Spigen keeps one foot planted firmly in Apple’s past. Their retro-inspired cases have become something of a signature move, from iMac G3 translucent homages to see-through AirPods cases that capture Jony Ive’s obsession with showing off internal components. The accessory maker has proven there’s a market for nostalgia you can actually use.
The Classic LS marks a pivot from colorful transparency to utilitarian elegance. Celebrating Apple’s 50th anniversary, this new case reaches back to the Macintosh 128k and Apple Lisa era, when computers came in beige enclosures and harbored revolutionary ambitions. The platinum-gray finish, ridged camera module, and rainbow logo placement all reference those iconic machines. Spigen has managed to honor the design legacy and vision Steve Jobs set in motion while keeping features like MagSafe and Camera Control Button functionality intact.
Design: Spigen
Pivoting to the 128k and Lisa is a deliberate, almost academic move compared to their previous work. The iMac G3 was about making computers seem fun and harmless; the Macintosh was about making them seem possible. This case captures that earlier, more serious ethos. The horizontal ridges around the camera module directly evoke the necessary ventilation slats of those CRT-era machines, and the case’s texture feels like a direct nod to the plastics of the time.
All this design reverence would be wasted if it didn’t work as an actual case for a 2026 flagship. Spigen is limiting this to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, with built-in support for the Camera Control Button (rather than a mere cutout). For $39.99, you get the expected MagSafe ring and a discrete lanyard cutout, so the aesthetic doesn’t compromise modern convenience. This is a piece of designed history that actually functions as a daily driver, not just a shelf-bound novelty item.
It’s just refreshing to see an accessory that has a real, informed opinion. The market is drowning in a sea of identical clear cases and minimalist leather folios that say absolutely nothing. The Classic LS, however, makes a statement. It’s for a different kind of Apple enthusiast, one who appreciates the foundational designs that made today’s devices possible. It wraps a sleek, modern slab of technology in something with texture, history, and a point of view. Spigen has managed to create a product that feels both nostalgic and completely current.
