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Since their launch in 2014, PopSockets have always been a quirky (and slightly bulky) grip. Phones. They are adored by those who like to accessorize their phones with their interchangeable designs, and people who love to play around with their accordion-style pop-up. But now the company is hoping to attract new customers with the Low-Pro, a new grip design that’s so thin that when folded, it’s lower than the camera bump on my laptop. iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The Low-Pro will go on sale Tuesday for $40, and will launch first in Apple Stores and on PopSockets.com, with more retailers at the end of July. You can see more about how it works in the latest episode of One More Thing, embedded below:
Watch this: Flat PopSockets May Attract More Men: Hands-on with professional low-profile handles
I’ve been using the MagSafe Low-Pro for the past week, and I can see the appeal it will have for those people who just want something that easily slips into their pants pockets. Like other PopSockets, it remains attached to the MagSafe magnetic backing. The front has a smooth matte finish, and although it doesn’t crackle, pushing a finger in any direction will lift the dial to reveal one flexible piece of polymer. The metal ring around the edge turns into an adjustable swing stand to support your phone in portrait and landscape mode.
When open, the Low-Pro grip is designed to handle people who like to twist, poke, and pull (well, up to about 30 pounds of pulling).
When the Low-Pro is expanded, it reminds me of a kids paper lantern making project. Thin materials give the impression that they will be weaker, but no matter how you twist, pull, or try to punch holes, the material holds up. Good news for fidget lovers: This device seems to be able to handle all of my stretching exercises — and the PopSockets team told me it was designed to withstand more than 30 pounds of pulling pressure in testing.
Apple Stores will offer the Low-Pro in four exclusive colors to start: Blue Aura, Electric Fuchsia, Black, and Navy.
PopSocket isn’t the first to create a magnetic phone grip. OhSnap has gained popularity for its Snap Grip, $30, which uses a metal hinge to fold flat. But since using both, I prefer the PopSocket design because it’s easier to open with one finger from any angle, and it has an extra kickstand.
I sat down with PopSocket inventor and founder David Barnett to learn more about switching to Low-Pro. Although PopSockets will continue to make the current design (the one that already appears), Barnett said the big motivation here for a new model is to appeal to guys who have told him over the years that they never gave PopSockets a chance because of their size.
PopSocket inventor David Barnett didn’t set out with the goal of making a phone grip. Here, it carries the innovation that inspired PopSocket: giant buttons on the back of the iPhone 3GS to help coil long headphone wires.
“They were like, ‘Oh, it’s going to get stuck in my pocket,’ and I was like, ‘It’s never going to get stuck in my pocket,'” Barnett said. “Ultimately, I wanted a solution that would overcome this challenge of not being perceived as thick and bulky.”
There’s an added benefit to this slim design — you won’t have to take the Low-Pro off if you want to connect it to a MagSafe stand for charging. Just don’t count on getting a fast charge: the more stuff there is between your phone and the charger (like a case and grip), the slower power will flow to your device.
But I often use MagSafe stands to prop my phone up at work. For once, this meant I didn’t have to take out my PopSocket for it to attach magnetically.
