One of the best cellphone grips and stands that don’t require a case

There are a ton of fine causes to place a case in your cellphone, beginning with the truth that a flagship cellphone will simply run you $1,000.

A case protects your cellphone, provides grip to an in any other case slick exterior, and provides, in order for you, a bit bit of fashion in a world of same-looking black rectangles. However however, instances add bulk, they have a tendency to get dirty, and hey, this cellphone price me a small fortune. Why would I cowl it up with a $12 case?

So what are cellphone case haters to do after we need a few of the advantages of a case however not the entire downsides? Look no additional. If placing a conventional case in your cellphone makes you cringe, then you definately’ll be thrilled to know there’s a wholesome assortment of case options on the market.

These grips, skins, kickstands, and wallets are designed to stick to your cellphone, including utility with out the entire bulk of a case. And we’re speaking much more than PopSockets, which you’re most likely properly conscious of and already know should you’d like or not. We examined a variety of equipment and picked some favorites for the cellphone case averse amongst us.

Moft Adhesive Phone Stand and Wallet

If an adjunct goes to dwell semi-permanently on the again of your cellphone, it’d as properly do a couple of job. Moft’s $19.99 Invisible Phone Stand and Wallet does three: it holds as much as three playing cards, folds right into a kickstand, and affords a loop grip for one-handed cellphone use. Moft sells a magnetic version that works with MagSafe and any cellphone with a steel physique, however it slides round a bit on non-MagSafe telephones. The adhesive model affords a really sturdy grip and is appropriate with an enormous vary of telephones. 

It’s not the very best cellphone pockets if you wish to carry quite a lot of playing cards. With three (essentially the most Moft recommends), it’s a cosy match. It’ll additionally make wi-fi charging unimaginable because it’s mounted semi-permanently on the again of your cellphone. But when your cellphone doesn’t help wi-fi charging otherwise you’re high-quality surrendering this characteristic, then Moft’s adhesive pockets is a straightforward decide.

The pockets has an adhesive again, however should you’re placing it on a cellphone with a glass again, you’ll additionally want to make use of the included adhesive movie. There’s no information included to position it, so you want to simply eyeball it, and Moft recommends letting the movie set for 12 hours earlier than sticking the pockets on high of it.

As soon as hooked up, it feels safe, and the hourglass-shaped panel pops in and misplaced with magnets for a satisfying snap. Even with some chip-enabled playing cards within the pockets, I used to be ready to make use of Apple Pay with out a downside — neither its placement nor its contents confused the point-of-sale system at my native espresso store.

As a grip, it’s considerably free — ok to make your cellphone a bit extra comfy to carry in a single hand for a very long time, however it doesn’t really feel tremendous safe. The stand places it at a cushty viewing angle in portrait orientation. It really works in panorama configuration, too, however as a result of the pockets is positioned to at least one finish of the gadget, it wobbles a bit once I press the quantity buttons.

Total, although, it delivers on its promise of three capabilities, appears to be like nice, and it’s appropriate with all types of telephones. When it’s time to take away the pockets, it comes off with out leaving a hint of residue. That’s 20 bucks properly spent.

For those who’re much less within the pockets perform and also you’d slightly add a bit grip and elegance to your cellphone, a Dbrand skin is an apparent decide. These skins are kind of fancy stickers that adhere to the again of your cellphone — some are designed to cowl the perimeters, too, however the type I examined simply covers the again plate.

Certain, the advertising is a bit obnoxious, however the product is top of the range. The leather-based specifically is a favourite — it’s $34.95, and it’s the actual deal (Dbrand is keen to remind you that cows died to supply it, which is a glance). Placing the pores and skin in place isn’t onerous, however it takes a bit little bit of time and focus, in addition to entry to a hair dryer. Being affected person with placement pays off; it appears to be like and feels nice.

The leather-based grain provides a bit little bit of textured grip to the cellphone, although that’s kind of a secondary characteristic to wanting very nice. Whenever you wish to take the pores and skin off, it pulls up with out leaving any residue.

A pockets or a pores and skin isn’t going to supply a lot safety once you drop your cellphone. If you would like a bit extra peace of thoughts however you don’t wish to decide to a full case, the Arc Pulse is a glossy bumper case possibility. It’s expensive at $59, and it’s not even actually a case, simply two separate items of aluminum that cowl the highest and backside of your cellphone. It covers the cellphone’s corners whereas solely taking on a bit area on the again of your cellphone. By the appears to be like of my un-cased iPhone 11, the corners are the place scuffs are likely to accumulate once you drop your cellphone, so it looks as if a great tradeoff — comparatively unobtrusive however providing some useful safety.

