Phone holders and stands

What phone holders and stands are

A holder grips the phone and fixes it to something, such as a tray table. A stand props the phone up on a table, desk or tray.

• Airplane phone holders: Made for the cabin: Perilogics’ mount clamps onto the seat-back tray table, and the Flight Flap sits on the tray or hangs from the seat in front.
• Phone stands: Fold-flat stands that open on any surface; MOFT’s tripod stand and Twelve South’s Curve Nano snap to the back of the phone with magnets.
• Phones and tablets: Flight Flap sells its holder for most phones and tablets; most magnetic stands are made for phones only.
• Your own screen: Some airlines stream films to passengers’ own phones and tablets through a web browser, a setup known as bring your own device (BYOD).
• Who makes them: Perilogics and Flight Flap make airplane holders; MOFT, Peak Design and Twelve South make magnetic stands.

How they work

• Spring clamps: Perilogics’ mount has two spring-loaded clamps, one for the tray table and one for the phone, joined by a rotating hinge.
• Rotating joints: Its two joints turn 360°, so the phone can face you upright or sideways.
• Bendable foam: The Flight Flap is lightweight aluminum inside closed-cell foam; it bends to the angle you want and flattens to stow.
• MagSafe magnets: Since the iPhone 12 in 2020, a ring of magnets around the charging coil lets accessories snap onto the back of an iPhone.
• Qi2 for other phones: Qi2 brings the same magnetic ring to an open standard; Google’s Pixel 10 phones were the first major Android phones with the magnets built in.
• Metal rings: For phones without magnets, MOFT includes a thin metal ring that sticks to a hard phone case.
• Origami folds: MOFT’s stand opens into a triangle-based shape for stability and closes to 6.9 mm thick.

Types

• Tray-table clamps: Clip to the folded tray table or to the back of the open tray; Perilogics’ mount works either way.
• Flexible flaps: A foam sheet such as the Flight Flap stands on the tray or hangs from the seat in front and holds a phone or a tablet.
• Magnetic fold-flat stands: Thin stands such as MOFT’s and the Curve Nano snap to a MagSafe or Qi2 phone and fold to pocket size.
• Mini tripods: Peak Design’s Mobile Tripod has aluminum legs and a micro ball head and works as a stand or a photo tripod.
• Wallet stands: MOFT’s Trackable Snap-on Phone Stand & Wallet carries two cards, folds into a stand and can be located through Apple’s Find My.
• Tray-latch hooks: The Airhook anchors to the tray table in its locked position and holds a drink plus a phone or larger tablet.

What to look for

• Eye-level height: A mount on the tray table lifts the screen toward eye level instead of leaving it flat on the tray or in your lap.
• Clamp range: A tray-table clamp needs an edge it can grip; Perilogics’ opens to surfaces up to 1.5 inches wide.
• Phone compatibility: Magnetic stands need MagSafe or Qi2; MOFT’s metal ring sticks to PC, TPU or aluminum cases, not silicone, leather or wood.
• Weight it holds: MOFT rates its tripod stand for phones up to 300 g in its lab test; it gives 227 g for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
• Packed size: MOFT’s stand weighs 85 g, Peak Design’s 76 g; the Curve Nano folds to 7.8 mm and comes with a travel case.
• Portrait and landscape: MOFT’s stand turns between the two without detaching the phone; Peak Design’s magnets hold either way.
• Room for a tablet: Flight Flap makes an XL version for larger tablets; magnetic phone stands are not built for them.

On the plane and on the trip

• Airplane mode: FAA guidance has airlines tell passengers to switch phones to airplane mode in flight; FCC rules bar most cellular use while airborne.
• Gate to gate: Since October 31, 2013, the FAA has let airlines allow most devices in airplane mode from gate to gate.
• Trays stowed: Federal rules require every seat-back tray table to be stowed while the plane taxis, takes off and lands.
• Takeoff and landing: The FAA tells airlines to announce that devices and loose items go in a bag under the seat or on your person until airborne.
• Crew rules: Each airline decides how and when devices must be stowed, so follow the crew’s announcements.
• Through security: TSA allows tripods in carry-on and checked bags; the officer at the checkpoint has the final say.
• Hotel and train: Perilogics’ clamp also fits luggage handles and desks; MOFT’s stand has a forward-tilt angle for video calls.

Limits and care

• Practice at home: Matador’s reviewer advises a trial run before the airport; setting up the Perilogics mount on board took some fiddling.
• Plastic joints: Pack Hacker found the Perilogics mount squeaks while it is adjusted.
• Blocked charging: A magnetic stand covers the phone’s wireless charging spot; Cult of Mac charged with a cable while using the Curve Nano.
• Stable footing: Twelve South says its stands should rest on a flat, stable surface; Cult of Mac found the Curve Nano needs a slight backward lean.
• Cards and magnets: Apple says credit cards, passports or key fobs placed between an iPhone and its MagSafe charger can have magnetic strips or RFID chips damaged.
• Medical devices: Apple says magnets and radios can affect pacemakers and defibrillators; most makers advise keeping them at least 6 inches (15 cm) apart.
• Care and cleaning: MOFT says to clean its vegan leather with alcohol below 75%; Twelve South says to wipe aluminum with a soft microfiber cloth.

A short history

• June 2010: HTC’s Evo 4G goes on sale in the U.S. with a built-in kickstand.
• October 2013: The FAA clears airlines to let passengers use most devices in airplane mode from gate to gate.
• October 2020: Apple introduces MagSafe with the iPhone 12: a ring of magnets that lets accessories snap onto the back.
• In 2023: The Wireless Power Consortium announces Qi2, an open standard based on MagSafe.
• August 2025: Google’s Pixel 10 phones become the first major Android phones with Qi2 magnets built in.