How I learned to love an obnoxious phone grip
A grip that changed everything
The writer first spotted a butter-shaped phone grip on a friend’s striped case. Marked “unsalty” and printed with tablespoon measurements, the PopSocket-branded accessory was compelling enough to prompt an order for a striking grip of their own.
For years, the writer preferred carrying a phone without a case, finding cases bulky and prone to collecting pocket lint. That worked with the compact iPhone 13 Mini, but larger phones are harder to hold securely.
Comfort meets personality
Using Google’s hefty Pixel 10 Pro Fold led the writer to try a magnetic grip for added comfort. Minimal ring stands were the first choice, but the butter accessory made a chunkier, more playful design appealing.
The writer ordered a PopSocket shaped like a hot dog and was so eager to use it that they accidentally pulled it apart. Because the grip attaches magnetically, it can be removed when desired.
Designs for different hands
Bailey Hikawa has made unconventional grips and cases in her Los Angeles studio since 2018. Her designs incorporate input from the disabled community and aim to help people who hold phones in different ways.
Hikawa told The Verge in 2019 that she wanted a phone case to feel like a friend or a new stuffed animal. Apple collaborated with her earlier this year on a chunky, bright MagSafe grip. Her online shop also offers handmade designs with spaghetti noodles or baby shrimp suspended in clear urethane.
A broader appetite for color
PopSocket sells unusual designs including a tomato pincushion, food truck-themed grips and its “Sugar Rush” collection. Founder David Barnett said consumers are embracing color, texture and personality in phone accessories, adding that people want everyday essentials to feel less ordinary.
The writer argues that phone makers’ mostly subdued color choices may help explain the appeal. Bright cases appear on TikTok and Amazon, including color-blocked “dopamine” designs and viral cases that hold a tube of lip gloss.
Key points
- A butter-shaped PopSocket persuaded the writer to try a bold phone grip.
- A magnetic grip made the large Pixel 10 Pro Fold more comfortable to hold.
- Bailey Hikawa’s designs draw on input from the disabled community.
- Colorful grips and cases offer personality against phones’ subdued finishes.