I currently use an Apple Watch Series 4 and will likely upgrade to the new watch that Apple releases this fall. But rather than sell it for pennies, I’ve been looking for something to do with the Series 4 besides storing it in my drawer next to my original Apple Watch. After all, it works fine, it just lacks a few newer sensors and features. And I think I’ve found a way to put it to good use.
The tinyPod is a case that turns the Apple Watch into a standalone gadget that looks like a small iPod. Insert the Apple Watch case into the silicone case, and your watch’s Digital Crown turns into a scroll wheel for navigating menus and messages. You still have to tap the Apple Watch’s screen to select something, but inside the tinyPod, there’s a mechanism designed to rotate the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown when you use the scroll wheel. The case also has an opening on the back so chargers can connect to the watch without removing it from the tinyPod case.
The tinyPod website suggests that this device can be used in place of your iPhone when you don’t need to carry the larger device. That’s entirely possible if you have an Apple Watch with cellular and are happy to use watchOS’s text input methods or its pre-programmed responses in apps like Messages. We’re assuming you’ll need to turn off the Apple Watch’s passcode to prevent it from locking itself every few minutes.
The tinyPod is compatible with the 40/41mm and 44/45mm Apple Watch Series 4 or later, including the SE, and is priced at $80. A version for the Apple Watch Ultra 1 and Ultra 2 is available for $90. The larger model will begin shipping this summer, while the smaller model won’t ship until the fall. A tinyPod Lite is also available, without a scroll wheel, for anyone dreaming of a $30 or $40 iPod nano (Apple Watch Ultra).
When I filled out an order form, the tinyPod website listed a “September-October” shipping time frame. That’s fine with me since the next Apple Watch will ship around that time, but if you’re hoping to get a tinyPod as soon as possible, you might be disappointed. Speaking of shipping, it’s not included in the tinyPod’s price, and people on X have pointed out that shipping can be expensive. For me, it cost $9.90 to ship to San Francisco.
