Is the new $230 Apple Pocket a work of genius from Apple x Issey Miyake or a ridiculous luxury gimmick? We review the price, design, and best alternatives.

Apple has done it again. Not with a chip, not with a revolutionary display, but with… a pocket. The new $230 Apple Pocket is here, and it has already detonated a cultural schism, instantly becoming the most divisive tech accessory of the year.

This isn’t just a product; it’s a provocation.

At first glance, it’s a minimalist pouch for your iPhone. But look closer, and you see the details. This is the Apple x Issey Miyake collaboration, a high-fashion iPhone Pocket that costs more than a pair of AirPods Pro.

The internet is, predictably, broken. Is this a brilliant piece of performance art? A sign of peak Apple hubris? Or is it the next logical step in the complete fusion of technology and personal identity?

This article will dissect every angle of this Apple new product 2025. We will analyze the 3D-knitted construction, the controversial Apple Pocket price, and its utility as a high-end Apple lifestyle accessory. By the end, we’ll answer the one question that matters: is the Apple Pocket worth it, or is this the ultimate designer tech collaboration gimmick?

The Apple x Issey Miyake Collaboration: A Closer Look

To understand the Apple Pocket, you must first understand its collaborator. This isn’t a random label-slap. Issey Miyake, the late, legendary designer, built a global fashion empire not on logos, but on material innovation and architectural form. His Pleats Please line revolutionized polyester, and his Bao Bao bag turned simple triangles into kinetic art.

This Issey Miyake collaboration is a meeting of two minds. Both Apple and Miyake share a deep-seated obsession with minimalism, material science, and the “in-between” spaces.

So, what is it?

The Apple Pocket is not a case. It offers almost no drop protection. It’s a vessel. It’s a wearable, 3D-knitted pouch designed to house your iPhone and nothing else. The 3D-knitted construction is its defining feature. Think of Apple’s HomePod mesh or the seamless knit of a high-end sneaker, but with the structural integrity of Miyake’s geometric designs. It’s crafted from a single, continuous thread (likely a high-performance recycled polymer), meaning there are no seams, no stitches, and no unnecessary bulk.

It comes in two core variants: a shorter strap designed to be held like a clutch or worn on the wrist, and a longer crossbody version. The colors are pure Apple-Miyake: think Chalk, Slate, and a deep ‘Sumi’ Black.

This is the very definition of an Apple fashion accessory. It’s designed to be seen, to be worn as part of an outfit. It’s the evolution of the AirPods case from a simple utility to a status-signaling earring, writ large for your phone.

The $230 Question: Analyzing the “Apple Pocket Price”

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the $230 price tag.

For $230, you could buy an Apple Watch SE. You could buy a high-end protective case from a brand like RIMOWA. You could buy twelve of Apple’s old $19 iPod socks.

The vitriol online was immediate. Tech critics see it as an absurd cash grab, a luxury tax on the Apple faithful. Fashion critics, however, see it differently. In the world of designer goods, $230 for anything with an Issey Miyake pedigree is, frankly, an entry-level price. A Bao Bao pouch costs more.

This is the central conflict of the Apple Pocket. Are you paying for:

1. Utility? No.
2. Protection? Absolutely not.
3. The Apple Logo? Partly.
4. The Issey Miyake Name? Partly.
5. The Statement? Entirely.

The Apple Pocket price is a litmus test. It’s designed to filter out anyone who has to ask “why?” It’s a classic Veblen good—an item whose demand increases as its price rises, precisely because its price signals status. Apple and Miyake aren’t selling a pocket; they’re selling exclusivity. They’re selling a membership card to a club that understands the intersection of minimalist tech and high fashion.

So, is the Apple Pocket worth it? From a practical standpoint, it is an indefensible purchase. From a cultural and fashion standpoint, it might just be the most “correctly” priced accessory of the year.

Beyond the Hype: A Practical “Apple Pocket Review”

If we strip away the hype and the price, what problem does this iPhone Pocket actually solve?

It solves the “pocket problem.”

This is an accessory for the person in high-waisted trousers with no pockets, or a silk slip dress. It’s for the minimalist who wants to leave the house with only two things: their iPhone and their keys (which are probably digital, on their iPhone). It’s for the person who hates the unseemly, rectangular bulge a Pro Max-sized iPhone creates in a suit jacket or a pair of jeans.

Here is a quick breakdown of its actual utility:

The Good:

• Minimalism: It is the purest “hands-free” solution. It’s lighter and more elegant than a lanyard or a clunky belt clip.
• Fashion Statement: It is the look. It forces your $1,200 phone to become a central part of your outfit, like a piece of jewelry.
• Material Feel: The 3D-knitted construction is reportedly a sensory delight—tactile, structured, and unique.

The Bad:

• Zero Protection: Drop your phone while it’s in this, and you’ll be booking a Genius Bar appointment. It protects from scratches, and that’s it.
• Security: A crossbody pouch is a tempting target for a snatch-and-run thief in any major city.
• Singular Use: It holds a phone. That’s it. No cards. No cash. No lip balm.

This Apple Pocket review concludes that its utility is entirely aesthetic. It recalls the infamous iPod Sock from 2004, but where the sock was a $19, whimsical, protective afterthought, the Apple Pocket is a $230, deliberate, performative forethought. It’s the iPod Sock, but it went to Parsons and got a trust fund.

How to Get the Look for Less: Top “Apple Pocket Alternatives”

For 99% of the population, the Apple Pocket is an object of curiosity, not a purchase. But the idea—a minimalist, wearable phone holder—is now firmly in the zeitgeist. If you want the function without the fashion-world price tag, you have excellent Apple Pocket alternatives.

This is how you capture the trend for less:

1. The Lanyard Leader: CASETiFY
   • This brand dominates the phone-strap market. You can get their durable, stylish rope crossbody straps, metal chains, or utility-style lanyards (often bundled with a case) for a fraction of the Apple price.
2. The Leather Pouch: Bellroy (or similar)
   • For a more classic, professional look, brands like Bellroy offer slim leather phone pouches and “slings” that serve a similar purpose. They offer more protection and often have a slot for a credit card, adding utility.
3. The Techwear Sling: Nomatic / Aer
   • If your style leans more gorpcore or techwear, a small tech sling is a far more practical alternative. They’re designed to be waterproof, durable, and hold your phone, wallet, keys, and AirPods.
4. The Craft-Core Option: Etsy
   • Want a simple, knitted, or macramé phone holder? The artisan marketplace is overflowing with creative, affordable options that deliver the same hands-free vibe for under $30.

The Final Verdict: A “Genius” Move or a “Gimmick”?

The Apple Pocket is the most Apple product in years. It’s a polarizing object that is less about technology and more about culture.

It is simultaneously:

• A masterpiece of brand alignment, pairing Apple’s tech-minimalism with Issey Miyake’s material-first fashion.
• A ridiculous gimmick that offers no practical value for its exorbitant price.

This designer tech collaboration isn’t about solving a problem. It’s about creating an object of desire. It’s the ultimate Apple lifestyle accessory, a status symbol that communicates you are not just a tech user, but a fashion participant. It’s less a tool and more a piece of commentary you can wear.

The Apple Pocket isn’t for everyone. In fact, it’s for almost no one.

And for Apple and Issey Miyake, that’s precisely the point.