The skepticism I had about Apple’s rumored crossbody iPhone strap can be put to rest now that it’s officially announced as part of yesterday’s big iPhone 17 event. I’m suitably impressed. And if we can clear up some of the confusion about why it exists in the first place, then I think more people will be too.

Firstly, crossbody straps are supremely useful for those of us who are denied deep pockets and don’t want to carry a bag. It gives the person quick access to their phone on a bike, at a festival, in a shop to make payments, or when tapping into public transport. They’re for the old and young who fear their phones being dropped or stolen. And yes, they’re also fashion statements that can be coordinated with your latest fit.

Pockets have been a longstanding issue with women’s clothing in particular — fashion designers started shrinking or removing them entirely in the late 1940s because they interfered with the form-fitting silhouettes popularized by Christian Dior’s “New Look.” Bags and purses became the de facto replacement, but phones have since evolved to replace most of the stuff we carry. You can use an iPhone to make payments, check your makeup, read a book, and even unlock doors. You don’t need to carry a bag, but most still need to carry that phone.

It’s also worth noting that mobile phone lanyards and straps are already popular in several regions outside of the US, and are a common sight across Europe and Asia, according to Redditors and my own eyeballs. Premium brands like the LA-based Bandolier have been around for at least a decade, with prices ranging from $98-$188, and XouXou is another popular brand selling phone cases and lanyard straps starting from $29. You can also find options at Casetify, Topologie, and cheap offerings from alphabetical-salad brands I don’t recognize at retailers like Amazon.

Apple is just the latest company to jump on this trend, but it does bring an interesting innovation that sets it apart from the rest: flexible magnets embedded throughout for quick adjustments. This allows the overlapping strap segments to sit flush together when you adjust the length, so they’re not hanging loosely or getting in the way. It might also provide some additional strength to prevent the straps from becoming loose when the attached phone is weighing it down, judging by some of the video demonstrations we’ve seen.

This quick adjustability is particularly useful for anyone who needs to change the strap length often, such as when walking, cycling, or extending the phone to take photos, pay for coffee, or tap a subway turnstile. The strap securely tethers the iPhone to your body, helping to prevent it from falling out of a back pocket or getting grabbed out of your hand by an opportunist thief. The Crossbody strap also uses mechanical snaps to attach to the case itself, which makes it easy to switch out if you want to coordinate different straps with your outfit.

Before its announcement, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that the iPhone Crossbody strap “has been a priority of the company’s design team,” and Apple seems to have accounted for everything.

The $59.00 price is also surprisingly reasonable, at least compared to the lofty prices Apple usually charges for accessories. You can find cheaper options, but they likely won’t come with the same magnetic features. It does, however, seem to lock you into buying a compatible iPhone case from Apple — at least initially, until third-party case makers get their act together.

I’m still on the fence about upgrading from my iPhone 14 Pro Max, but as a tourist and festival goer, Apple has at least sold me on its strap.

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