Can’t you stop thinking about iPhone sock bags? Apple has even more modern art available for you.
The company has just launched its new, limited edition Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand, a MagSafe compatible accessory that turns your phone into a handheld sculpture.
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The case is made in collaboration with Bailey Hikawa, a Los Angeles-based designer known for a series of colorful, abstract iPhone cases that look like hand-shaped amoebas or melting gummy bears. You’ve probably seen Hikawa cases popping up on your TikTok FYP or in the hands of influencers, but what you might not know is that Hikawa’s design ethos isn’t just about trendiness, but also accessibility.
To that end, Hikawa’s iPhone accessories are more aesthetically pleasing (no offense, sock bags); They serve a purpose, offering a creative means of hand support that can help reduce fatigue and improve your grip.
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Credit: Apple
Apple’s Hikawa Phone Grip was designed with those principles in mind, but with additional accessibility considerations for users with different levels of motor skills, muscle strength, and grip tension — and who don’t use their hands to navigate the iPhone. The silicone accessory can be used vertically or horizontally and can be popped on and off the device in one fluid motion, so it’s easier to attach to your device than Hikawa’s case.
In an interview with ELLE Decor, Hikawa explained that she didn’t set out to design accessible phone accessories, but feedback from customers with disabilities showed her that her business just didn’t have artistic merit. For the exclusive Apple Grip, they specifically interviewed iPhone users with a variety of disabilities to give them insight into the shape and design of the new accessory.
“This is the beginning of many more offerings for all body types,” he told the publication.
This year marks 40 years since Apple introduced accessibility initiatives across its company and devices, which the tech giant is celebrating with a series of new accessibility features and upgrades, including new App Store labels, Braille access, and upgrades to tools like Head Tracking, Live Listen, Live Captions, and Personal Voice.
The Grip is on sale now and retails for $69.95. It comes in two colors: Chartreuse and Crater, exclusive to the US Apple Online Store.