The tinyPod: looks like an iPod, acts like a dumbphone

With a $30 case, Apple Watch users can turn their device into a dumbphone.

"What goes around, comes around!" notes a company called tinyPod, which has recently launched a case that looks like an iPod but is actually an accessory that allows you to use an Apple Watch as a mini phone.

The idea behind the case with a resurrected iPod look is to allow users to leave their smartphones at home but still have a device to make calls or receive texts when necessary.

"tinyPod is just your tiny phone... without the online distractions," the company says. The case, created to transform a smartwatch into a dumbphone, is also expected to help those who want to limit their time spent on social media.

The case has already been launched for sale, with tinyPod lite priced at $30 and tinyPod at $80. The cases are available for Series 4 and later, as well as for Ultra and Ultra 2 watches, with sizes of 41/40mm, 45/44mm, and 49mm.

Despite the new product's recent launch, people online were quick to share their thoughts on it.

Some viewed tinyPod as a fun add-on, stating, "I have a Gen 6 watch wasting away in my drawer. This seems fun, and I'm bad with money, so why not?" While others noticed that the case is made for a specific target group, precisely for people who already own a smartwatch.

"[...]if you don't own the watch already it's a bit silly. I think this is targeting people who've already got one lying around," noted a Reddit user after seeing a comment that to own such a pairing would cost around $600.

One of the features that many people look for when buying tech devices is their battery life. tinyPod is not an exception, with Redditors online stating that "this looks like a cool idea but it's like an iPod that just died faster" and that "iPods have a better battery life playing music than Apple Watches."

Nevertheless, the company shares that with tinyPod, users can use the watch for multiple days with wrist detection turned off.

The design of the tinyPod case is very similar to that of Apple's iPod, which was first introduced in 2001. Around 450 million iPods were sold in more than twenty years until they were discontinued in 2022. The iPod has a well-known scroll wheel used to control the device, which now functions as a replacement for the Apple Watch crown.