HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
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.
With their phone locked into the gooseneck holder, we were able to view the screen at eye level, completely hands-free. Since tech neck, or the strain of one’s neck and shoulders, is commonly caused by device usage, this is no small feat.
“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 accordant pain, Egbogah explained. (She recommended this neck phone holder in particular.)
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 we wanted to use it, the holder kept their phone in the ready position at face level, sparing our hands fatigue from the smartphone’s weight.
Admittedly, I’d seen phone holders like this online, but never quite understood their function. After experiencing 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.
“[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 — or read on for more reviewers’ thoughts.
“I really liked the stability of the phone holder and it was very easy to attach to my table. I used it for a telehealth appointment and it worked out beautifully! I would recommend this product highly!” — Amazon Customer
“I sit and cross stitch ALL day, every day. It’s what I love to do. While I’m stitching, if I wanted to listen to music or an audio book or even follow a cross stitch pattern on my phone, I have to prop my phone up somehow and it’s always slipping down or is too far away to see or falling on the floor. This gooseneck phone holder is perfect for taking care of all of that! I attached it to my supply cart right next to my chair and it holds my phone securely at exactly the right angle and exactly the right height. I wish I had gotten this years ago! Great low price – sturdy as all get out – I love it!” — Judi
“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
“I absolutely love this thing. My fiance thought it was a waste of money but it is in our truck and we use it every time we are in the truck. The base is a little bulkier than I thought it was going to be but this thing has been amazing.” — Skylar