Apple's Weirdest Accessory is Back: Why is the "iPhone Sock" Suddenly Trending?
If you checked Twitter (X) or Google Trends today, you might have done a double-take. Yes, you read that correctly: "Apple Sock" is trending with over 5K searches.
No, you haven't time-traveled back to 2004. So why is this bizarre, low-tech accessory suddenly the talk of the internet in 2025?
We've got the simple explanation.
What Was the Apple Sock?
For those too young to remember, the Apple Sock was a real product.
In 2004, Apple released the iPod Sock. It was exactly what it sounds like: a set of six colorful, knitted-cotton socks, sold in one package for $29.
Its purpose? To protect your shiny, white iPod Classic from scratches. There were no cases, no screen protectors. Just a cozy, colorful sock. It was quirky, strange, andpeak 2000s Apple design.
Why Is It Trending Now?
The "Apple Sock" trend seems to have been re-ignited by a viral TikTok video from a retro-tech reviewer. The video, which has amassed millions of views, showed a user "unboxing" a pristine, 20-year-old set of iPod Socks.
This kicked off a massive wave of nostalgia.
But it's also tied to another trending term: "iPhone pocket." As modern smartphones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max get larger and heavier, many users are complaining that they no longer fit comfortably (or safely) in pockets.
The "Apple Sock" has become a funny, nostalgic symbol of a simpler time when our tech was small enough to need its own tiny, colorful clothing.
Will Apple Bring It Back?
Don't hold your breath. Apple is unlikely to re-release a $29 knitted sock for a $1,200 smartphone.
But the trend is a fun reminder of how far technology has come. From a simple click-wheel MP3 player in a sock to a pocket-sized supercomputer that (barely) fits in our jeans.
Would you buy an "iPhone Sock" for your modern phone? Let us know in the comments!