- The TinyPod is a new third-party accessory that turns the Apple Watch into an iPod.
- The accessory has its own click wheel and retails for $80, though a $30 model exists that removes the wheel.
- The TinyPod is available for order now, but most models will ship sometime between this summer and the fall.
The TinyPod is a new third-party accessory designed to transform the Apple Watch into a modern version of the Apple iPod, complete with a functional click wheel. The case works simply: you take your watch, remove the straps, and place it into the case. The digital crown won’t be usable, but the click wheel takes its place, invoking the same overall feel and functionality familiar to former iPod users.
The concept is simple, and while I love the idea, at $80, it’s a bit of a hard sell. After all, you’re essentially just paying for a special case that makes the Watch look more like an iPod, but there’s no added utility here. Yes, there’s the click wheel, but it does the same thing as the crown. The company behind the product bills this as your “phone away from phone,” but that’s really only true if you have one of the cellular models. If not, then the only difference between this and an Apple Watch with straps is, well, the straps.