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PopSockets PopGrip Review: Finally, MagSafe Delivers A Better PopSocket Experience - AppleInsider
As long-time skeptics of PopSockets, we've finally come around thanks to a new MagSafe version for iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.
PopSockets: A cultural phenomenonPopSockets has a bit of a cult following. Many people seem to have them, and those that don't seem to hate on them regularly. Frankly, we fall into the latter camp. Or, at least, we did.
We had our reasons for our disdain, however. PopSockets couldn't be removed once attached to your phone. A PopSocket semi-permanently affixed to the rear of your phone blocks the use of wireless chargers or changing cases.
They also stopped you from using certain car mounts. And with iPhone 12, they prevented you from using MagSafe. PopSockets would happily sell you specific PopSocket-compatible chargers or mounts, but that wasn't for us.
It's Apple's MagSafe that ultimately presented the solution. PopSockets was able to use the magnets built into both iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 to create a removable PopSocket grip, and thus — the PopGrip.
Despite disliking PopSocket's semi-permanent installation, we liked the devices for their added grip as well as the added personalization. We've seen plenty of cool and unique PopTops — more on those soon — and it was an exciting way to represent ourselves.
The PopGrip solved all of our issues with the original PopSockets and presented a near-ideal solution for added convenience.
PopGrip is a standard PopSocket attached to a large oval mount. This oval-shaped portion houses a series of magnets that correspond to the circle of magnets at the center of the phone and the alignment magnet towards the bottom. It has a silicone-covered back to help prevent it from sliding around when connected to your phone.
The best part is, you can remove the PopGrip at any time. You can yank the PopGrip off and put the iPhone on a MagSafe mount in your car. Or, you can use MagSafe Duo, a MagSafe cable, occasionally use a MagSafe wallet, connect the MagSafe battery pack, or use any other MagSafe device you have around with the new magnetic model.
The new PopGrip also works directly on the phone or any MagSafe-compatible case. This includes Apple's as well as an ever-growing wealth of third-party options. You can use one phone case one day, go without a phone case the next, then back to a second phone case the day after.
When we attached it to our phone, the magnetic adhesion was strong enough for the iPhone and PopGrip combo to feel secure without the worry of it coming free. In everyday use, there are simply no worries about casual detachment here.
The magnet, combined with the rubberized back, prove to be a potent combination.
With it on our phone, we can slide a finger or two around the PopSocket for added grip while holding our phone. It just makes using your phone easier, particularly when using the iPhone one-handed. PopGrip can also act as a horizontal stand for your phone while watching videos.
The PopGrip comes in four different colorways. We opted for black, as it was by far the most basic. The included PopTop is color-matched with the magnetic portion. The other options were Blue Nebula, Gold Lutz Marble, and Opal. Those all felt stylized, while black felt more neutral. It also works with other PopTops.
Pick your topPopSocket tops have always been interchangeable. You had the adhesive part on your phone that stayed put, and you could swap the top portion to match your style.
To change the top, press down and twist counter-clockwise. Both the disc, as well as the collapsable neck, will come free with the twist. The same applies here to the new MagSafe PopGrip.
There are many PopSocket tops you can attach to your PopSocket or PopGrip. There are hundreds of different designs by PopSockets, design-your-own options, and branded designs from various venues.
From PopSockets, there are lots of different material choices these days. A basic PopSocket is plastic, such as the mountainside in the group picture or the pre-installed black one.
For a fun twist — literally — there are metal spinner tops. Take the vintage-looking celebratory Coca-Cola top. It acts like a fidget spinner, allowing you to flick and watch it spin for an extended time.
Our favorite ones are the "premium" tops. The glass top above qualifies as a premium top not just because it is glass but also because it has a real daisy. The Disney and snowflake tops are intricate enamel pins with much higher quality and look like they should be attached to the outside of your bag, not on the back of your phone.
PopSockets have come a long way, and these various styles and materials are incredible.
Should you buy the PopSockets PopGrip?The PopGrip from PopSockets is an excellent use of MagSafe to bring added functionality without using an adhesive to stick something to your phone.
If you liked PopSockets before, this is a significant upgrade. If you weren't a fan of PopSockets because they relied on a permanently attached mounting point, that barrier has been removed.
Show off your personality, add a stand, and add some grip with the PopSockets PopGrip with support for MagSafe.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Where to buyGrab the PopGrip with support for MagSafe on Amazon for $29.95 and check out the ever-expanding selection of PopTops on the PopSocket website.
PopGrip JumpStart Review: What If A Battery Bank Were Also A PopSocket? - The Verge
TechPopGrip JumpStart review: what if a battery bank were also a PopSocket?This accessory doesn't do a great job at either of its roles, but it does fill a very specific niche
This accessory doesn't do a great job at either of its roles, but it does fill a very specific niche
by Mitchell ClarkOct 23, 2022, 2:00 PM UTCLinkFacebookThreadsIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.
PopSocket's battery bank isn't a small accessory.Image: Mitchell Clark / The VergeWe're smack in the middle of new phone season and getting close to the time when some of us are going to have to start worrying about wish lists and stocking stuffers, so I want to look at an accessory that may be on some people's radar: the PopGrip JumpStart, a $35 battery bank that attaches to your phone via PopSocket's quick release mechanism and provides around a 50 percent charge via a built-in Lightning or USB-C cable.
