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You may have missed your chance to buy Apple’s weirdest accessory

The iPhone Pocket is probably unchallenged as the weirdest accessory the company has ever sold, beating out the iPod sock. But if you were, for some reason, planning to buy one, you may now have missed your chance …

The iPhone Pocket was launched just two weeks ago. Created by Japanese design house Issey Miyake. Apple described it as offering a delightful mix of craftsmanship and simplicity.

“Apple and ISSEY MIYAKE share a design approach that celebrates craftsmanship, simplicity, and delight,” said Molly Anderson, Apple’s vice president of Industrial Design. “This clever extra pocket exemplifies those ideas and is a natural accompaniment to our products. The colour palette of iPhone Pocket was intentionally designed to mix and match with all our iPhone models and colours — allowing users to create their own personalised combination. Its recognizable silhouette offers a beautiful new way to carry your iPhone, AirPods, and favourite everyday items.”

It was sold in only eight countries: France, Greater China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the US.

While the iPhone Pocket quickly found itself the butt of a great many jokes, it also appeared to be surprisingly popular. It went out of stock in the United States within the first few days and as MacRumors notes is now unavailable from any Apple store worldwide. As it was only ever launched as a limited edition, it’s possible that it may not be sold again.

It followed the launch of another surprising Apple accessory, the Crossbody Strap. This one tapped into a somewhat popular fashion trend, with the Pocket taking the idea to the next level. While Apple’s version costs $59, there are versions available on Amazon from just a few dollars.

If you’re tempted to pick up the genuine item on eBay, check the listing wordings very carefully, as many of them say in the small print that they are third-party copies.

Highlighted accessories

Photo: Apple

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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