Latest news with #PopSockets
Engadget
5 days ago
- Engadget
PopSockets finally launches a vertical grip stand
Vertical videos have been a part of most people's every day lives for years now. TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and more are all in portrait mode, as is a typical video call off a smartphone. But it's only now that PopSockets has caught up, releasing the Kick-Out Grip and Stand that can balance a phone vertically. The new model is part of PopSockets' MagSafe line but, as the name suggests, includes a kick stand that folds out of the traditional socket. All a person needs to do is flatten the grip and then pop out the top bit. It will fold down and serve as a light stand for the phone to rest on. PopSockets has launched the Kick-Out Grip and Stand in Black, Latte, Dusk and Putty, along with two Aluminum Radial options, French Navy and Silver. It retails for $40 and should work with any MagSafe compatible case, swappable PopTop or PopMount currently sold. However, it also comes with an adapter ring so it should work with almost any case. The new Kick-Out Grip and Stand feels like a small update but, if you're anything like me, it will stop water bottles, cups and other rogue phone props from constantly fall down. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
The Verge
5 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
PopSockets' new Kick-Out Grip can finally prop your phone up vertically
PopSockets is launching a new version of its MagSafe grip that can be used to prop a phone up vertically for scrolling TikTok or video calls. The PopSockets Kick-Out Grip and Stand is less than a millimeter thicker than the company's current lineup of MagSafe PopGrips, according to the company's founder, David Barnett, but introduces a hinge so the pop-up grip can now fold out and double as a support stand. The Kick-Out Grip and Stand is available starting today through the PopSockets online store for $39.99 in colors that include black, dusk, putty, and latte. It's also available through Best Buy's website and retail locations which offer two exclusive color options: French navy and silver, both featuring a shiny metal finish. If those colors don't work for you, as with previous iterations of the PopSockets, the collapsible grip on the new Kick-Out can be removed with a twist and replaced with alternates in different colors or designs. It's compatible with iPhones and cases that support Apple's MagSafe feature, as well as Android devices and accessories that support the Qi2 standards's Magnetic Power Profile. For older devices lacking wireless charging, or those using protective cases that are too thick for MagSafe to work effectively, an included adhesive adapter makes the Kick-Out Grip and Stand compatible with nearly any smartphone. PopSocket's new grip is thicker than competitor's products like the OhSnap Snap 4 and it needs to be completely removed if you want to use a wireless charger. But the Kick-Out is more comfortable to hold than the Snap 4, can be personalized, and offers more functionality. Although the Kick-Out Grip and Stand is the first modern version of the PopSockets that can be used to prop a phone up vertically, it's technically not the very first. After gluing a couple of buttons to the back of his phone so he could wrap and store his wired earbuds, Barnett went on to design and successfully crowdfund an iPhone 4 case featuring two of the accordion style pop-up grips that PopSockets still feature today. It could be used to store headphones, but also prop an iPhone up horizontally or vertically. Wireless earbuds like Apple's AirPods eventually made the PopSockets' original dual grip design obsolete, but that wasn't the end of the product. 'A friend of mine calls me the luckiest man on earth because phones grew into my invention,' says Barnett. 'I invented PopSockets to solve the problem of headset tangle, and turns out they served as a great grip.' PopSockets eventually simplified the design of its products as consumers embraced them as a more secure way to hold their phones that continue to grow larger and heavier, with one hand. To date, the company has sold over 285 million of the grips, and while their success may seem like a fortunate accident, the latest version brings a useful improvement that PopSockets has been working on perfecting for several years. 'Our products are all designed to bring joy to daily phone life by eliminating pain points. I think this one hits the mark,' says Barnett.