When I first heard about it, I hoped that the JumpStart would be both a good battery bank and a good way to hold my phone. Unfortunately, I found that it was relatively mediocre at the first job and worse at the second, making it a bit unclear who exactly this product is for.
PopSockets PopGrip JumpStart$35$35PopSockets' 2200 mAh battery bank that attaches to the back of your phone, and that can be used as a grip.
Read More$35 at PopSockets (Lightning version)$35 at PopSockets (USB-C version)I will say a few nice things before I really dig in, though. The JumpStart is a very nice object, made of a textured plastic shaped into a little ovular puck with the classic PopSocket sleeve on the back. On the top of the puck is a single button, which you click to start charging and which has a light that acts as a power indicator.
When you attach it to PopMount 2 products (aka the ones with the replaceable tops), it clicks into the mount with a satisfying sound. However, once you pop it out, it spins freely, so the puck can end up perpendicular to your phone. I couldn't figure out any use for it doing this; it's far too prominent to act as a kickstand, and it doesn't really change the experience if you're holding your phone in landscape instead of portrait. The only thing the spinning did was annoy me and occasionally detach the JumpStart from the phone.
The integrated cable is about as good as it could be.Photo by Mitchell Clark / The VergeThe integrated Lightning or USB-C cable (you buy it with one or the other) is around seven inches long and feels surprisingly sturdy. I'd expected that it would come loose and flop out of its slot, but that didn't turn out to be the case at all. If anything, it's almost a bit too difficult to deploy; I really had to dig my nails in and pull. But while I'm happy PopSockets is using a good cable, I really wish the JumpStart just used wireless charging, like other mountable battery banks from Anker, Otterbox, and Apple.
In theory, the built-in cable would make the JumpStart more convenient than having to carry around an external battery bank and corresponding cord, but I honestly found myself wishing I had gone with the latter solution whenever I was just trying to use my phone. The JumpStart's bulk made it difficult to get my phone in and out of my pocket (a problem that's even worse when you've got the cable plugged in), and it made the phone very uncomfortable to hold, even when I was using it like a massive PopSocket.
The obvious solution is to just take the JumpStart off when I'm not using it and put up with the worse ergonomics while I'm charging. The problem with that is that it seriously cuts down on the convenience factor because it means I have to carry the JumpStart around with me in either a pocket, bag, or purse if I want to use it when I find myself running low on juice. And if I have to carry something external around anyways, I'd probably want to go with something that could provide a bit more power.
According to PopSockets' website, the JumpStart has approximately 2,200mAh of capacity. In my testing, that was enough power to take my phone from around 15 percent charge to around 80 percent (there was one outlier where it only managed to boost my phone by 40 percent, but that was a worst-case scenario where I was using GPS while charging in the cold). Your mileage may vary, though, because my iPhone Mini 12 has an itsy-bitsy battery. I don't expect you'd get as many percentage points with a larger phone.
To be clear, that's definitely enough power to get you out of a jam if you suddenly find yourself with a dead battery. But personally, it's just not worth the annoyance of either having to keep track of the JumpStart or trying to use my phone with a bulky spinny thing on the back. That's especially true since my phone supports MagSafe, meaning I could use Anker's $50 wireless charging battery bank with over double the capacity — there's even a version with a built-in PopSocket, though that does cost more.
I appreciate the USB-C and passthrough charging — but I don't appreciate how much the JumpStart swivels around when I'm trying to use it.Photo by Mitchell Clark / The VergeI do think the combination of too much bulk to be comfortable while not being bulky enough to really charge up your phone is kind of a shame because PopSockets clearly put some effort into this thing. No matter which version you get, you charge the JumpStart via USB-C, a boon for anyone who's annoyed at Apple for sticking with Lightning on its phones. It also supports passthrough charging, meaning it can charge your phone while it's plugged into the wall — I have two dedicated power banks from Anker and Mophie that don't have that feature.
At the top, I said I'm not quite sure who this is for. The one exception is someone absolutely dedicated to the PopSocket lifestyle who can't live without a grip on the back of their phone and who either doesn't want to use MagSafe or has a phone without it (aka the Android phones PopSockets targets with the USB-C version of the accessory). But I think anyone else will probably want to look at other, more traditional battery banks or go with the even newer magnetic tech.
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Popular accessory maker, PopSockets, is out with a new version of its collapsible grip/stand made for iPhone users who don't want to permanently attach a PopSocket. The new PopGrip Slide easily slides on and off Apple's silicone iPhone cases for a flexible experience.
PopSockets have become a mainstream smartphone add-on, but there are likely a lot of iPhone users who might be interested in having a collapsible grip/stand for some use cases, but don't want to attach a PopSocket to their iPhone with an adhesive.
The new PopGrip Slide is PopSockets answer for iPhone users who want the option to use a grip and stand when needed and easily remove when it's not necessary. It specifically designed to work with Apple's silicone iPhone cases.
Like the rest of the PopSocket lineup, the PopGrip Slide works as an iPhone stand in addition to a grip and can also be paired with the company's multi-surface mounts.
PopGrip Slide highlights:
PopSocket's PopGrip Slide for iPhone is priced at $15 and comes in a black haze color. It's available from PopSocket's website for iPhone 7/Plus, iPhone 8/Plus iPhone X, XS, and XS Max.
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