New Balance appears to have slipped a subtle Steve Jobs Easter egg into its latest 992 shoe photos, and Apple fans may spot the reference right away. One image in the product gallery shows a person wearing the grey New Balance 992 while sitting in a black leather chair with one leg crossed, closely matching one of Jobs' most recognisable on-stage poses.
The detail has drawn attention because of the strong link between Jobs and the New Balance 992. The late Apple co-founder was often seen wearing New Balance shoes as part of his simple black turtleneck, blue jeans and trainers look, while the 992 became one of the pairs most closely linked with his public image.
The Hidden Jobs Reference
The possible tribute appears in New Balance's current 992 product images. The photo shows a person in blue jeans and a dark top sitting in a black leather chair, with the grey 992 clearly visible and one leg crossed over the other.
New Balance slipped a Steve Jobs reference into its 992 product photos, recreating his iconic pose from the original iPad presentation in 2010.
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) October 5, 2026
Such a cool little tribute. pic.twitter.com/iD11xsJXSS
The pose resembles a well-known photo of Jobs during Apple's presentation of the original iPad in January 2010. Jobs sat in a black leather chair during the event as he showed the tablet to the audience, creating an image that has remained strongly linked with the product launch.
New Balance does not appear to directly name Jobs or call the photo an official tribute in the product listing. Because of that, it is more accurate to describe the image as an apparent reference to Jobs rather than a confirmed Steve Jobs campaign.
Why the 992 Matters
The connection between Jobs and the 992 goes back years. The New Balance 992 first arrived in the mid-2000s, and the model later became closely associated with Jobs because he was regularly photographed wearing the grey trainers.
Jobs was known for keeping his clothing choices simple, with his black turtleneck, blue jeans and New Balance shoes becoming part of his public image. His footwear became so closely tied to that look that the 992 is still widely described as one of his signature shoes.
There has also been a long-running story that Jobs had a connection to the design of New Balance's 99X shoes, but that claim should be treated carefully. Complex reported that New Balance employees did not confirm that Jobs worked directly with the company on the 992, while designer Jonathan Bacon said he did not collaborate with Jobs on the model.
New Balance Keeps It Simple
The timing makes the small detail even more noticeable. Jobs died on 5 October 2011, and the newly noticed 992 image appeared around the 15th anniversary of his death, giving the possible reference added meaning for Apple and sneaker fans.
New Balance currently lists its Made in USA 992 Core in several colour options, including the grey version that most closely matches the shoes associated with Jobs. The current US listing shows the Made in USA 992 Core at $199.99 (approximately £150).
For fans who remember Jobs' classic stage look, the photo is easy to recognise even without his face appearing in the shot. The chair, crossed legs, blue jeans and grey 992 create a simple visual link to the Apple co-founder while keeping the focus on the sneaker itself.
The apparent Easter egg also shows how strongly Jobs' personal style remains linked to the New Balance brand. More than a decade after his death, the simple combination of a black top, blue jeans and grey trainers can still bring his famous Apple-era image to mind.
