From iPod Hi-Fi to iPhone Pocket: Apple’s Most Head-Scratching Products Ever

Macworld

Apple is known for its iconic devices such as the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, but the company also has an extensive lineup of accessories, ranging from USB cables to iPhone cases and even Apple Watch bands. And the company has just added a new member to its family of accessories.

Dubbed iPhone Pocket, the new accessory is the result of a collaboration between the company and Issey Miyake. It’s essentially a small fabric sleeve with an expandable strap described as a “beautiful way to wear and carry your iPhone” around. Surprisingly, prices can reach $230 per piece.

But this isn’t Apple’s first head-scratching accessory. Read on as we dive into some of the company’s most head-scratching creations.

iPod Socks




Apple

When Steve Jobs announced iPod Socks as a “revolutionary new product” during  an Apple event keynote in October  2004, many people laughed, thinking that Jobs wasn’t serious about launching a pack of colorful socks for iPods. Jobs even joked about how other companies were making a lot of money from third-party iPod accessories, while Apple had zero official accessories at that point.

The idea was to compete with protective cases for iPods, but with an original, fun, and unexpected touch that only Apple could provide. The socks were compatible with pretty much all iPod models available at the time and protected them from scratches when they weren’t being used.

iPod Socks weren’t exactly convenient since you had to take the iPod out of the sock to access the Click Wheel. Still, the accessory was fun, unique, and most importantly, quite affordable. A pack that included six color options cost $29, less than $5 per sock.

In many ways, we can say that the new iPhone Pocket has a touch of inspiration from iPod Socks.

U2 iPod




Apple

Also in 2004, at the same event where Jobs announced iPod Socks, Apple also unveiled the U2 Special Edition iPod. To celebrate the good relationship between Apple and U2, the company released a special edition iPod in black with a red Click Wheel. On the back, the iPod had the signatures of each member of the band laser-engraved. 

Customers who bought the U2 iPod also received an exclusive poster and a $50 coupon toward the first-ever Digital Box Set containing all of U2’s music up to that point. It was clearly made for superfans of U2 and wasn’t the last time Apple and U2 would cause waves of confusion.

Only four generations of the U2 iPod have been released over the years, making the product an expensive collector’s item for those who still have one. The existence of the U2 iPod is a reminder that Apple loves to collaborate on new products from time to time.

iPod Hi-Fi




Apple

Marketed as “home stereo reinvented,” the iPod Hi-Fi was Apple’s first attempt to bring music and its minimalist design language into the living room. A decade before HomePod existed, the iPod Hi-Fi amplified songs played through the iPod with the help of multiple speakers and a large built-in woofer.

Since AirPlay wasn’t a thing back then, users had to plug their iPod into the Hi-Fi system using a 30-pin connector precariously placed at the top of the heavy speaker. There was also a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting other devices to the iPod Hi-Fi.

Due to its high price ($349), unimpressive sound, and lack of wireless connectivity, the iPod Hi-Fi never became a hit. Apple ended up discontinuing the product just one year later, after launching the first iPhone. And most people probably never missed it.

iPad Keyboard Dock




Apple

When Apple announced the first iPad in 2010, the company also introduced an intriguing accessory: the iPad Keyboard Dock. Instead of a wireless keyboard or a folio case, it was literally a dock with a full-size keyboard attached.

Despite Apple’s attempt to include keyboard shortcuts specifically designed for the iPad, the keyboard felt awkward, had no adjustability, and required the iPad to be connected via the 30-pin connector. Because of that, it was only possible to use the iPad with the keyboard in portrait orientation.

The accessory cost $69, which was somewhat expensive for a clunky keyboard. The iPad Keyboard Dock was discontinued a year later, after the launch of the iPad 2. It took Apple four years to release another keyboard for the iPad, this time a much better one (the Smart Folio Keyboard).

Mac Pro Wheels Kit and Pro Display Stand




Apple

When Apple introduced the 2019 Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR, the company marketed it as a modular, professional desktop that could handle everything from 8K video editing to advanced 3D rendering. But alongside this long-overdue Mac and monitor, the company unveiled two accessories that made all the headlines.

For $699, customers could replace the standard stainless-steel feet with a set of four polished wheels so they could easily move their Mac Pro around. The idea made some sense for studio environments, but the price (nearly $175 per wheel) turned the Mac Pro Wheels Kit into a meme.

To make things worse, the wheels don’t come with all the tools needed to install them on the Mac. In addition, the wheels don’t have locks, so your $6,000 computer could simply roll away if the floor isn’t perfectly level.

But that wasn’t the only confoundingly overpriced accessory introduced. While the Mac Pro’s companion monitor, the 32-inch 6K Pro Display XDR, certainly impressed with its specs, users were more shocked that the $5,000 monitor didn’t come with a stand included.

Rather, Apple sold a Pro Stand separately with an insane $999 price tag. It was impossible not to notice the crowd’s negative reaction at the event during the announcement (which was notably Apple’s last live keynote).

Both products are over-engineered, beautifully crafted, and hard to justify. Yet, they’re both still available in stores.

Apple Polishing Cloth




Apple

In 2021, Apple quietly released an accessory that no one asked for, but everyone talked about. The Apple Polishing Cloth appeared on the company’s online store with a $19 price tag and a simple description: a soft, nonabrasive material that “cleans any Apple display.”

Almost immediately, the cloth went viral. Some mocked it as the ultimate symbol of Apple’s luxury pricing, while others defended it, claiming it actually worked better than cheap microfiber alternatives. The product even sold out within hours, with shipping dates slipping by months.

It became both a meme and a collector’s item, proving that Apple can even turn a simple cleaning accessory into a status symbol. To this day, the Polishing Cloth remains on sale, a small but perfect example of Apple’s ability to make small things seem premium.

iPhone Crossbody Strap




Apple

More recently, Apple introduced another accessory that divided people’s opinions: the iPhone Crossbody Strap. The strap can be attached to all Apple iPhone 17 cases and lets users wear their brand new iPhone as a fashion accessory, similar to the new iPhone Pocket.

While some see no point in the accessory, others seem to like the idea of carrying their iPhone around as if it were a small purse. One thing we can’t deny is that the accessory isn’t cheap either: $59 for each skinny strap, and the case isn’t included.

Weird, but very Apple

As you can see, Apple has a long history of trying to push new accessories. While some fail, others emphasize Apple’s ability to turn almost anything into a premium product.

It’s still too early to tell whether the new iPhone Pocket will be a hit or whether it will quietly disappear in a year, but at least Apple is once again trying to do something different.