In 2009, photographer Chase Jarvis published a book titled The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You, which featured pictures he took with an iPhone. While the iPhone’s camera quality in 2009 was far inferior to today’s standards, Jarvis emphasized that you can take great pictures with any camera—the key is having it with you when inspiration strikes. That remains a key reason that I love taking pictures with my iPhone. Unlike my Nikon DSLR camera, which is so bulky that I only take it with me on special occasions, my iPhone is always in my pocket. But sometimes, the iPhone alone is not enough; you also need a tripod to capture the perfect shot. For example, you might want to position your iPhone in one spot and control the shutter remotely so you can be in the photo. Or perhaps you want to keep the camera very steady to minimize blur and artifacts as you are taking a picture. Even when you’re not taking pictures, a tripod can be useful during FaceTime, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams calls, or simply when watching videos on your iPhone. The challenge is that, while you always have your iPhone with you, you probably don’t carry a tripod everywhere.
The Pocket Tripod by Geometrical aims to solve that problem. It is a tripod for the iPhone that folds down to the size of a credit card. This allows you to easily carry it in your wallet, purse, briefcase, or pocket at all times. I purchased one a few months ago, and I’ve found it to be very handy.
Design
The idea for the Pocket Tripod has been around for quite some time. Back in 2013, there was an article on Gizmodo by Steve Wozniak—yes, that Steve Wozniak, the one who co-founded Apple in the 1970s with Steve Jobs and who is commonly called “Woz”—praising an item on Kickstarter called the Pocket Tripod 360º. Woz explained that, as a frequent traveler, he appreciated the idea of a portable device to prop up his iPhone for watching videos. After hearing about the Pocket Tripod, Woz remarked:
Sometimes the simplest things are the most useful, but rarely something makes me shake my head at how clever and cool it is like the Pocket Tripod 360º has. I keep thinking “why didn’t someone do this before” and “what a great idea that I wish I’d thought of.” I’m still blown away that the angle is adjustable like that.
That original model was made entirely of plastic and designed for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5. A second-generation version added universal adapters, allowing it to be used with almost any smartphone. A third-generation model introduced carbon fiber legs and a more robust design.
The current version of the Pocket Tripod is the fourth generation, and that is the model I purchased a few months ago. The full name is the Pocket Tripod PROv2 Universal Kit, and it sells for $39.95. This fourth-generation version adds 1/4-inch threads so that you can use the Pocket Tripod with professional photography equipment.
When folded up, the Pocket Tripod is the length and width of a credit card and the thickness (and weight) of two credit cards. I’ve had it in my wallet for many months now, and I never notice that it is in there unless I pull it out.
Twisting the Pocket Tripod in the middle transforms it into a shape that resembles a triangle.
Next, fold up the two sides.
Now, you have something that can hold an iPhone. Simply slip the iPhone into the two adapter slots. Then, you can adjust the angle to make your iPhone screen (if you want to watch it) or camera (if you are taking a photo or video) go up or down.
If you want, you can easily separate each half of the Pocket Tripod. If your iPhone is in landscape mode, this allows you to spread the Pocket Tripod apart to obtain better stability.
I purchased the matte black version, but there are other colors available if you want something more eye-catching.
Adaptable to many different sizes
The Pocket Tripod holds the iPhone securely. It can do this because you select an adapter that works best for your iPhone model and—if you use one—the size of your iPhone case.
There are nine different sizes to choose from in the box. The Pocket Tripod comes with a “fit card” to help you select the best size. For my iPhone 16 Pro Max, which I use without a case, I selected the 8.0 mm size. If you have a thick case, like an Otterbox, you’ll want one of the larger adapters. If one of the nine included adapters doesn’t work for you, Geometrical sells other adapter sizes for $4.50 a pair.
Using the Pocket Tripod
When I first received my Pocket Tripod, it took me about 10 minutes to figure out how to twist it into the tripod shape and select the best adapter size. The included instructions are very clear. After that, I could easily remove the Pocket Tripod from my wallet and set it up in under 30 seconds. It is very easy.
Although the Pocket Tripod is very thin, it is sturdy and surprisingly strong. Its strength comes in part from carbon fiber coated with plastic. Here is an interesting video from the manufacturer that shows how the Pocket Tripod is made:
I’ve used the Pocket Tripod to take a picture of family and friends when I wanted to be in the picture. I set up my iPhone on the Pocket Tripod and then used the Camera Remote app on my Apple Watch to trigger the countdown timer for the picture. If you don’t have an Apple Watch, you can use the Voice Control function to tell your iPhone to take a picture; Tim Hardwick of MacRumors explains how to do so in this article. Or you can purchase a Bluetooth shutter remote for the iPhone.
I have also used the Pocket Tripod to hold my iPhone steady during a FaceTime call and while watching a YouTube video. That works great.
I’ve also used the Pocket Tripod to keep my iPhone as still as possible while taking photos at night in low light. I use the Camera Remote app on my Apple Watch with the three-second countdown timer turned off, allowing me to take a picture instantly without risking any movement from touching the iPhone
Keeping the iPhone steady is also essential for timelapse photography.
As noted above, a new feature of this fourth-generation model is that it contains two 1/4-inch threads. You can use either of those holes to attach the Pocket Tripod to a stand, which I imagine could be useful if you need some height or if you want more flexibility in where you place the tripod. For example, I have an older model of the excellent JOBY GorillaPod (somewhat similar to this model), and I can screw that into the Pocket Tripod. So far, however, I’ve only tested this setup; in real-world use, I typically only have the Pocket Tripod and my iPhone with me. Any time that I think to pack my GorillaPod, I also bring my Glif (my review), an even better device for attaching an iPhone to a 1/4-inch thread.
Cost
Although the Pocket Tripod is often available on Amazon, Amazon seems to be out of stock at the moment. You can also purchase it directly from Geometrical for $39.95.
Conclusion
I’m a big fan of the Pocket Tripod. It’s so small and lightweight that I always have it with me, eliminating the need to plan ahead or pack extra equipment. Whether you use it for photography or simply to prop up your iPhone while viewing the screen, it’s a useful device and makes a great gift for any iPhone owner.