RePod for the Apple Watch Ultra: iPod nostalgia and digital detox or downgrade?

The RePod Ultra concept transforms an Apple Watch Ultra into a kind of modern, cyberpunk-style MP3 player, strongly reminiscent of the iPod era with its click wheel. Regarding the product's purpose, the manufacturer argues that many Apple Watch Ultras lie unused in drawers and that the case offers a solution for repurposing the device.

But are there really many $800 smartwatches lying around in drawers? Another perhaps more realistic reason to use the case is the possibility of turning the Apple Watch into a "dumbphone" or digital detox device. The RePod allows users to leave their smartphone at home while still remaining reachable and having access to essential functions (music, maps, Apple Pay, messages etc.) without the constant distractions of social media apps on the large phone screen.

Although the RePod Ultra is WPG's first Kickstarter product, similar devices from the company are already available on Amazon. Supporters can pre-order the RePod Ultra for $79, with delivery scheduled to begin in April 2026. However, caution is advised in regard to crowdfunding campaigns, which entail certain risks. These include the eventuality that the product may not work as advertised or may not make to market at all.