Quick Analysis
Pros
- Sanitizes all 6 sides of your phone.
- Takes just 5 minutes for complete sanitation.
- Also useful for small devices, keys, glasses, etc.
- Works as a pass-through charger.
- Available in a wide range of color schemes.
Cons
- Not available until June 30th
Given current world events, it’s understandable that people are focusing on sanitation more than usual. Everyone is wearing a mask, and we’re constantly sanitizing shared surfaces. Elevators and shopping carts obviously get the most attention, since they’re used by multiple people. But personal objects aren’t safe, either. For example, imagine you touch an infected shopping cart, then touch your phone. You’re on top of your sanitization game, so you wipe down your hands on the way out of the store. But there are still virus particles on your phone. Whoops!
What might surprise you is that this isn’t only an issue with the current pandemic. It’s an issue with ordinary seasonal flu, and even with fecal bacteria. In fact, the average smartphone is significantly dirtier than a toilet seat. Even worse, you bring your phone right up to your ear, and press it against your cheek. If you want to stay safe, it’s important to clean and sanitize your phone on a regular basis. But phones and other electronic devices are difficult to clean, since you can’t immerse them in water. You could use alcohol wipes, but that’s unwieldly. An easier way is to use a UV smartphone sanitizer.
With a UV smartphone sanitizer, you can clean your phone or other small electronics any time you want. Simply place the phone inside, turn on the sanitizer, and – presto! – your phone will be clean. There are several such sanitizers on the market, some of which we’ve reviewed in the past. Today, we’ll be reviewing a newer offering, the PhoneSoap Pro, which releases on June 30th. This is an updated, improved version of the original PhoneSoap UV cleaner. But how well does it actually perform? We’ll take a look at what’s changed, and let you know whether or not the PhoneSoap Pro is worth buying. Let’s begin!
What is a UV Phone Sanitizer?
Before we go any further, let’s talk about what a UV phone sanitizer is, and how it works. The idea is to use UV-C waves, which are invisible, high-energy waves, to kill viruses and bacteria. When these waves hit living tissue, they break down DNA and RNA, destroying cells. Needless to say, this makes UV light a poor choice for cleaning your own skin. It can cause burns, cancer, and other health problems. With an enclosed sanitizer, you don’t need to worry about any of those issues. Ideally, it should be impossible to expose yourself to UV light. On the downside, you also can’t disinfect anything that’s too big to fit inside the case. If you need to clean a larger object, you’ll need a wand-style UV sanitizer. Just make sure to keep it pointed away from your body when you’re using it!
Another thing that makes a UV phone sanitizer helpful is that you don’t have to worry about exposure time. With a UV light wand, you have to hold the light over the surface for a certain amount of time. This exposure time, as well as the distance, will depend on the color and intensity of the light. Needless to say, this can be very inconvenient. Not only do you have to keep track of these factors, but you’ll be doing a lot of hands-on work. If you were to wand sanitize your phone multiple times a day, you may as well take a second job.
With a UV phone sanitizer, this is simply a non-issue. The distance of the light and the sanitizing time are both pre-determined. All you need to do is put your phone inside and turn it on. Depending on how concerned you are, you might want to run multiple cycles. This isn’t really necessary, but it can be helpful for your peace of mind. In the worst case scenario, you’ll just be wasting a small amount of electricity. So it doesn’t hurt to be extra careful if it makes you feel better.
One thing you should be aware of is that most UV phone sanitizers advertise killing 99.9 percent of germs. Why is this? It’s because there can be hundreds of thousands of bacteria cells on your phone. With viruses, there can be hundreds of billions. Even with a powerful microscope, there’s simply no way to prove that every last germ has been killed. Fortunately, this is not really necessary. The odds of getting sick from a disease depend on how many germs you take into your body. In almost any conceivable case, killing 99.9 percent of germs will keep you from getting sick. Now that we’ve gotten all this sorted out, let’s take a closer look at the PhoneSoap Pro!
Overall Design
The PhoneSoap Pro has a simple, clamshell-style design. It measures 9.63 inches long, 5.38 inches wide, and 2 inches thick. The overall profile is sleek and modern, with rounded corners and a sloped top and bottom. The bulk of the unit is a single color, and there are six available options. These include white, black, violet, blue, red, and teal. There’s a silver band around the middle, which shows you where the case opens. This is actually one of the few things we didn’t like about the PhoneSoap Pro. The problem is that there’s no indent for you to easily pry it open with.
