Apple and artist Bailey Hikawa are relaunching the accessible phone case
Apple has expanded the launch of the Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone, an accessibility-focused MagSafe accessory designed by Los Angeles-based artist and industrial designer Bailey Hikawa to support users with limited grip strength, dexterity and mobility. Originally released in limited quantities in 2025, the device sold out immediately and is now more widely available through Apple’s online store following continued demand and a renewed focus around inclusive product design.
Instead of acting as a standard phone grip, the Hikawa Grip & Stand rethinks the way smartphones physically interacts with the hand. Its expanded sculptural form introduces soft contours, finger grooves and multiple grip positions intended to reduce strain and satisfy a wider range of mobility needs than a smartphone’s flat rectangular form usually allows.
all images courtesy of Apple
Tactile industrial design accessory emphasizes adaptive use
The accessory attaches magnetically to MagSafe-compatible iPhones and can also function as a stand in both portrait and landscape orientations. Developed in consultation with people living with disabilities that affect hand control and muscle strength, the item addresses the daily physical effort involved in stabilizing and operating a smartphone for extended periods of time.
Visually, the design sits somewhere between an adaptive tool and a sculptural object. Made of soft-touch silicone, the handle is available in highly saturated finishes including Glow Blue, Orange Swirl and Speckled Stone, with oversized forms that prioritize touch and visibility over minimalism. The result stands in stark contrast to the sleek neutrality that has historically defined mainstream consumer electronics accessories.
the accessory can function as a stand in both portrait and landscape orientation
The comprehensive smartphone tool uses finger grooves to reduce strain
The broader rollout reflects a broader shift in the tech industry toward accessibility as a central design element rather than a secondary feature set. In recent years, companies including Apple have increasingly framed adaptive products not as medical devices, but as industrial design projects capable of improving usability for a much wider range of users.
The item refers to the daily physical effort involved in holding and operating a smartphone for extended periods of time
the design is somewhere between an adaptive tool and a sculptural object
