Apple Retail Stores to Offer Third-Party Accessories in New Apple-Style Packaging

Apple is planning to introduce new co-designed packaging for many of the third-party accessories that it sells in its stores, according to retail store information shared by 9to5Mac. Apple has reportedly been working with several third-party accessory manufacturers on packaging design, helping to create a new look for boxes to better fit in with the packaging that's used for Apple's own products.

Companies participating in Apple's revamped packaging efforts include Tech21, Sena, Incase, Mophie, Logitech, and Life Proof. When these products are sold in Apple Stores, they'll be sold with simple, no-frills white boxes with minimal labeling as seen in photos.

applenewpackaging

According to the memo, the packaging will be mostly white to match the Mac, iPhone, and Apple Watch boxes, while they will also include simpler fonts, new photography, higher-quality materials, and more consistent compatibility labeling. This shift is yet another in a string for third-parties that has included new environmental guidelines and a ban on leveraging early iPhone leaks.

Apple's new head of retail, Angela Ahrendts, has been working to revamp the Apple Store experience in recent months, streamlining the purchasing process and reimagining both product discovery and customer-employee interactions. The packaging redesign is part of a larger effort to overhaul Apple's in-store accessory lineup, limiting the number of products that are sold for a more refined look.

News of the revamped packaging was first shared by Mac Otakara [Google Translate] in June, and a sneak preview of what the accessory sections of Apple's retail stores might look like can be seen at the company's Upper East Side store in New York.

uppereastsidestore

Apple's Upper East Side store, image via Mark Lennihan, Associated Press

Apple Store accessory sections are expected to begin seeing changes starting next week, which is when the new packaging will be introduced.

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
Second Generation AirTag Feature

Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More

Monday January 26, 2026 6:07 am PST by
Apple today introduced the second-generation AirTag, with key features including longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker. For those who are not familiar, the AirTag is a small accessory that you can attach to your backpack, keys, or other items. Then, you can track the location of those items in the Find My app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com. The new...
iPhone 5s

iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After Launch

Monday January 26, 2026 3:56 pm PST by
Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released. iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The iPhone 5s came out in September 2013,...
M5 MacBook Pro

Apple Reportedly Aiming to Upgrade the MacBook Pro Twice This Year

Sunday January 25, 2026 11:46 am PST by
Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display models in the first half of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman added that redesigned MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen "should be hitting toward the end of 2026," meaning that the MacBook Pro line would be upgraded twice this year. First up...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple to Launch These 20+ Products This Year

Sunday January 25, 2026 6:02 pm PST by
2026 promises to be yet another busy year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements over the coming months. Beyond the usual updates to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, Apple is expected to release its all-new smart home hub, which was reportedly delayed until the more personalized version of Siri is ready. Other unique products rumored for ...

Top Rated Comments

caliguy Avatar
138 months ago
A little diversity is a good thing.



Attachment Image
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Corrode Avatar
138 months ago
Apple's packaging is second-to-none. This is good news for those lucky peripheral companies. Hopefully it means less overall materials use so it can be good news for the environment too.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
138 months ago
Would I sound foolish for thinking that Apple retail stores have become almost too upmarket? I know, high standards are something that every company aspires for, but to me they're just so sterile and unfriendly (that applies to both the staff and the surroundings).

I'm from U.K - would love to hear others thoughts.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dark Void Avatar
138 months ago
Lol @ that one customer in that store being grilled and surrounded by 4 employees in a candid stance.

Standing here ... just waiting to be asked a question. Beep beep robot beep.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sss4r Avatar
138 months ago
I think most people who can read and deduce what's inside the box from the photograph on the outside of the box will not have any trouble.
You grossly underestimate the stupidity of the average consumer. Besides, when people are in a hurry, mistakes happen. And you're talking about tech gadgets, you can hardly deduce everything about it from a mere picture. Specs matter.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdlink Avatar
138 months ago
Lol @ that one customer in that store being grilled and surrounded by 4 employees in a candid stance.

Standing here ... just waiting to be asked a question. Beep beep robot beep.
Actually looks more like a Microsoft store. 4 employees per customer.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)