Skip to main content

My phone still has a PopSocket, and this is why I love it

Interest in PopSockets seemed to come and go relatively quickly. While they’re still certainly popular overseas, they seem like a rare sight to see in the U.S., which is odd considering just how popular they were in the mid-2010s, only to disappear seemingly overnight.

It has gotten to the point where I am the final PopSocket user among my friends. This is unfortunate because, as it turns out, PopSockets are awesome and I feel like many people are missing out.

A firm grip on my phone

I’ve had a PopSocket on every one of my phones since 2015 and never looked back. To me, they’re a piece of mobile phone security that is an essential part of my smartphone experience. As phone screens have gotten bigger over the years, the phones that I’ve used have become increasingly harder to hold with just one hand, but the PopSocket gives it a nice grip that I can firmly hold onto.

Two iPhone 12s leaning on one another with matching Pokemon PopSockets.
Get yourself a partner who will match PopSockets with you. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Long gone are my days of worrying about dropping my phone and smashing the screen into a thousand tiny pieces. Instead, I’ve been able to breathe easy knowing the possibility of my phone being knocked out of my hand is basically nonexistent. This has set me free in some regards, making travel a lot more carefree when it comes to keeping my phone safe. Plus, a PopSocket is a lot cheaper than a replacement screen.

When I was in college, I studied abroad in Australia and I was frequently on boats, docks, and other places where a dropped phone could end in complete disaster. I was able to take plenty of pictures and videos, however, knowing that my phone was securely held in my hands and that even if an unexpected wave or push were to come, it wasn’t going anywhere.

Safe and secure

That sort of security is only available to me thanks to the convenience and quality build of PopSockets. It’s because of how secure they make me feel that I was baffled when they seemingly left the public eye so quickly. For a year or so following their initial popularity, it felt like you couldn’t go anywhere without being offered a complimentary knockoff PopSocket with a business or brand’s logo plastered on the plastic circular backing. Now, it seems like only the name-brand products remain, but they aren’t on everyone’s phones like they once were.

I think the problem that PopSockets ran into in their initial popularity was the fact that so many knockoffs were made, most of which were of far lesser quality than the official branded ones. This meant that many people’s only exposure to them was with cheaply made off-brands that fell apart easily and lacked the security that PopSockets offer. As a result, many people may have been turned off from the idea of PopSockets in general, which is really unfortunate.

MagSafe PopSockets and more

Luckily, PopSockets, the company, is still innovating on its initial ideas and continuing to make new phone grip products. The relatively new MagSafe PopSocket removes the need for a person to stick their grip in the perfect place on their first attempt by magnetically attaching the grip to the back of an iPhone with MagSafe built in. The MagSafe PopWallet combines the PopSocket grip with the popular wallet add-ons that hold credit cards and cash. The company even paired with Otterbox to make phone cases that have built-in PopSocket grips. There’s no shortage of new innovations when it comes to in-hand phone security.

PopSockets are the kind of accessory that I didn’t know I needed before I had them, but now can’t live without. I used to teach high school students after school and they would poke fun at my PopSocket, saying that it’s a fad of the past that no one uses anymore. While that may be true depending on who you ask, should that really be the case? Anytime a friend hands me their phone, I feel like I need to hold it with the kind of care usually reserved for newborns because of how much the phone slides around in my hands.

The solution is simple, I tell them to get a PopSocket and your days of worrying about smashed screens will soon be over.

Editors' Recommendations

Peter Hunt Szpytek
A podcast host and journalist, Peter covers mobile news with Digital Trends and gaming news, reviews, and guides for sites…
4 things Android phones still do better than the iPhone 15
Clockwise from top: natural titanium iPhone 15 Pro, Nothing Phone 2, green iPhone 15, and Obsidian Black Google Pixel Fold.

The Apple iPhone 15 lineup is here, which includes the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Dynamic Island and USB-C are now available across the lineup, the standard models get a big camera boost to 48MP, the Pros get the new Action button, and the Pro Max even has a fancy new tetraprism telephoto lens for 5x optical zoom.

While all of this sounds impressive, Apple’s iPhone lineup is still behind the competition. Android phones have had some of these features for a while now — and even do some things a lot better.
Faster USB-C charging

Read more
iPhone 15 Pro Max durability test ends with big surprise
iphone 15 pro max durability tests ends with big surprise test

Zack Nelson of popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything has been at it again, subjecting yet another phone to the kind of durability test that will leave you wincing in horror.

Be gentle with Apples new Titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max ... Yikes!

Read more
As a parent, there’s one iPhone 15 feature I can’t wait to use
Apple promotional image of the iPhone 15 Pro's camera and curved chassis.

Apple’s next-generation iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models are finally here. The entire iPhone 15 lineup has Dynamic Island and USB-C. With the standard iPhone 15, you get the A16 Bionic that was introduced last year, and the iPhone 15 Pro models get the new A17 Pro chip and Action button. And if you opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you also get the brand new tetraprism telephoto lens for 5x optical zoom capabilities.

While the new hardware changes are nice, Apple also has some new software features that are exclusive to the iPhone 15 lineup. One of these is the new Auto Portrait mode, and as a parent of a very active toddler, this is one of the most exciting things for me about the entire iPhone 15 lineup.
What is Auto Portrait?

Read more