You probably don’t need an expert to tell you that craning your neck over your phone is bad for your posture. Our throbbing necks and shoulders speak for themselves. Daily exercises and self-monitoring your slouching are important, yet I often long for more built-in support. So when a friend whipped out a hands-free phone holder — in the form of a rubber gooseneck clamped onto the headboard of their couch — they had my attention.
“We spend so much time on phones and laptops and when we do, we’re often looking down,” Liza Egbogah, a trained chiropractor, osteopath and myofascial release expert, previously told HuffPost. A product that helps you look straight ahead while using your phone can therefore help prevent slouching, forward head posture and associated pain. She recommended this neck phone holder in particular, and right now, it’s 20% off. After using the tool in person, I now understand why reviewers are calling it “what I’ve been missing in my life,” “a neck saver” and a “third hand.” It’s an especially great option for long video calls, watching TV and reading.
Besides doing us a solid for our posture, the gooseneck holder did one for our hands. Instead of having to repeatedly put down and pick up their phone whenever they wanted to use it, the holder kept their phone in the ready position at face level, sparing their hands fatigue from the smartphone’s weight.
“[T]his might seem like the ultimate lazy person contraption, but it really helps with ergonomics. You are not at a weird angle if you like to lay in bed on your phone,” writes a reviewer named Deb.
“Another plus is I FaceTime my family often ― this allows me to be hands free while I speak to them and I can adjust it to a more flattering angle (haha).”
And, as one reviewer puts it, your hands can “stay warm under the covers” while you talk. “So much better than dropping my phone on my face in the night,” adds a reviewer named Michelle.
Another benefit is the hands-free holder’s portability. Its clamps hold your phone and to attach to a given surface, so you can move the gooseneck around your home — from your bed’s headboard to your desk, a side table and more. Plus, with a neck that stretches 33” long, the accessory can be positioned just how you like.
Grab a hands-free gooseneck of your own at Amazon for 20% off — and read on for more reviewers’ thoughts.
“Perfect for holding my phone up to read or watch videos in bed, and it has been a total game changer. The clamp that attaches to the furniture is really strong and holds tightly to my headboard without slipping around or damaging the wood.
The ‘arm’ is actually quite stiff, which takes a little effort to adjust, but that is honestly exactly what you want. Once you get it bent into the perfect angle, it stays completely put and doesn’t slowly droop down under the weight of your phone. The clip holds my phone securely, making it super easy to just lay back and relax hands-free after a long day.” — Sami 🛒
“I bought this because I wanted a hands free way to watch shows and video chat from bed without holding my phone. It seemed like a simple solution to neck strain and awkward angles, so I gave this gooseneck mount a try.
Setup is straightforward. The clamp base adjusts to fit bed frames or nightstands up to about 2.36 inches wide and a silicone pad keeps surfaces from being scratched. The 85 centimeter bendable arm is long enough to position the phone overhead or within easy reach, and the whole unit holds its position once you set it. I really notice how the phone stays where I want it without needing constant readjustment.
What stood out is how stable it feels. The arm is solid thanks to the aluminum magnesium core, and the 360 degree rotation makes switching between portrait and landscape quick. It comfortably fits devices in the 4 to 7 inch range, so my phone fits snugly and stays secure.
One minor note is that the arm is not ultra flexible, so you do some planning to get the right angle, but that trade off gives it steadiness. Overall this feels reliable and I would rate it five stars.” — dragon6473
“I clamped it on my nightstand to hold my phone at night. I put my phone in the holder & with headphones could watch anything I wanted. This way it didn’t bother wife & she could sleep away. Yes,it was perfect. Thank You. 👍😊” — Ken Schoening
On the hunt for more tech upgrades? Check out these affordable recommendations that reviews absolutely love, as previously reported by Tessa Flores.
Amazon
A surge-protected outlet extender
Maximize your existing outlet with this sleek, surge-protected plug-in, which features five traditional AC outlets, one USB-C port and three USB-B ports to support your different devices and their specific chargers.
Promising Amazon review: “These are so convenient that I have purchased at least 7 or 8 for all of the outlets in my house. almost every thing now requires a usb or usb c outlet so I have at least one in every room in my house. the screw provided for the center of the outlet makes sure that they stay firmly in place when plugging in and out of the outlet.” — Hope
Amazon
More smart plugs by the top-rated Kasa brand
Kasa smart plugs are a revered product here at HuffPost and have nearly 70,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. These plugs are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, and they transform plugged-in home electronics into devices that can be controlled remotely and with voice commands. Users can also set schedules for certain electronics that they want to automatically turn off and on.
Promising Amazon reviews: “I deeply regret that it took me this long to procure this item! I used these smart plugs for my bedroom and living room lamps! They connected seamlessly and easily to my home WiFi and Alexa! I will confess that I did not use the timer function since I had routines in Alexa to turn the lights on/off! If you are looking to automate your lighting, small appliances then I HIGHLY recommend this product!!” — Wendel Staton
“You will NOT regret this purchase. … Best invention ever. I didn’t know about these until my alarm company suggested they were most cost efficient. So glad they did! Took 2 minutes to set up and I hooked it up to my google. I got these for nights I work late. I can play around with lights and tv in order to appear home. I can’t wait to get more!” — D99520
Amazon
A three-in-one rapid charging station
This compact and Apple-compatible charging station juices up AirPods, Apple Watches and most iPhones all at once, and can fully charge a smart device in just a few hours.
Promising Amazon review: “I bought this product because I got tired of having multiple wires at my night stand. Not only did it solve that problem but it also freed up outlet space. I use this on a daily basis. My favorite part about this product is how fast it charges my phone! I am in love with this product, and do not regret buying this product at all! Money well spent!!” — Megan
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)