Leaf&Core

MagSafe PopGrip Review: PopSocket Meets MagSafe

Reading Time: 4 minutes.

PopSocket PopGrip on my keyboardI never used a PopSocket on my personal phone before. I didn’t like the idea of gluing something to a case or my phone. That’s way too permanent. I got one from my company once, and I used it initially on the test device I use for Android, before replacing it with something I prefer: a Phone Loop. Phone Loops are great. They don’t get in the way of wireless charging and they provide just enough of a surface to keep your phone in your hand. They’re even easier to hold than a PopSocket. But, with the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini, I haven’t needed a Phone Loop either. The truth of the matter is, I don’t need assistive devices to hold my phone when I’m using a phone that’s actually made for human hands.

But here we are. I bought a MagSafe PopGrip. Why? Well, I bought a Moment case for my iPhone 13 mini. It still hasn’t shipped. I bought it the day Apple announced the iPhone 13, back in September. In fact, I was on Moment’s site the moment it went on sale, and ordered it before Apple’s announcement was even finished. First the shipping time was early October. Then late October. Now it’s an early November shipping estimate. Maybe I’ll get it someday.

At first, I thought, “I can go without a case for a few weeks, that’s not a problem.” But I still wanted something that could keep me from dropping my phone. Something I could potentially use after my case arrives. I just wanted a little more assurance. So I grabbed a PopGrip. I’ve been using it off and on since I got it. Yes, literally off and on. No glue! Just strong magnets.

The PopGrip Grips

You might be worried to hold your iPhone solely with MagSafe. Magnets holding up a device that can cost more than $1,000? That doesn’t sound smart. However, the magnets in the PopSocket PopGrip are surprisingly strong. Seriously, this is my strongest MagSafe device. It snaps to the back of my iPhone with a vengeance, and takes some leverage to remove. I can shake my iPhone, holding it only by the PopGrip, and it takes a surprisingly vigorous shake to break the magnetic connection between the two.

Of course I tested this over my couch.

I found it grips even less magnetic cases as well. I ended up deciding I couldn’t wait until Moment releases their case, so I bought a different one. This one has MagSafe, but it’s not as strong as the MagSafe in the iPhone 13 mini itself. Still, the PopGrip snaps on and doesn’t let go easily.

I might make one change to the MagSafe PopGrip though. I’d replace the plastic back with a thin rubber coating.* Though this would add more grip, I’m actually not worried about that very much. Instead, I’m worried about marks on my case and device. This has a powerful magnetic connection, and anything that’s between your phone or case and the PopGrip is going to be squeezed. Rubber could reduce the amount of pressure things like dust or dirt could put on your case, reducing the possibility of marks. This does put a bit of a mark on your phone. So far, I’ve been able to wipe them off, but I worry it could damage my iPhone or my cases eventually.

*Update: Apparently, PopSocket tried that, but found that it weakened the magnets. Seeing as the magnetic strength is what makes this worthwhile, I’d say they made the right decision.

Appearance

I was surprised at just how few color options there were. There’s black, “Opal,” “Gold Lutz Marble,” and “Blue Nebula.” That’s it. PopSockets are usually known for their customization options, so this is a bit surprising. You can still add your own tops from other PopGrips though. By pressing and twisting, you can swap out different PopSocket designs, so you could really buy any PopSocket and customize at least the pop-out portion of your grip. When you consider custom tops and those that PopSockets offers, the combinations are seemingly endless.

As for the MagSafe base, the print on the opal design I got looks good. However, if you look closely, you’ll notice a few things. First, the top itself uses the exact same design as the base. Easy enough to twist to conceal this though. Secondly, you can see the printing dots on it. It looks a little pixelated. It’s not even difficult to see. The same graphic for a much smaller object is blown up on the larger magnetic grip. It’s just strange that the company wouldn’t make this look cleaner. Perhaps it’s part of the texture?

Overall, and from a little further than arm’s length, it’s not noticeable and the grip looks fine. And these days, people should be at least arm’s length away from you, right? It’s just such a strange oversight for a product that could be quite popular with iPhone users, if it looks good.

iPhone 13 mini Problems

Honestly? A device to improve your hold on your iPhone just isn’t necessary on the iPhone 13 mini. I still prefer just using a case to improve grip and offer drop protection. The iPhone 13 mini actually fits in your hand, no assistive device needed. I also found that it’s simply better suited for larger phones. I felt like it sat too close to the bottom of the iPhone 13. Perhaps that’s an issue of the size of my hands, but I actually felt like I was holding it at a better place without the grip. This really isn’t something they could fix. The PopGrip’s pop top portion is exactly where it should be. The iPhone 13 mini is just a bit small to need something like this. On a larger device, it’ll likely be in the perfect spot, right in the center of the MagSafe ring.

Overall

If you have a giant iPhone, like the iPhone 13 or larger, then, sure, grab a PopGrip. They secure far better than you’d think, and, once they do, they provide your phone with a sort of handle that makes it more difficult to drop. It can even help those with phones that are too big for their hands use the device with one hand, as phones were meant to be used. However, unless you’re going without a case, I still prefer the grip offered by a Phone Loop. These work with wireless charging, as well as MagSafe, they’re more customizable, and you don’t have to worry about popping them out to grip your phone and then putting something away to slide it in your pocket. It’s far more convenient.

Still, if you’re looking to go without a case on your giant iPhone, and you’d like to reduce the chance of dropping your tablet phone, the MagSafe PopGrip might be the perfect tool for you.

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