KraftGeek JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod review: is this the best tripod and selfie stick for iPhone users?

The KraftGeek JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod is a combined selfie stick and tripod designed for mobile phones with a MagSafe connector. It extends to a generous five-and-a-half feet in height and has a wide set of legs that pop out with a tap, making it ideal for eye-level selfies. It's certainly a contender as both one of the best selfie sticks and best iPhone tripods on the market. Let's see what else it has to offer.

KraftGeek JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod: Specifications

KraftGeek JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod: Price

The tripod has a list price of $50 / £38 / AU$79 and is available on Amazon, as well as KraftGeek's own website, but at the time of writing was being sold at a discounted price, so keep an eye out for offers. Considering its lofty height, generous load rating, strong magnetic connection, and the inclusion of a Bluetooth remote, that makes it pretty good value.

KraftGeek also makes a non-MagSafe version of the JustTap tripod that instead has a traditional phone clamp, and is a little cheaper with a list price of $40 / £30 / AU$62.

KraftGeek JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod: Design & Handling

The JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod measures 13 inches when fully stowed and extends to 66 inches at full height. The tripod is extended simply by pulling the extending column until it reaches the desired height, and has a stiff resistance so that it won't collapse under heavy loads. The 'JustTap' in the product name refers to its pop-out legs. Tap a button on the base (or drop it gently on the ground) and its three stabilizing legs pop out to form a base.

It uses a MagSafe magnetic connection to attach your phone to the tripod, and also comes with an adhesive magnetic ring to attach to devices that aren't MagSafe-compatible. There's also a Bluetooth controller that connects magnetically to a recess on the main column.

KraftGeek JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod: Performance

Its lofty five-and-a-half-feet extended length should enable it to reach eye level for most people (unless you're a giant), thus making it ideal for natural-looking selfies. The downside of its impressive reach, however, is that it remains necessarily long when folded down, at just over a foot in length – it's certainly not pocket-sized, so you'll need a generously sized bag to carry it in.

The pop-out legs work brilliantly, springing out effortlessly as you tap the base of the device on the ground, enabling one-handed setup (for the legs, at least; you'll need to firmly tug the center column to extend it). The legs form a base with a decent 22.5cm radius, which is strong and stable enough to withstand all but the most powerful gusts of wind, even when fully extended.

The MagSafe connector provides a strong and secure connection, and is rated to secure loads of up to 2.5kg, which is far in excesss of any smartphone, MagSafe is a propriery Apple connection, but there are plenty of magnetic Android phone cases that provide similar functionality, and KraftGeek provides a self-adhesive magnetic ring in the box that can be stuck to the back on non-Apple phones.

The Bluetooth remote is turned on with a long press of the button and is easily synced with your phone. A short press then activates the shutter, while a long press turns it back off again. KraftGeek says that it should keep going for 20,000 shutter activations on a single charge, after which it can be recharged via USB-C.

KraftGeek JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod: Verdict

Measuring a huge 66 inches long, this goes much further than many competing products, and is equally handy as a generously proportioned selfie stick or a solid tripod that can meet your gaze for eye-level selfies. It does remain pretty long even when folded, though, so it's the most pocketable of solutions.

It's easy – fun, even – to convert it from a selfie stick to a tripod with a light tap of the base, and I found that the product feels robust and well built enough to trust it with my iPhone. Speaking of which, it is best suited to owners of Apple phones due to the proprietary MagSafe connection.

Alternatives

Neewer TP38: at digitalcameraworld.com

If you want to mount more than just your iPhone, the Neewer TP38 has a hybrid phone cradle and camera plate, as well as an action cam mount, but it can only manage a relatively short 15 inches of extension.

Benro Tabletop Flex: at digitalcameraworld.com

The Benro Tabletop Flex is a versatile mini-tripod, with both solid and flexible legs enabling it to extend to relatively lofty heights. Its 3kg load rating is generous, too, though it works less well as a selfie stick.