The aluminum Pulse could be very sturdy. I’ll admit that the polished aluminum Pulse appears to be like type of goofy to me, however the matte black model I examined on a black 14 Professional doesn’t look half dangerous. You want to apply a great quantity of stress to slip it into place, however as soon as it’s there, it’s not going anyplace. For the reason that again of the cellphone is uncovered, it doesn’t intervene with MagSafe charging, and you’ve got loads of area so as to add a MagSafe pockets or grip in order for you. Sadly, it’s solely accessible for a handful of iPhone fashions: the 14 Professional, 14 Professional Max, and 13 Professional Max.

For those who don’t have one of many above, take into account Rhinoshield’s CrashGuard NX case. It covers all 4 sides of your cellphone with a body and interchangeable rim, and you’ll combine and match colours to your coronary heart’s content material. The button covers are interchangeable, too — take that, indistinguishable black rectangles.

The body itself matches on snugly, and the colour choices are interesting. On the draw back, it provides as a lot bulk across the sides of your cellphone as a conventional case, which could defeat the aim relying on what you’re after. But it surely does depart the again open for wi-fi charging entry, and the colour customization choices are a plus.

Anker 610 Magnetic Phone Grip

There’s genius within the simplicity of the $15.99 Anker 610 grip. It’s mainly only a donut-shaped magnet designed to connect to the MagSafe space on the again of an iPhone. Within the center, there’s a steel ring that pivots to both sit flush in opposition to the cellphone or act as a grip or kickstand. Easy however efficient.

The magnet within the grip is actually sturdy, making it the sturdiest MagSafe grip accent we examined. You’re not supposed to carry your cellphone upside by hanging onto the ring, however… you possibly can completely maintain your cellphone the wrong way up by hanging onto the ring. It’s a stable maintain should you put the grip straight on the again of your cellphone, however it’s additionally sturdy sufficient to offer a robust grip with a Dbrand pores and skin. 

The inside ring strikes freely, so not like kickstands that snap into a set place, you possibly can alter it to get the viewing angle or hand-hold good. On the draw back, it takes a whole lot of power to maneuver. I want two arms to tug the ring out into place to make use of as a grip, one thing you don’t must do with most different grips.

However the upside of the design is that with the inside ring tucked in opposition to the cellphone, the grip provides little or no thickness to your cellphone. It doesn’t catch on my pockets due to its spherical design, and I feel it appears to be like higher than a PopSocket or a loop.

For those who’d slightly have an elastic grip, the MagSafe Lovehandle Professional is a pleasant various. It’s a bit expensive at $49.99, and the distinguished “Lovehandle” branding on the again of the strap isn’t my type, however no less than on the black model I examined, it’s not all that apparent. The Lovehandle’s deal with is a loop hooked up to a kickstand, and the entire thing is mounted on a credit-card-shaped backing. The magnets aren’t fairly as sturdy because the Anker’s, so it is going to give should you apply sufficient power, however it feels safe sufficient in day by day use. 

The kickstand affords two angles for portrait or panorama viewing, so that you don’t must reposition the grip to change from one to the opposite. The elastic strip is a cosy match on my hand, making for a really safe match. It’s not as minimalist because the Anker grip, however it works properly, and its two-position kickstand is useful. 

For those who’re in search of one thing slim and purposeful, the $19.99 SleekStrip is surprisingly good. It occupies rather a lot much less actual property than a PopSocket or the Moft pockets decide above, residing as much as its title as only a skinny strip that sticks to the again of your cellphone. It pops out once you press the facet of the strap, offering a inflexible loop for hand-holding or propping your cellphone up in panorama orientation. It makes use of adhesive and comes with a few further bits of movie and 3M adhesive, so you possibly can take it off and put it on one other gadget.

Its greatest characteristic is that it’s out of the best way, tucked to the facet on the again of your gadget. Despite the fact that it prevents the cellphone from sitting flush on a charging stand, the strap is skinny sufficient and out of the best way sufficient that wi-fi charging nonetheless works. It’s not essentially the most safe grip because it’s inflexible slightly than elastic, however it’s ok. 

On the draw back, the SleekStrip is a bit bit cheap-feeling. The mechanism the place the strap slides to pop up is actually simply steel sliding throughout steel, and it’ll probably accumulate some scratches over time. There are some innocuous coloration choices, however the accessible patterns stray into cheesy territory. And it gained’t maintain your cellphone propped up in portrait orientation, simply panorama.

Images by Allison Johnson / The Verge