Smart Clip: A Smart Review of a Stupid Invention

If you’re something of a night owl, you’ve probably already seen the commercials for the Smart Clip. It’s an adhesive hook that fits sticks to the back of your phone and lets you hang it from your belt loop, bag or whatever might work./p>p style=”clear: both”>When we first saw the commercials, my better half and I debated the merits of such an invention. However, it was one of those strange arguments where we both took each side, going back and forth playing devil’s advocate with one another.

Still, we had all but forgotten about the invention until we were walking down the aisles of our local Target and saw one on the shelf. A bit stunned and confused, we engaged in something of a dare match to buy one until, lo and behold, I found myself walking out the store with my very own Smart Clip.

So, here I am, a “proud” Smart Clip owner wondering how I got in this position and trying to defend a product that I have no idea why I bought.

Still, since it is American to occasionally give in to useless crap, I’ve decided to review this product and find out just how useless it is.

About the Smart Clip

For those who do not know, the Smart Clip is a plastic hook. You stick it to the back of your cell phone and then clip it to whatever you want. This way, you don’t have to carry it in your pocket or purse. This, theoretically makes it easier to get to and safer.

In addition to the hook, it also provides a very small LED flashlight that you can use. Theoretically, this gives you both your phone and a small light on your belt loop, meaning you never have to fumble for to answer a call or see in dark places.

Beyond that, there really isn’t that much to it. This piece of plastic and adhesive will run you about $10 at most places and comes with a free sticky hook that lets you hang your phone wherever you can find a suitable surface.

The Good

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find out how well the devise worked.

Affixing the Smart Clip to your phone is fairly simple. The unit comes with an alcohol-based swap that you use to clean the back of your phone and then stick it into place. With phones that have cameras on the back, you need to be careful not to cover up the lens, something that can be difficult to do as the plastic on the ring is fairly wide, but I was able to do it easily.

The kit also comes with a series of transparent stickers that you place over the battery seam in your phone. Since, most likely, your Smart Clip is affixing to the battery itself, this is supposed to prevent the battery from coming out unexpectedly and causing the phone to drop.

The adhesive is surprisingly strong. Though I wouldn’t trust it to hold up an eight-pound bowling ball, something the commercial demonstrates, I definitely feel that it is solid enough for my phone. I’ve pulled on it fairly hard in a controlled environment and have not been able to break it. It seems my belt loops might give first.

That being said, it is worth remembering that twisting the clip is how it is designed to come off so that could have a different reaction.

Speaking of the clip, the hook also holds securely. The first few times you try to use it you’ll likely think that it’s stuck. It’s tricky learning how to reliably open the clip as the gap is so small that fabric barely passes through it. Still, once you get it down it does become second nature.

It’s just hard to imagine a clip with a learning curve.

Still, it is sturdy and does its job very well, it is perhaps the first “As Seen on TV” item I’ve owned that lived up to even a large part of its claims.

The Bad

The first piece of bad news is that the flashlight really does not live up to expectations. Though it is extremely bright for such a small, battery-powered LED light (I was able to light up most of a small bedroom with it), the button is much too stiff. If you have any keys on the front of your phone most likely going to press those keys instead of your light.

To use the flashlight, you have to use a careful and awkward grip on the sides of the phone while pressing down. It isn’t easy and it defeats much of the purpose of having it there. Furthermore, it hurts my hand to hold it for more than a few seconds.

The other, probably larger, drawback is the simple dork factor of it. Do you really want your cell phone dangling from your belt loop? I suppose a purse, especially a large one, wouldn’t be too bad but a belt loop seems stupid. Luckily, I wear long shirts and sweaters so that no one can see it.

Traditional cell phone holders are bad enough but this looks even worse.

Still, I have to say that it is remarkably comfortable. Though it doesn’t “move with you” as neatly as the commercial hinted, I do forget when I am wearing it and don’t notice it unless I sit down suddenly.

If it didn’t look so ridiculous, I probably wouldn’t mind it so much.

Final Thoughts

Truth be told, I can actually think of many situations where I would find such a device handy. Travel, for one, instantly springs to mind. Running through airports with electronic equipment is always a recipe for disaster, this at least removes one item from concern.

Likewise, on vacations they could be useful as well or any place that you are running around worried about losing your phone. Don’t want to lose your phone at the beach? Clip it to your bag, pretty simple.

But most of the situations I can conjure up are temporary ones. The Smart Clip, however, is permanent. Once you stick it on, you can remove it easily but you can’t re-apply it. You have a $10 piece of junk at that point.

Is it really worth $10 for something you’ll likely use for a weekend? You have to decide that one. There are other cell phone holders that you can actually take off, for not a lot more, that could do the job reasonably well too.

If you can justify the expense for a short duration or can find a place to hang it that doesn’t make you look like an idiot, I say go for it. Just don’t count on that flashlight or the little hook they give you (I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t comment).

Of all of the “As Seen on TV” inventions I’ve handled, this is by far the best. It just isn’t saying a whole lot considering the other crap I’ve had the pleasure of crossing.