Apple has just dropped a brand new iPhone accessory, and this one comes with a meaningful story behind it. The Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand has just been made available through Apple’s online store as the latest collaboration between the company and an independent designer aiming to make technology more accessible for all.
This limited edition accessory was designed by Los Angeles-based artist and industrial designer Bailey Hikawa in collaboration with Apple. The timing is significant too-it celebrates 40 years of accessibility efforts at Apple, highlighting the company’s long-standing commitment to making its products usable by people of all abilities.
The grip attaches to any MagSafe-compatible iPhone using magnets, which means it snaps on securely but can still be removed without much effort. This may sound like a small thing, but for people with limited hand strength or dexterity, easy attachment and removal can make a huge difference in daily use.
Adaptive Accessory of Apple for Enhanced Phone Use
Beyond holding onto your phone, the accessory also functions as a stand. It supports two different viewing angles and works in both portrait and landscape orientations. Whether you’re on a video call, following a recipe while cooking, or just watching something at your desk, you’ve got options for how to prop up your device.
The entire thing is made of high-quality silicone with a soft-touch feel that’s designed to reduce tension and support different hand positions. Apple calls it an “adaptive accessory,” and what that means here is that it’s built to support individuals in using their phones whatever way works best for their bodies and abilities.
What makes this accessory stand out from the countless other phone grips available is the process behind its creation. Hikawa didn’t just design something she thought would work well; rather, she actively involved the disability community throughout development.
The design process directly involved feedback from a diverse panel of people with various disabilities and accessibility needs. Of particular note is the input from individuals dealing with conditions affecting grip, dexterity, and hand control. This form of inclusive design ensures that the end product actually meets real-world rather than theoretical challenges.
How a New Project is Redefining Accessibility and Joy in Tech
According to Hikawa, this project has completely altered the course of her work. She’s characterized it as only the beginning of more various offerings built for different bodies and abilities. If anything, this is what really brings her joy in her creative practice: to hear from someone that an accessory is seriously helpful, that they can’t live without it, or that it feels comfortable in their hand.
Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s head of accessibility, recently talked about the collaboration. She said Apple was eager to explore what kinds of MagSafe accessories could be truly valuable to their communities. For the company, this is one of many accessories that solves unique problems for some people, and they’re excited to see how different users incorporate it into their lives.
Sculptural Design That Doesn’t Scream “Medical Device”
Here’s where the background of the artist Hikawa really shines through. Most adaptive gear tends to look clinical, or utilitarian at best-functionalist but not exactly something you’d be excited to show off. Hikawa took a different approach entirely.
The grip is a modern sculpture inspiration, and each piece is intended to be an art object in its own right. It’s ergonomic and adaptive, yes, but it also looks like something that belongs in a design museum. This matters because people shouldn’t have to sacrifice aesthetics just because they need accessible products.
The accessory is available in two colors: a bold, high-visibility Chartreuse for those who want their grip to stand out, and Crater-a recycled colorway that’s exclusive to Apple. Both options maintain that sculptural, eye-catching quality which makes the Hikawa grip so different from generic phone accessories.
The Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand is available for $69.95 through Apple’s online store in the US now. Keep in mind that this is a limited-edition drop, so supply may be limited.
This is the second limited-edition iPhone accessory Apple has launched this month. The company just launched the iPhone Pocket, a designer cross-body pouch starting at $149.95, days ago. Both launches suggest that Apple is growing more interested in collaborating with independent designers on specialty, limited-run accessories.
Those interested in more of her work will be able to purchase more MagSafe accessories via her website in the coming weeks, including a Cobalt color option that will ship pre-orders in early December 2025.
The Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand is refreshing in the accessory market for being a product that has real accessibility needs at its core while refusing to compromise on design. That’s what universal design should be about.
