$6 Fake iPhone Pocket Already Available

[jonnysods]

I think I'll use the built in pockets that come with my pants, super convenient and I won't look like a dork with more money than brains.

 

[Sully]

I’m not their intended buyer, but it seems like there’s a market for this.

In some other products, I’ve noticed the difference between OEM and knock off. Supposedly, Darn Tough socks are way better than what you get at TjX or Ross.

I’ll eagerly await the YouTube side by side comparison of every detail. 😂

 

[Donkey Man]

I’m not their intended buyer, but it seems like there’s a market for this.

In some other products, I’ve noticed the difference between OEM and knock off. Supposedly, Darn Tough socks are way better than what you get at TjX or Ross.

I’ll eagerly await the YouTube side by side comparison of every detail. 😂

There’s always a market for anything - after all, low IQ individuals are the rule, not the exception.
Remember that 1,000 dollar iPhone app that simply showed a ruby on the screen?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Didn't Borat wear the yellow one?

 

[Hank001]

Technically, since there's no ISSEY MIYAKE print on the label, there's no copyright infringement.

Uh, actually it is printed on a label.

 

[jakey rolling]

Uh, actually it is printed on a label.

Not to mention that the AliExpress listing linked to directly from the article is literally titled "2025 New For iPhone Pocket by ISSEY MIYAKE..."

 

[blacktape242]

called this a few weeks ago.

 

[beautyहमempty]

My head reads ISSEY MIYAKE as „Its aey mistake“ in Mario’s voice

I love you 🤣

 

[tennisproha]

Design and plain simple economics.

I am going to assume that a fair amount of man-hours went into conceptualising the iPhone pocket. I don't think this is something an intern at the firm spent 5 minutes crapping out. This results in a high fixed cost, and because the iPhone pocket is sold in such limited quantities, you need a higher margin to offset the cost of R&D (essentially), packaging, marketing etc.

I also don't know what went into manufacturing this, but I have interacted with it at the Apple Store, I feel it does genuinely feel like a high-end product (not sure how it will hold up after a year) and I willing to bet that there is a night-and-day different in quality and feel compared to a $5 knock-off you see elsewhere.

The cheaper knockoffs also have a ready-to-copy template to go off on (so basically, there is zero fixed costs). The iPhone pocket had to start from scratch, and it's always harder to do something different than it is to just ape whatever is already on the market.

Then there is also the value of intangibles like owning a limited edition product (think Labubus or designer handbags, where scarcity is the entire point). This thing is sold out worldwide. No doubt a fair number of them went to influencers looking for quick and easy clout, but I am sure some also went to genuine customers.

Meanwhile, the AirPods is also similarly priced to maximise profits, but it's also a mass-market product designed to sell in the hundreds of millions (and so the price reflects that). Much of the technology and supply chain is also pretty mature and established, and all these come together to help bring manufacturing costs down.

So yeah, when demand outstrips supply, simple economics dictates that price will rise accordingly till parity is reached. Perhaps an argument could be made that it's still under-costed, but I doubt Apple is making any signifiant profit here. It's purely a marketing gesture.

If you're assuming the R&D costs for the iPhone pocket are equivalent to the R&D costs for AirPods, I can tell you they're not even close. In fact, yes this is absolutely something an intern can design on CAD in 5 minutes. I've designed more complex projects even when I was a beginner.

This is less about economics and more manufactured/artificial scarcity to sell the illusion of exclusivity. It's a super common marketing tactic.

 

[bgarnett]

Could you imagine if Hermès were behind this, it'd cost $20,000 and you'd have a 4 month wait.

 

[UliBaer]

Could you imagine if Hermès were behind this, it'd cost $20,000 and you'd have a 4 month wait.

Absolutely yes, because it would be hand made by virgin elves at new moon on February, the 29th on a thunderstorm.

Really, I don't get the pricing on this "sock" or also on some Hermes items sold to weirdos, loving to shill out insane amounts of money on some wacko items, just to impress themselves or some absolutely unimportant "neighbors"...

I love the internet... 🤣

 

[stephe22]

Have you been to Japan?

3 times in fact. Last time was Spring 2024.

 

[stephe22]

Because, for some silly reason, quite a lot of women's clothing is made with no pockets.

That actually makes sense. Thank you.

 

[iTouch]

I bought 3 different colors since it was less than $5 each. If it looks like the photos and quality is good, I'm keeping it. if it looks like garbage then I'll just return it. These sites are hit or miss, so I have low expectations. But there are times, where I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

[Apple Core]

Days after Apple's iPhone Pocket sold out around the world, fake versions of the accessory have started to become available online.

Earlier this month, Apple introduced the iPhone Pocket in collaboration with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE. The 3D-knitted limited edition accessory is designed to carry an iPhone.

The accessory is like a stretchy pocket, not unlike an iPod Sock, but elongated to form a strap made of a ribbed, elastic textile that fully encloses an iPhone yet allows you to glimpse the display through its open structure. It comes in a short strap variant for $149.95 and a long strap variant for $229.95.

The iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. It quickly sold out around the world.

Now, lookalike versions of the accessories have started to become available on Chinese sites like AliExpress, where you can buy an iPhone Pocket clone for as little as $6. Some listings describe it as a 1:1 replica, but there is no ISSEY MIYAKE print on the label. They describe the accessory as being made with the same production processes. Both the short and long variants are available in all of the original color options.

Apple products and accessories are often replicated by manufacturers in China, but the turnaround for these particular copies has been especially fast. As with most reproductions, quality can vary, yet for customers who missed out on the limited-edition release, found it too expensive, or simply like the aesthetic, the dramatically lower price of these lookalikes may make them a tempting alternative.

Article Link: $6 Fake iPhone Pocket Already Available

$229? Who would pay that much money when you can you one of your socks 🧦?