What is a PopSocket? And why are they so popular?

So you overheard a group of teenagers talking about their favorite PopSockets and how they can’t decide what design they want next, and not only do you not know what design you’d pick, you have no clue what a PopSocket is! Fear not, this article will give you the down-low on the upside of owning one (or many) of these super cool little devices!



Figure 1 – Popsocket used as a phone stand.

Your life: easier

As the old saying goes, it’s the little things in life that can make a BIG difference, and PopSockets are as miniature in size as they are mighty in usefulness. Do you find yourself constantly frustrated because your cell phone’s earbuds are all tangled up? Or because you wish you could get a much more secure and comfortable grip on your phone to text, email, surf the web, check your calendar, read the latest news, take and share photos, or just to relax and zone out by watching funny cats doing funny things on YouTube? Rest assured, you’re not alone! And just like the creator of the amazing PopSockets devices and his millions of happy customers, you too can find the solution to these issues and many more by getting yourself a PopSocket! Or two! Or three!

What is this little device and where did it come from?

These days, PopSockets grips are stylish little accessories that attach to the back of your phone, tablet, or e-reader device with a non-marring grip gel, but back in 2012, the prototypes were just giant plastic buttons from a craft store super-glued to a phone. Former Boulder, Colorado philosophy professor David Barnett became frustrated with his constantly-tangled earbuds so he dreamed up this simple yet genius hack: he glued two big ol’ clothing buttons and two smaller spacer buttons to the back of his cell phone. Voila! The tangled earbuds problem was solved, but in a very permanently ugly way. Over time, however, Barnett perfected his idea and eventually created what we now know as PopSockets. His idea was so good that he was able to get a patent on it, and he did, Popsockets are U.S. patented.



Figure 2 – Popsocket used as phone grip for texting.

So how do I use these?

We’re so glad you asked! Simply expand to use, and collapse again to lay flat. That’s it! And don’t worry—your PopSockets will be with you a long time, as they’re designed to expand and collapse 12,000 times! You can also reposition your PopSocket as many times as you’d like, and if the sticky gel gets dirty, just give it a quick rinse, let it dry, then pop it onto its new position on your phone, wherever you want. And never do EITHER of these two things, or be prepared to suffer the consequences: 1. Don’t expose the PopSockets grip gel to air for more than 15 minutes or the gel will dry out. 2. Don’t feed your Mogwai after midnight.



Figure 3 – Popsocket used as phone grip for taking photos.

So what sorts of things can I do with my new PopSocket?

So now that you know the basics, what fabulousness awaits you? Pop a single one onto your device as a grip to take photos and selfies, have a video chat, watch streaming media, send texts and emails, read books and the news, and surf the web. Two PopSockets can turn your device into a media stand and take care of those aforementioned heinous tangled earbuds, and with a PopSockets Clip Combo you can attach the whole thing to pretty much any vertical surface such as dashboards, car vents, mirrors, bed posts, refrigerators, and walls for super convenient hands-free viewing.



Figure 4 – Above, Infographic of all Popsocket uses.

Wow! PopSockets are amazing! What designs are available?

We hope you like variety and choice, because there are now as many designs under the sun as there are stars in the sky! And take our word for it, there are a LOT of stars in the sky. What sorts of designs are we talking about? Aluminum! Metallic Diamond! Natural Wood! Marble! Vegan Leather! Iridescent Snakeskin Vegan Leather! Harry Potter! The NBA! Swarovski Crystals! My Little Pony! Ya Burnt! Suffice it to say, the list of potential designs goes on and on. So if you have eyes and like to look at things, there’s a PopSocket out there for you!

And if you want to customize and create your own for your company or school, well you can do that too, right here with us, they make amazing promotions (shameless pitch alert!). Here’s some examples:

In closing…

So finally you know what a PopSocket is, how awesome they are, all the cool stuff they can do, and how much easier they can make your device-laden world. HIGH FIVE!! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my little blog post and…hey…umm…are you there? Hello? Bueller? Is anyone reading this anymore? Wow, every single one of you is now out there searching for your own perfect PopSocket. Well, even if it is just me here now, I’m not lonely. I’m satisfied! And proud! Because I did my good deed of the day, I introduced the wonderful world of PopSockets to your world, and my world is a little bit brighter because of that. Now, go forth & POPSOCKET!!