WIRED
06-04-2025
- WIRED
The Best MagSafe Phone Grips
Skip to main content Take the strain off with these comfortable, durable, and lightweight smartphone grips. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more. A MagSafe phone grip can make all the difference in today's world of extra-large smartphones. They can offer a more comfortable grip while doomscrolling through social media and a way to potentially prevent a fumble. These little accessories can double as kickstands, making it easy to prop your phone up during video calls or while streaming content. Phone grips have been around for a while, popularized by PopSockets, but the ones in this guide attach via magnets instead of an adhesive or a clamp. Leveraging Apple's MagSafe technology on iPhones, they're easy to take on and off and don't interfere with features like wireless charging. Android phone owners can take advantage as well if they have a magnetic phone case. I've been testing several over the past few months—these are the best MagSafe phone grips worth your time. Read our MagSafe guides for more, including the Best MagSafe Wallets, Best MagSafe Wireless Chargers, Best MagSafe Accessories, Best MagSafe Power Banks, Best 3-in-1 Apple Chargers, and Best iPhone 16 Cases. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED . Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today . AccordionItemContainerButton MagSafe is Apple's magnetic technology built into the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 lineup (the iPhone SE and iPhone 16e are excluded). It consists of a ring of magnets on the back of the phone designed for a faster, more precise wireless charging system. But these magnets also opened up the ability to attach different kinds of accessories to the back of the device, like wallets and external batteries. It even makes docking an iPhone to a car mount easier. If you use a case on your iPhone, make sure it comes with MagSafe support (you'll see a ring of magnets on the inside). That way, the MagSafe accessories will have a proper connection. Otherwise, if you use a non-MagSafe case, the accessories will likely slide off due to a weak connection. If you need a recommendation for a great MagSafe case, we have plenty in our guides: iPhone 16 Cases iPhone 15 Cases iPhone 14 Cases iPhone 13 Cases iPhone 12 Cases If you want a magnetic grip, make sure it supports MagSafe or at least mentions magnets on the product page. All the recommendations here are MagSafe grips. Can Android Phones Use MagSafe Grips? AccordionItemContainerButton Most Android phones are incompatible with MagSafe grips. But there are magnetic cases available for top Android phone models enabling MagSafe-like functionality. You can find WIRED-tested magnetic cases for select Android phones here. Over the coming years, thanks to the new Qi2 wireless charging standard that incorporates the Magnetic Power Profile, you'll start seeing more high-end Android phones embed magnets inside the device, just like on Apple's iPhones. That will allow greater compatibility with MagSafe accessories with or without a magnetic case. The road is bumpy, though. Samsung's latest Galaxy S25 range, for example, are 'Qi2 Ready,' meaning you can only access Qi2 charging speeds and features with a magnet case. Hopefully, manufacturers will add native magnet support soon. The Different Types of Phone Grips AccordionItemContainerButton MagSafe grips are hardly the only type of phone grips available. In fact, there are four main other types of grips you can buy. Cases with attached grips. These are cases with a grip attached to the back. You get a strong and durable grip that will never fall off, but the trade-off is a thicker phone, and these cases typically are incompatible with wireless charging and may not work with other MagSafe accessories. Clamp-style grips. Also called universal phone grips, these clamp to a phone so you can easily take them on and off, and they're not limited to a particular kind of phone. The downside is they're not the fastest to take on and off, and they can sometimes slide up and down the phone. Adhesive grips. You can stick a phone grip to the back of your phone or case, and while this will typically give you a well-attached grip that likely won't fall off your phone, the downsides are similar to cases with attached grips. It may block features like wireless charging and restrict you from using other accessories. MagSafe grips. These grips are all about convenience. You can easily take them on and off, but they only work with devices or cases with built-in magnets. While you can dangle a phone from a MagSafe grip without issue, any additional force could cause the magnets to separate and fling your phone to the ground. How We Test MagSafe Grips AccordionItemContainerButton Each MagSafe grip in this guide is one I used as my primary phone grip for weeks or months at a time. I make sure they snap to my iPhone or MagSafe case securely, and I also ensure they allow for a comfortable hold for long periods and are durable enough to survive drops or heavy use. I use my phone as I normally would—scrolling through social media, FaceTiming with friends, and sending texts and emails—and evaluate the grip to see if it gets in the way or makes life easier. Anker's MagGo 610 strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and durability. If I weren't in love with the look of my PopSocket grip (see below), I'd reach for this one all the time. It's comfortable to grasp, lightweight enough that it doesn't weigh my phone down, and it looks sleek. The ring is sturdy enough to use as a kickstand in landscape mode, though it won't work in portrait orientation. It doesn't hurt that it's the cheapest MagSafe grip in this guide too. I'm a bit of a PopSockets loyalist. I've been using them for years and bought one for my iPhone and another for my Kindle. I find it the most comfortable out of all the grips, though that could just be because I've used them for so many years. The MagSafe PopSockets are my favorite because I can pop them on and off whenever I'm using a wireless charger or when I just don't need them. But what makes PopSockets' grips stand out is the sheer variety of designs and shapes they come in. I recommend buying through PopSockets' website directly, since you have more options to sift through. The one pictured here is the Dichroic Heart. ESR MagSafe Ring Holder (HaloLock) This is one of the most unique grips I've tested so far. The ring is more rectangular than circular, which took me a while to get used to. But ESR thought of all the details. The inner portion of the ring has a smooth, rubber lining that makes it much more comfortable to hold for longer periods. It also has a dual-joint design with two rings connected. The first acts as a grip and stand for landscape mode, but you can pull the second out to use as a portrait-mode kickstand. That ladder-like design comes in handy for FaceTime calls, especially while on the couch or at my kitchen counter. I also use it to keep my phone propped up on my desk throughout the day. Benks Magnetic Ring Holder If you're not used to MagSafe grips, they can feel a little awkward, specifically when finding a secure hold. This one from Benks comes with both a ring and a grip. The ring acts as a kickstand, rotating 360 degrees, so you can switch between portrait and landscape orientation. Pop out the grip in the center, and you'll find a loop to put your finger through, allowing you to hold your phone more comfortably with one hand. The grip comes in a variety of colors and prints, complete with the option to buy a matching phone case. Baseus PicoGo Qi2 MagSafe Power Bank MagSafe power banks are great for charging on the go wirelessly, but they can also feel unwieldy. This one comes with a grip that makes it easier to hold your phone while it's charging. It also rotates 360 degrees, so you can prop it up in portrait or landscape orientation. The magnets on the power bank are strong, so it has a durable hold too. The power bank itself has a 5,000-mAh battery and is Qi2-certified. That means it supports the latest wireless charging standard and can dish out faster wireless charging speeds. It can supply 15 watts wirelessly and 20 watts wired (via a USB-C cable). LEDs on the side show how much battery is left. Unlike other metal grips I've tested, Casely's MagRing is made of soft silicone. I find that more comfortable on my fingers. It also has a 360-degree swivel, so you can position the grip at virtually any angle. But unlike the Anker, this one is strictly a grip, so you can't use it as a kickstand. My only gripe is that, since the grip doesn't fold in, your phone won't lie fully flat on a surface. I also tested the MagRing+ ($30), which comes with a ring clip you can attach your keys to. That comes in handy for quick trips to the grocery store or when I go to the gym and need a place to put my car keys and key fob. But I prefer the standard MagRing, since I typically carry my keys in my pocket or my bag.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Here's how to get MagSafe charging on an iPhone 16e
The Apple iPhone 16e looks like a solid handset for most consumers. It's got plenty of power, a gorgeous display and the Action button that first debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro series. It doesn't, however, offer any way to wirelessly charge the device using MagSafe. Just because Apple excluded the feature doesn't mean you're completely out of luck. Here are a couple of options for using MagSafe charging on an iPhone 16e. The easiest way to get this going is to pick up a MagSafe-compatible smartphone case that has been specifically designed for Apple's latest handset. This ESR case seems like a solid entry, and it's on the cheaper side. We haven't gotten a chance to review it yet, but an older ESR release with MagSafe functionality easily made our list of the best iPhone cases. The second option is to go with a simple adapter ring. We recommend this one from PopSockets. It's budget-friendly, easy to use and allows integration with other MagSafe accessories. Just pop it on a pre-existing case. It's not compatible with silicone, textured or anti-fingerprint coated cases. The final option? Charge your phone the old-fashioned way, via USB-C, and just tuck the cable out of the way. This may not fool anyone, but it'll juice the phone up quicker. The iPhone 16e uses the older Qi1 wireless charging standard and maxes out at 7.5w, while the other iPhone 16 models support Qi2 at speeds up to 25w, provided you have the right charger.
