E-Circuit Thumbs-Up Phone Stand (Review)

My aunt is an avid bargain hunter. From garage sales to Goodwill to Stein Mart, she always manages to find the coolest stuff when she’s shopping. Whenever she comes across something she knows I’ll like (i.e. anything gadget related), she sends it my way. She’s the best!

This time, my aunt sent me a new cell phone stand from E-Circuit, the same company that makes my headphones. It costs a dollar at Dollar Tree. While the last phone stand she gave me was shaped like a fashionable high heel shoe, this one looks like a pair of hands giving the thumbs-up. The amusing gesture reminds me of Kaminari from My Hero Academia, which naturally makes me like it more.

It works in two positions, upright and reclined.

Position One: Upright

The stand’s most common position is straight up. You slide the phone into the slot between each thumb and the rest of the fingers snugly curve around the bottom edges of the device.

I use the stand like this when I’m at my desk. I usually work with headphones on, which means I’m likely to miss the phone’s rings or vibrations. I put the phone in the stand so I can easily see when someone’s calling.

Second Position: Reclined

You can also recline a phone in the stand using the odd notch on the back curve. You slide the bottom of the phone underneath the lip and lean the device back so that the thumbs support its back.

This position is most useful when I’m browsing social networks at the table during dinner or cross-referencing something from computer.

Final Notes

I really like this stand. It’s the perfect combo of whimsical and functional for me. Nevertheless, it has a couple of limitations.

First, a naked phone fits better in the stand. The grip isn’t quite as secure with a case on (in either position) because of the added weight and bulk.

Second, the stand works best with phones. It can accommodate my iPad mini in the upright position, but I’m not comfortable stretching the plastic that far. Sadly, the stand doesn’t support a tablet at all in the reclined position. The iPad mini’s size will topple the whole stand over. Oh well.