A phone grip shaped like a stick of butter was enough to change one tech writer’s mind about flashy smartphone accessories. The PopSocket design, paired with a boldly striped case, inspired them to order a novelty grip of their own after years of preferring minimalist tech.
The writer had often gone without a phone case, finding cases bulky and prone to collecting lint. That approach worked well with the compact iPhone 13 Mini, but larger phones were harder to hold securely. After using Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold, they tried a magnetic grip for extra comfort. A hot-dog-shaped PopSocket proved an entertaining alternative to the understated ring stands they had initially considered.
The magnetic attachment is part of the appeal: the grip can be removed when it is not needed. The writer also points to the work of Bailey Hikawa, who has made unconventional phone grips and cases in Los Angeles since 2018. Her designs draw on input from the disabled community and aim to accommodate different ways of holding a phone. Her products include colorful, handmade grips with items such as spaghetti noodles or baby shrimp embedded in clear material.
PopSocket also sells novelty designs, including a tomato pincushion and options from its food-truck and “Sugar Rush” collections. Founder David Barnett told The Verge that the company is seeing more consumers choose accessories with color, texture and personality, adding that people may want everyday essentials to feel less ordinary.
The writer suggests that the mostly subdued colors offered for phones may help explain the appeal of brighter accessories. Whatever the reason, they are now firmly attached to their own ridiculous PopSocket — and miss it after leaving it at the office.
Sources: The Verge.