Before smartphones evolved into multifunctional music devices, entertainment streamers, and gaming consoles, we depended on portable MP3 players to enjoy music on the move. After the digital music revolution of the late ’90s, MP3 players started gaining popularity, but it was Apple’s iPod — alongside iTunes — in 2001 that transformed the music (and portable music) industry forever.
Apple’s iPod and its various iterations, like the Nano, Classic, and Mini, ruled the ’00s, selling approximately 400 million iPods from 2001 to 2014. However, after the debut of the first iPhone in 2007, sales of portable MP3 players and iPods began to steadily decline. In 2022, Apple officially phased out the iPod. Nevertheless, in recent years, the vintage iPod has experienced a revival in popularity, particularly among Gen Z.
You don’t have to search the web for iPod substitutes or used models to join the iPod resurgence. The RePod Ultra is a Kickstarter invention that seeks to transform your Apple Watch with a mechanical redesign that evokes iPod-like nostalgia — and it has already met its funding target.
What is the RePod Ultra?
As per its Kickstarter campaign page, the RePod Ultra is “a mechanical redesign that reintegrates Apple Watch Ultra into everyday use.” The device features a steampunk-inspired titanium frame that attaches to your old Apple Watch Ultra, presenting an impressive appearance while also providing additional protection.
Visually, this device resembles something you might take into outer space, but it incorporates some retro elements that, while updated, will surely evoke nostalgia if you’ve ever owned an iPod. The RePod Ultra includes a metal rotary dial that enables you to control volume, scroll, play games, and navigate the watch’s interface, reminiscent of the iPod experience. WGP characterizes it as a “steering wheel for your sound.”
The RePod Ultra does not alter the functioning of your Apple Watch Ultra; you will continue to have access to podcasts, calls, payments, music, and its other functionalities. The rotary dial is designed to offer a more precise and tactile experience compared to a touchscreen — although the touchscreen remains usable. Additionally, the design of the casing allows for magnetic charging of your Apple Watch, audio from its speakers, and access to its side buttons, without needing to detach the device from your watch. Essentially, the RePod Ultra seems to merge iconic features of the iPod with modern Apple device functionality, all encased in a visually striking design.
This proposition was sufficient for WGP to achieve its Kickstarter funding target of HK$10,000 on March 7, with the first units expected to ship in April 2026. Three color options are available: Natural Titanium, Ultra Silver, and Black Titanium. If you’re looking to acquire a RePod Ultra for yourself, complete with a lanyard and manual, it will require a pledge of $89 (the standard MSRP is $159).