# Gadget straps are the hottest thing in tech fashion | The Vergecast

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNW6KmTpcqo
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/BNW6KmTpcqo
Generated: 2026-03-03T13:33:42.704+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Gadget straps, encompassing lanyards, wrist straps, and cross-body satchels, are emerging as a hot accessory, particularly in Asia and Europe, driven by the need for hands-free phone accessibility and aesthetic personalization, despite the fact that pockets are often insufficient or unavailable in modern clothing, especially for women.

**Key Points:**
- The main theme of the MWC discussion, following Samsung's event, involved rating current and future phone technologies on a 1 to 5 scale for likelihood of implementation.
- 6G technology received a 'five' rating for happening, though Allison noted it is at least five years out and its primary argument revolves around speeding up AI tasks.
- Modular phones rated a 'three' in reality, despite high desire for them, due to existing concepts like Honor's robot phone and Vivo's camera rig, but lacking a unified ecosystem like Apple or Samsung could provide.
- Samsung's Pixel Flex privacy display technology, currently shipping in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, received a 'four' rating because it effectively works by dimming or obscuring the screen from side angles.
- Foldable phones are inching toward a 'four' recommendation as durability (like IP68/IP69 ratings) and battery tech (like Motorola's Razer Fold using 6,000 mAh silicon carbon batteries) solve previous trade-offs.
- Gadget straps are a burgeoning accessory industry driven by utility in walkable, phone-dependent cities like Tokyo and London, and by the lack of functional pockets in many modern clothing designs.
- The Pet Phone, a collar tracker allowing two-way communication with pets, represents the far end of gadget innovation, which David Pierce suggests is where "all roads lead in technology."

**Context:** The Vergecast episode opens by previewing major upcoming tech news, including deep dives into Anthropic/OpenAI/Department of War issues and an upcoming Apple event rumored to feature new iPads and MacBooks, before pivoting to the main topic: current trends from Samsung's event and Mobile World Congress (MWC). Host David Pierce and senior reviewer Allison Johnson discuss various phone technologies using a 1-to-5 scale, followed by a segment with Jess Weatherbed examining the rise of gadget straps as a necessary accessory.

## Detailed Analysis

The discussion at MWC heavily featured a 1-to-5 rating game for emerging phone tech, where 6G was rated a definite 'five' despite being five years out, expected to focus on accelerating AI tasks. Modular phones were rated a 'three,' with excitement for concepts like Honor's robot phone but skepticism about ecosystem adoption without major players like Apple or Samsung. Allison Johnson confirmed that Samsung's Pixel Flex privacy display works as advertised, earning a 'four,' as it successfully obscures notifications from casual glances. Foldables are approaching a 'four' recommendation as durability (IP69 noted) and battery advancements, like the silicon carbon battery in the Motorola Razer Fold, address historical weaknesses, though they remain pricier than slab phones. Later, Jess Weatherbed detailed that gadget straps are popular due to a combination of utility—especially in highly walkable, phone-reliant cities where constant access is needed for tickets and payments—and fashion, often filling the void left by the lack of functional pockets in contemporary women's clothing, contrasting with Asian markets like Japan where this culture is deeply rooted in history and necessity. The conversation concluded with observations on the general trend toward physically moving gadgets, exemplified by the existence of the much-mocked Pet Phone.

### MWC Technology Ratings

- 6G rated 5 (happening in 5+ years)
- Modular phones rated 3 (exciting concepts but lacking ecosystem)
- Pixel Flex privacy display rated 4 (works well now)
- Foldables approaching 4 (improving durability and battery tech)

### Foldable Phone Progress

- Motorola's Razer Fold features a silicon carbon battery aiming for 6,000 mAh capacity
- Chinese OEMs show off super-thin foldables a generation ahead of US offerings
- Competition spurred by Motorola may push Samsung forward

### The Gadget Strap Phenomenon

- Driven by utility in walkable cities and the lack of functional pockets in modern women's clothing
- Popular in Asia (especially Japan, where 'keitai' culture originated) as both utility and personal trinket
- Apple's strap shown on men to normalize the accessory beyond traditional gendered fashion

### Strap Utility vs. Security

- Straps prevent leaving phones in taxis and offer hands-free access for constant phone use
- Counterpoint is that exposing the phone constantly might feel less secure than keeping it hidden in a bag or pocket

### Extreme Gadget Innovation

- The discussion touched on robots at MWC/CES and the existence of the Pet Phone—a collar tracker allowing two-way communication that requires a subscription—as a sign of technology reaching its furthest, sometimes absurd, conclusions