That said, you can still open the PhoneSoap Pro with a single hand. It just takes a little more effort than we’d like. The base features nano suction feet, which actually do a pretty good job of securing it to a smooth desk. This ensures that you can open it without excessive effort. On the top of the case, you’ll see a silver lightning bolt. This functions as the power button for beginning a cleaning cycle. On the back, you’ll see a USB Type-A and a pair of USB Type-C ports. The right Type-C port is used for powering the PhoneSoap itself, and a cord is included in the package. There’s also a power adapter so you can easily plug into the wall.
The inside of the PhoneSoap Pro measures 7.13 inches long, 4.38 inches wide, and 0.72 inches thick. This is an exceptionally large space, big enough to accommodate any modern smartphone. And unless you’re using an extremely fat case, you won’t have any problems with your case, either. Many smartphone cleaners have trouble reaching the sides of your phone. Thankfully, the PhoneSoap Pro has been modified to address this issue. The inner shell is constructed from a special vacuum-plated aluminum. This, combined with the sloped sides, ensures that the light will reach all six sides of your phone. The UV light bars are located at the top and bottom, further distributing light evenly. At the bottom, there’s even a small slot that allows you to run a charging cable.
Ease of Use
The original PhoneSoap worked automatically when you closed the lid. This was convenient, but it could also be a bit of a pain if you wanted to run multiple cycles. The PhoneSoap Pro can work automatically or manually. When you first place your phone inside, it will start a new cleaning cycle. However, if you want to run additional cycles, you can simply tap the button on the top. There’s no need to manually open and close the case. Another significant improvement from the original PhoneSoap is that the cleaning cycle itself is shorter. The original PhoneSoap took 10 minutes to fully sanitize your phone. With more powerful lights, the PhoneSoap Pro can clean your phone in only 5 minutes.
The PhoneSoap Pro can also function as a pass-through charger. This is what the USB Type-A port and secondary Type-C port on the back are for. Simply plug in your phone cord, run it through the slot in the case, and plug it into your phone. Keep in mind that this function works for pass-through charging only. The PhoneSoap Pro does not have an internal battery, and does not function as a power bank. That said, it does mean you’ll only occupy a single wall outlet.
The other significant upgrade from the original PhoneSoap is the improved acoustics. In the original PhoneSoap, you couldn’t hear your phone. If you got an urgent call, you wouldn’t be able to hear it from more than a few feet away. And if you wanted to leave your phone inside overnight, you wouldn’t be able to hear the alarm. The PhoneSoap Pro features new, patented acoustic outlets. These outlets ensure that you’ll be able to hear your alarm in the morning without any issues.
Final Verdict
So, how does the PhoneSoap Pro stack up to other UV phone sanitizers? In our opinion, it compares very favorably. To begin with, let’s look at the inside. It’s very spacious, enough to accommodate any smartphone on the market in almost any smartphone case. It also covers all six sides of your phone. The highly reflective aluminum plating ensures that you’re getting your phone completely clean. The pass-through charging slot and USB ports are also a nice touch. They allow for easy charging, whether your phone charges via USB Type-A or USB Type-C.
The outside of the PhoneSoap Pro is also very well constructed. It’s sturdy enough for travel, so you can take it with you on the road. And the soft edges ensure that it won’t damage other objects in your luggage. In addition, it’s attractive to look at. With six different color options, you can find one to match just about any sense of style. We do wish that it opened a little bit more easily. It’s understandable that the spring-loaded lid stays very securely shut. That’s necessary for safety, so it won’t come open by accident while it’s in use. But a thumb groove would have been nice. The bottom is surprisingly effective and grippy. You won’t have to worry about your UV cleaner sliding around by accident. If you can wait until June 30th for your new sanitizer, the PhoneSoap Pro is an excellent choice.
Meet Derek, “TechGuru,” a 34-year-old technology enthusiast with a deep passion for tech innovations. With extensive experience, he specializes in gaming hardware and software, and has expertise in gadgets, custom PCs, and audio.
Besides writing about tech and reviewing new products, Derek enjoys traveling, hiking, and photography. Committed to keeping up with the latest industry trends, he aims to guide readers in making informed tech decisions.