Ways to Hold Your Phone in Hand

In fact, in the days of small screens, your thumb could probably reach all corners without much trouble. But today's 5- and 6-inch models simply don't allow thumb operation - not without a little help.

Fortunately, there is help, sort of. There are numerous products that allow you to better grip your phone to hook your fingers, so your thumb is freer to roam further. This improved grip also makes it less likely that your phone will fly out of your hand and have an unfortunate encounter with the sidewalk. I've also found it helps with selfie positioning and stability: no more uncomfortable "claw hook" gripping.

Lazy Hands are a kind of finger loop that you stick on the back of your phone. (They're also available for ereaders and tablets.) I'll be blunt: This is the most boring of the options here, in part because it requires you to stick Velcro to the back of the phone.

(I personally would never do this, but I would stick it to the back of an inexpensive case.)

If you leave the loops on all the time, you sacrifice a bit of pocket function. If you remove them, you'll have an ugly black square of velcro on the back - and loose loops that can easily get lost.

That said, this is the most comfortable grip for a phone I've ever tried. And if you squeeze the loops together a bit, they can double as a kickstand. Lazy-Hands come in a variety of styles, with the 2 loop versions costing $9.99 (equivalent to £7.50, AU$12.50) plus shipping.

Sandwiched between the Lazy Hands and the Ninja Loop (below) is the LoveHandle, a small, self-adhesive plastic strip with a stretchable band on it. It comes in a huge range of colors and patterns and costs $9.95 (about £8, AU$12). That's for the regular size, which can accommodate one or two fingers; there's also a longer "XL" version that costs $13.95.

You can also design your own version for $14.95, complete with your own text and/or images along the band.

I like the LoveHandle because it's less obtrusive than Lazy-Hands and doesn't stretch the entire length of the phone like the Ninja Loop. The stretchy band gives a secure hold, but I found it a bit restrictive after a long time; my fingers became a bit uncomfortable when reading a book, for example.

I suspect more users would be happy with the Ninja Loop, but if you don't mind a slight bump on the back of your phone and want a lot of color/style options, this is worth a look.

I've long been a fan of the Ninja Loop, mostly because it solves my grip problems without adding weight or bulk. Oh, yeah, and because it's only five bucks (£8, AU$14 with shipping).

That makes sense, because the Loop is little more than a strong strip of fabric. It works like this: you tape one end of the tape to the inside of your suitcase, then feed it out the camera hole, down the back, and back in through an open hole in the bottom. The other end attaches to the inside of the case, just like the first end.

The PopSocket, a very popular candidate from the earlier version of this review (see comments), is a flat, self-adhesive plastic disk that folds out to give you a two-finger grip and a stand, the latter always a welcome benefit.

Like the LoveHandle, it's available in a wide range of colors and styles, and you can design your own. (The photo at right shows one I had made for my business.) Prices range from $10 to $15 (about £8-£12, AU$12-AU$19).

The Loop requires a case. The Lazy Hands also requires a sleeve, unless you're okay with Velcro on the back of your phone. Can't? Prefer to wear your phone "naked"?

Try a Spigen Style Ring. This is one of those products where a picture is worth a thousand words, so I won't bother with a long description. Just look at the photo to immediately understand how it works. The bottom line is that the Spigen gives you an easier and more secure one-handed grip for your phone.

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