The tinyPod Apple Watch case is both the best and worst idea ever

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Sometimes, a gadget comes along that I love, or want to love, but I’m also unsure that it makes any sense whatsoever. Reader, the tinyPod is one of those gadgets.

The tinyPod (via MacRumors) is a small device — a case, essentially — that wraps around your Apple Watch and turns it into a small iPod. Instead of wearing the watch around your wrist, you carry it in your pocket, and use the iPod-like scroll wheel to control it.

The idea, according to the project’s website, is to “transform the most powerful mini computer in the world into something new.” And it does make sense; the Apple Watch can do a lot of things, but I mostly use it to glance the time, track workouts, and check on the occasional food delivery time. By putting it (sans the wristband, of course) into an iPod-like form factor, you might be more inclined to unlock more of its functionality, and if you have a cellular version, you can even use it as a super-small phone.

While that’s all fine and dandy, Apple Watch is a device that’s made to be on your wrist. For example, once you unlock it, it stays unlocked as long as its back side is touching your skin, which obviously isn’t practical with the tinyPod case. This means that you’ll have to turn that feature off, and unlock the watch manually every time you use it, or leave it unprotected (also not a great idea).

Also, the only way the tinyPod makes sense, in my mind, is if you have an old Apple Watch lying around unused and want to do something with it. Purchasing an Apple Watch just to use it as a small phone or iPod-like music player doesn’t seem like a good use of your money.

Charging, fortunately, is quite simple. As the tinyPod leaves the back of the Watch exposed, you charge it with the same charger and in the same way you’d normally charge your Watch (unless you have a particularly oddly shaped charging stand).

If you’re willing to deal with these compromises, you can get the tinyPod for $79.99, and there’s also a tinyPod lite version, which doesn’t have the scroll wheel, for $29.99. The tinyPod comes in three sizes to accommodate various Apple Watch sizes. Yes, you can even have it for the 49-millimetre Apple Watch Ultra, but that increases the pricing to $89.99/$39.99.

 

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