Buying a phone ring? Five things to check before you do

Smartphone holder, phone stand, phone mount, finger ring or simply phone ring — most of the time this means the trendy little helper on the back of the smartphone. Here you will find out which criteria to look out for when buying a phone ring, and why a bad buy can quickly become expensive.

Comparing phone rings: why it is worth it

Depending on the model and of course the quality, prices for phone rings run from CHF 1.- to CHF 20.- (about EUR 1.50 to 15.-). If you are thinking “what is there to get wrong? In the worst case a bad buy costs me a few francs or euros”, you are making a mistake in your reasoning: if the quality of the phone ring is inadequate, it is not only the ring that ends up in the bin, but in the worst case your smartphone with it. There are plenty of models that leave something to be desired when it comes to sticking to the smartphone, and that can lead to nasty surprises. What goes then is not a few francs but sometimes CHF 1200.- (yes, we think the new iPhone is too expensive as well), depending on which smartphone you own.

The smartphone ring can make handling your phone enormously easier, and it helps small hands cover the whole screen with one hand, or one thumb, without the smartphone falling to the floor.

Buying a phone ring — what should you look out for?

If you want to buy a phone ring, it is usually because you have recently seen the useful gadget on a colleague's phone. As there are countless models to buy online, we would like to give you a short overview of the phone ring jungle.

Tip 1: choosing the model and the material

In principle you can buy the phone ring in every possible shape and colour. Here is a brief look at the wide range available online:

There is surely something there for every taste. Most models are made of plastic. That is not bad in itself, but you should still take care. Such models are usually poorly finished and leave something to be desired when it comes to the ring, the adhesive and how well it sticks.

The rule is clear: material is key. That goes for the decoration too. On plastic it is mostly printed and can get scratched over time. If you want a phone ring with a particular design, we recommend metal, because there the decoration is usually a laser engraving. Please note: a laser engraving is not in colour. So if the phone ring you want has several colours, it is a print, which will probably come off or get scratched fairly easily. That happens quite quickly — a few coins or a key in your pocket are enough.

Tip 2: does the phone ring stick reliably to the smartphone?

This is the factor to pay very particular attention to. If the smartphone holder does not stick 100%, your smartphone will soon be gone. So do make sure that the product has a well-sticking and ideally original adhesive. Attached correctly, it holds reliably. With other adhesives, the phone ring can come off when your smartphone gets too hot (watching a longer YouTube video, for instance).

Tip 3: rotation — does the ring turn through 360 degrees?

Here too the differences are large. Some phone mounts (plastic models above all) do not rotate. Only the ring itself turns, while the plastic surface stays fixed to the smartphone. The disadvantage of that build is that the ring works loose more quickly, because the pivot point is concentrated on a small area.

It is different with higher-quality models: there the whole surface sits on a ball bearing. That means the entire phone ring turns. It makes the user experience not only much more pleasant but the phone ring considerably more stable as well.

Tip 4: service life — how long does the phone ring stay stable?

You cannot expect a phone ring to have the same service life as a smartphone. But it does have to stick to the smartphone for as long as the device is in use. That the ring itself works a little looser after a while is normal, depending on how it is used. It should, however, keep the same quality for at least a few months. This is where most products fail and the wheat is separated from the chaff. As soon as you play around with most models regularly, they are completely loose after a week or two. As a stand (to watch videos, for instance) it is no use at all by then. That was also the biggest challenge in developing the Twing phone ring. Thanks to a special manufacturing technique, it stays absolutely stable considerably longer (up to 8 months).

Tip 5: do not overlook the extra functions

Many people do not see at first that the phone ring is more than a bit of fun. Besides working as a smartphone stand and improving the grip, for selfies for instance, the phone ring should bring one more function with it: being magnetic. What does that give you? The phone can then be attached to a holder — in the car, for instance — and work as a navigation device. A smartphone holder can also be put up as a kind of station, in the kitchen for example. The smartphone then docks easily anywhere. This useful extra function, above all as a docking station in the car, should not be overlooked.

Conclusion

Here once more, in brief, are the 6 most important tips to look out for when buying a phone ring.

Model and material: plastic phone rings are usually printed in colour and more eye-catching in their design, but they have clear shortcomings in stability and grip. We recommend the metal version with a laser engraving. For companies in particular, the discreet and visually higher-quality laser engraving is usually the preferred choice.

Grip: the be-all and end-all. A quality adhesive is a must. Otherwise it is not only the phone ring that becomes useless, but soon the smartphone too.

Rotation: does the phone ring turn cleanly and through 360 degrees? The adhesive should sit on a ball bearing.

Service life: the crux is how the ring is built. This is where most models fall down, because the ring works loose after only a few days. The stand function is then gone.

Extra functions: do check whether the ring is magnetic. That way it can be docked easily onto any smartphone holder or other magnetic surface. That is useful above all in the car (as a docking station or navigation device).