Skip to main content

Tiny and inexpensive Barnacle gives you a go-anywhere iPhone stand

Once in a while a design or invention comes along that is so inexpensive and brilliant we just can’t resist its charms. The Barnacle ($5) got our attention with its itty-bitty price tag and its smart, clever design. For less than the price of a food cart lunch, you can have a portable suction cup stand for your iPhone that will work just about anywhere. Attach it to the kitchen counter while your kids play games, keep it on your desk to give your phone a better viewing angle, or suction it to your windshield in place of a full navigation dock. It’s small enough to carry in a purse or pocket, which gives it way more possible uses than a bulky stand or car dock that you’ll never spontaneously use. 

The Barnacle applies to the iPhone with the push of a thumb, and there is a small included tab to help you pull it off if the suction forces are too much for you. Users can apply the device to different areas of the phone to get different angles. Place the Barnacle upside down near the top of your phone to attach it to the wall while you sleep, for example. You’ll wake up and be able to snooze your alarm or ask Siri what the weather’s like without having to dig around for your phone under your pillow. It may not be the most high-tech iPhone accessory we’ve ever seen, but it’s one that we can come up with endless uses for, and at only $5 a pop, that makes it a worthwhile investment to us. Available in black, white, or orange. 

Editors' Recommendations

Kelly Montgomery
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelly Montgomery is a magazine journalism graduate from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications…
Why you should buy the iPhone 15 Pro instead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max
Natural Titanium iPhone 15 Pro with Chopper and BD-1 droids around it.

Apple releases multiple iPhones every year, offering folks choice in terms of size and features. In 2024, the iPhone 15 lineup includes four distinct models.

The regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are great for those who don’t need a telephoto lens and don’t care about the Action button or the 1TB of storage. But anyone who wants a more “pro” experience has the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Read more
iPhone SE 4: news, rumored price, release date, and more
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) and Apple iPhone SE (2020) together.

While the spotlight always seems to be on Apple’s mainline iPhones, the iPhone SE is a great pick for those who are on a budget. If you want an iPhone that doesn't break the bank, the SE is the way to go.

The original iPhone SE came out in 2016, and then Apple revamped it in 2020 and 2022 by giving it some more modern hardware. The iPhone SE tends to get updated every two or so years rather than annually like the traditional iPhone. This means  that we should see a new iPhone SE 4 this year, but it’s not so cut-and-dried with this particular model.

Read more
3 reasons why I’ll actually use Anker’s new iPhone power bank
A person holding the Anker MagGo Power Bank.

Power banks are a necessary evil, and even if you don’t consider yourself a “power user” who's likely to drain a phone’s battery in less than a day, there will be times when one comes in handy. And when I am forced to carry one, I want it to be as helpful and versatile as possible.

I’ve been trying Anker’s MagGo Power Bank 10K -- meaning it has a 10,000mAh cell inside it -- and there are three reasons why I'm OK with it taking up valuable space in my bag.
It has a screen on it

Read more