would love this new accessory, you might need a reminder that he was CEO of Apple when it released the iPod Sock.
iPod Socks walked so iPhone Pocket could run. pic.twitter.com/qvw3U47dP3
— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy) November 11, 2025
For fashion-forward iPhone fans
Average Apple users can say what they want, but they are not the target market for this product. iPhone Pocket is for the fashion-conscious, especially in Asia.
As noted, Vogue called it “a landmark collaboration between Apple and Issey Miyake that could just be the season’s must-have accessory.”
Also, much of the criticism is coming out of the United States. In Japan, the Miyake Design Studio has dedicated followers, and the product will likely find plenty of customers there. It could become popular in China, too, where crossbody phone carriers are very much in style.
Note the cities where the iPhone Pocket will be on display in Apple Stores. The short list includes Tokyo and Hong Kong, but also Paris and Milan. The only U.S. city is New York. These are all places where high fashion is prized.
Plenty of Americans find the iPhone Pocket pretentious, and really see no need for a $230 replacement for the pants pocket. But those with the money to spend on a Miyake creation are likely to have a very different opinion.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
