Aulumu | G09 Magnetic Ring Grip
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The Holdout
I’ve held out for the longest time on this one. Pop sockets, ring grips, stick-on kickstands – I’ve watched the entire category grow without ever committing to any of it. To my eye, most of them look cheap. Or dirty. Normally both, if I’m honest. There’s something about a scuffed, peeling disc clinging to the back of an otherwise sleek phone that just doesn’t sit right with me.
But it’s undeniable that phones are getting bigger. And I know I’m not the only person that, year on year, has developed a slightly stronger little finger from resting an ever-so-slightly larger phone on it while typing or scrolling. You might even be doing it right now. Phones are getting larger …and they’re getting more unwieldy as a result. Hold one the wrong way for too long and it can cause real finger / hand pain. Life is hard enough without that. So when I finally saw a tempting option, I bought it.
What It Is
Enter the G09 Magnetic Ring Grip by Aulumu. Not a brand I’d heard of before, but it seems to have a loyal following among the folks who’ve come across its previous offerings. And I have to say, I’m glad I took a chance on it.
Fundamentally, the G09 is two magnetic rings connected by two points of articulation. This means you can fold out just one ring and turn the phone into a landscape stand, or fold out both and prop it up in portrait. The hinges are firm (apparently rated for around twenty-five thousand cycles) so your phone stays put when you prop it up, and the two magnetic faces contain magnets on both sides, so there’s no give or play between them when the thing is closed flat. It adds just 0.12 inches of thickness to the back of the phone. In practice, this means your pocket or bag will barely know it’s there.
One other thing to note is that the magnets are stackable, which means you can still pop your phone on, say, a MagSafe car mount without having to remove the grip first. By the way, for those without MagSafe, the package includes adhesive metal plates to bring compatible magnetic mounting to Android and Samsung devices. Everyone is welcome.
And yes, for that all-important on-the-go, walking-around functionality, there’s a silicone ring nestled in the center that you can loop a finger through for extra grip as you type. Simple and effective – no notes.
The Look
The G09 comes in either black or silver, and both look great. If you’ve ever seen the Nothing Phones, you’ll recognize similar design language: simple and modern, with a hint of that modular, tech-forward, open-worked aesthetic. It’s made of solid aluminum with an anodized finish that resists scratches, and it feels super-premium in the hand.
As an aside, the unobtrusive pips at twelve, three, six, and nine o’clock make it really easy to line it up on the back of your phone – they’re not just there to look cool. It’s a thoughtful touch that IMHO separates a good product from a great one. There’s also a glow-in-the-dark ring included, which is a nice bonus for nightstand use.
The Verdict
The G09 is a little more expensive than other options out there – roughly $45 at the time of writing. But I haven’t seen one as fully featured or as well-made as this before. More importantly, it isn’t in any way embarrassing to have on the back of your phone, which sounds like a low bar until you realize what the competition looks like.
Think about it this way: if you’re going to spend a thousand dollars on a phone and then, cumulatively, spend days staring at it and interacting with it, you probably shouldn’t skimp on an accessory like this. To look sharp and not get an RSI? That’s $45 well spent. Consider me a convert.
