I used to think PopSockets Grips were unnecessary — now they’re my favorite iPhone accessory under $10

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• For years I’ve written off PopSockets Grips as an unnecessary fad. After using one for a week, I’ve completely changed my mind. The hype is real and warranted.
• My PopSockets Grip has helped me hold my iPhone XS Max more comfortably, which made everything from taking pictures with friends to reading during my subway commute a lot easier.
• Besides helping me hold my phone, I also used the PopSockets Grip as a kickstand, which let me use my iPhone XS Max like a second screen for my computer.
• I haven’t come across another accessory that’s this useful and costs less than $10.

I do my best to stay up to date on the latest gadgets and accessories, but there’s been one I’ve avoided, and even judged despite its immense popularity: PopSockets Grips.

The thin, circular “button” sticks to the back of your phone’s case (or even a Kindle, iPad, etc.), and can be popped up to create a handle so you can hold your phone more easily with one hand. When you’re done with it, you can push the PopSockets Grip down, and it’ll sit nearly flush so your phone can still fit in your pocket.

I always wrote off PopSockets Grips as a stupid fad, wondering how hard could it be for most people to hold their phone. But over 55 million people have tried them so far, and they couldn’t all be wrong, so I sucked it up and tried one for myself.

I was completely wrong — this thing is amazing.

To find the best place to put the PopSockets Grip, I held my phone like I normally would and stuck it between my ring and middle fingers. There’s no right or wrong place to put it, and you can take it off and adjust its positioning later. Within 30 seconds of holding my phone with the PopSockets Grip, I completely understood why these things have gotten so popular.

For the first time in a month I could casually scroll through websites without straining my hand. I didn’t have to worry about sudden jolts from the subway loosening my grip on my phone, or taking jittery one-handed selfies. If there’s ever been a moment when you wished that you could hold your phone a little more steadily, whether you’re taking a picture, watching a video, or trying to read online, the PopSockets Grip can help.

I have an iPhone XS Max, and while my hands are big enough that I can hold it with one hand, it’s definitely a two-handed device most of the time. Using my phone two-handed isn’t a big deal, but it’s way more convenient to use one, especially in crowded areas like the New York City Subway.

If all the PopSockets Grip did was make it easier to hold my phone, I’d still recommend it, but it’s also a kickstand. Depending on where you position it, an open PopSockets Grip will balance your phone perfectly on a table, and point it upward at a comfortable angle. You can use this feature to watch videos, which works really well, but I used it to turn my iPhone into a little secondary display where I’d keep notes for articles I was writing.

Besides charging cables, I can’t think of a single accessory under $10 that’s as useful as the PopSockets Grip. It’s helped me use my phone more easily during my commute or at work, and it’s become second nature to pop it open when I take my phone out of my pocket.

The PopSockets Grip hype is real, and completely warranted.

PopSockets Grips and Stands for Phones and Tablets, $8.74, available at Amazon

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