Leaker Majin Bu reviews that Apple is creating a brand new iPhone 17 accent: a shoulder strap for instances the place the iPhone 17 hangs over your hip like a small bag. It retains the iPhone all the time at hand, and also you don’t should fumble round to get it out of your pocket.
In accordance with Bu, the strap works with out carabiners or different bodily clasps and depends solely on magnets. A steel component that may be magnetically docked can be integrated into the strap’s material. The 2 ends are strengthened with otherwise polarized magnetic rings that present extra assist. It seems that extra magnetic components can be integrated into the edges of Apple’s iPhone 17 instances to carry the strap in place, however Bu doesn’t go into specifics as to how the attachment works.
Such a magnetic system for cell phone chains has benefits and drawbacks. It may be connected and eliminated virtually blindly, because the magnets all the time persist with the best place on the case. No tedious unscrewing or detaching is critical. The query arises as to its practicality: whether or not it might keep connected throughout regular use.
A magnet additionally introduces the opportunity of interference for iPhone parts that depend on electromagnetic waves. Because the iPhone XS, Apple has warned in opposition to magnetic covers which will impair the standard produced by the cameras. Within the case of the Apple Watch and the compass perform, Apple even warns in opposition to its magnetic wristbands, which may impair the functioning of the compass.
Magnetic locking methods are usually not new to Apple and have been tried and examined on Apple Watch straps for a decade. The earlier Sport Loop straps, for instance, relied on a magnetic clasp till 2019. The Milanese Loop and FineWoven watch bands nonetheless have a magnetic clasp. MagSafe, each on the iPhone and MacBook, additionally depends on magnets.
Apple is reportedly experimenting with each nylon straps constructed from an identical materials used for the Apple Watch wristbands and silicone. A silicone strap would match the silicone instances of the brand new iPhone that Apple introduces yearly. Apparently, the brand new cell phone bands are already in manufacturing in order that Apple can begin promoting them on the primary day the iPhone goes on sale.
Bu’s reviews generally should be seen with some skepticism. He was already energetic as a leaker earlier than the iPhone 16 was unveiled, however lots of his claims turned out to be false: particular shades of iPhone colours by no means emerged, the occasion was held a day earlier than what Bu reported, and the iPhone 16 Professional blueprint Bu posted turned out to be the iPhone 15 Professional Max.
This text initially appeared on our sister publication Macwelt and was translated and localized from German.