This is the English edition of a video from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I test gadgets and accessories at home in Japan, so any product links would go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
I bought four different MagSafe phone rings and used them side by side on my iPhone. If you also clip your phone to a magnetic car mount, the thin, double-sided ring was the least frustrating: it stays on the phone when you pull it off the mount. The rotating ring felt the nicest in the hand, but its outer magnet was too strong and its outer skin started peeling within days.
What I tested
- Ring 1: a double-sided MagSafe ring that flips up 90° and then rotates in clicks
- Ring 2: a thin double-sided MagSafe ring that folds almost flat
- Ring 3: a classic one-sided ring with a rotating base (my daily ring for about two years)
- Ring 4: a one-sided ring that extends in two stages
- All bought on Amazon Japan, used with a MagSafe case and a magnetic car mount
What I found
Ring 1 (rotating, double-sided). Adjusting the angle was easy in both portrait and landscape. The problem was my car mount: its magnet was so strong that pulling the phone left the ring stuck on the mount. When the ring was half open, it got pressed flat against the mount and was really hard to remove inside the car. The film-like outer surface also started peeling after about two days of use, so I stopped using it.
Ring 2 (thin, double-sided). This was my main ring when I recorded the video. The ring loop is large and round, so it stands steadily even if I attach it slightly off-center. With my mount, case and ring combination, the ring stays on the phone, yet the phone did not fall off from normal car vibration. The downsides: the loop sits a little far from the case when I put a finger through it, and it sometimes makes a small clicking sound.
Ring 3 (classic, one-sided). The most stable grip when holding the phone with a finger through the ring, and the magnet is strong. When laid flat, the hinge sticks out, so the phone can tilt if the hinge is off to the side. Spinning the base often loosened it over time; I am on my second one, and by not rotating it much, it has lasted two years.
Ring 4 (two-stage extending). Well made, but more than an iPhone needs, and a bit heavy. It shines on an iPad: with a MagSafe-style plate on the back, it gives a steeper, more useful angle in portrait and also works in landscape.
Comparison
| Ring | MagSafe | Liked | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Rotating | Both sides | Easy angle adjustment | Ring stays on the car mount; outer skin peeled |
| 2 Thin | Both sides | Balanced magnet with a car mount | Loop sits a bit far from the case; clicking |
| 3 Classic | One side | Most secure finger grip | Hinge sticks out when laid flat |
| 4 Two-stage | One side | Steep angles, great on iPad | Overkill and heavier on an iPhone |
Who it’s for
- Use a magnetic car mount every day: go for a thin double-sided ring like Ring 2
- Mostly hold your phone standing up, on a train for example: a classic ring like Ring 3
- Want a kickstand for an iPad in portrait: a two-stage ring like Ring 4
Watch the video
The video is in Japanese, but the hands-on parts are easy to follow. Useful moments: 0:18 for an overview of all four rings, 3:14 for the rotating ring and the car-mount problem, 7:38 for the thin ring, and 18:20 for the two-stage ring on an iPad.
Limitations
This is one person’s experience with one case and one car mount, and magnet strength differs between products and mounts. The thin ring was still new when I recorded, so I could not say how long its stiff hinge would last. These were generic rings bought in 2024, and I could not identify the exact listings again, so I am not linking to specific products.
Products
No product links for this comparison: the exact listings could not be confirmed. For the brands I use now, see the other MagSafe ring reviews on this site.
More reviews in English
All MagSafe Rings & Stands (49) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.