I’ve been trying out the Apple Crossbody Strap. It’s comfortable, but the phone looks ridiculous when the strap is removed

Along with the launch of the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and Air in September, Apple also introduced its first cross-body strap, which allows you to wear your iPhone similar to the way you carry a small shoulder bag, with the strap positioned diagonally across your body. The $59 accessory has so far received mixed reviews, with some saying it’s useful and convenient, while others decided it’s definitely not an accessory they want to use.

Some have also debated whether the strap makes iPhone owners more of a target for thieves because it advertises that you’re carrying a nice new smartphone, or whether it deters thieves who would rather opportunistically grab a loose iPhone out of someone’s hand than have to use a knife to cut the strap.

After trying out the band (which Apple sent me to review), I found that there were things I liked and didn’t like about this new accessory. The strap is sure to be convenient for travel, for being outside where you need to have your iPhone close at hand, or for some occupation where you often need to use your phone.

However, the strap can rub against your neck and shoulder uncomfortably at times, and the phone looks silly when the strap is removed — two drawbacks worth considering.

At first glance, a crossbody strap may look like a typical lanyard, but Apple, of course, has made some unique choices to set its strap apart from many other straps already on the market.

The accessory is made from recycled PET yarn (an eco-friendly polyester derived from recycled plastic), giving the woven belt more heft and weight than thinner fabric.

But what’s even more interesting is that the strap has flexible magnets inside it that help keep both overlapping straps together and together. This makes the belt stick together smoothly, even when you adjust the stainless steel sliders to your preferred length.

Apple also gives you plenty of straps to work with, so it will work well for both tall and short people – something that can’t be said for some cross-body wallets! (Maximum length is 81.9 inches and minimum length is 42.5 inches for reference.)

Another point in Apple’s favor is that the band has a somewhat unisex look, unlike many of the bands out there that are marketed to women or look like jewelry or wallets. Plus, for $59, you can purchase two different colors to match different outfits if you so choose.

How a belt fits on your body has a lot to do with your body shape and chest size, but in some cases, belt wearers may find that the belt rubs against their shoulders or neck as they move and walk. This is because when your leg taps slightly on the dangling iPhone, the strap moves too. This can also be an issue if you’re wearing an off-the-shoulder top, which exposes more of your skin.

In these cases, the belt can be a little uncomfortable – not so much that it outgrows its fit, but it can become a situation where you find yourself switching the belt to different sides of your body after a few hours of constant rubbing.

However, the biggest drawback to the Apple band is the way your iPhone looks when the band is removed. This is purely an aesthetic complaint, but if you’re wearing your phone, you’re probably already considering the fashion angle here.

The band connects to your phone via two thin, coiled wires that fit through holes on the bottom of your compatible phone case. At the end of these ropes there are metal fasteners that the belt is attached to to hold it in place.

Getting the bonded extensions through the holes can be a little difficult at first, especially if you have larger fingers. You wouldn’t want to do this every time you want to wear a bra. Instead, the idea is that you’ll simply undo the strap to remove it, but then you’re left with a silly-looking iPhone that has little wires hanging out from the bottom.

Maybe you find this cute, or maybe you don’t care what this looks like, but I’d argue that if you’re going to be wearing a bra a lot, you might be better off upgrading to a sleeker band or case where the connectors are gold or silver metal rings, not threads strung by metal feet.

(Aside: I’ve been eyeing Bandolier cases, and you can see in the company’s product photos how much better they look when you remove the strap. Additionally, they offer chains that look like those found on high-end wallets, leather phone cases, and attachable wristbands that come with your strap. You can also add accessories like AirPods holders and extended cases. Of course, these aren’t affordable at $59! Once you start upgrading, you’ll be spending about $100-$150 on a case And the belt alone.)

There are, of course, many cheap straps and lanyards on sites like Amazon and others, and from case and accessory makers like Casetify or Popsockets, but these tend to attach via an insertable card that fits inside your phone case, providing a single metal loop to attach the cord to.

As someone who has gone through a good selection of cheap wrist straps from Amazon, I can attest to the fact that many of them will eventually break, even if the metal loop they attach to stays in place. I don’t have that concern with the Apple band, since it doesn’t have a single point of failure.