“This is the kind of gadget every household needs” — I tested the Brick smartphone blocker and here's what happened

I’ve often said I’m a marketer’s dream. When something is heavily advertised to me, more often than not I’m going to buy it. So when I kept getting advertisements for the Brick while scrolling social media, I had to get my hands on one.

After testing it — and being shocked, even disgusted by my own addiction to my phone and social media — I’ve found the Brick to be effective at reducing screen time. The customizable modes mean you can tailor it to suit your lifestyle, and opt for stricter modes too. It can be used on an unlimited number of devices and has a magnetic and non-slip design.

But be warned: it works by exploiting your unwillingness to go and find the Brick to UnBrick your phone. If you don’t have the willpower to wait it out, this may not be for you. To find out more about the gadget, keep reading this full Brick review.

Brick review: Specs

Brick review: Price & availability

The Brick is available for $59 / £44 directly from the Brick online store. You can also get two Bricks as part of a deal for $106 / £80. You can also buy a mount for the Brick, which costs $15 / £14, but I don’t think you need this since the Brick is magnetic and stable with a silicone base.

There are a few other devices like Brick on the market. These include Bloom, which is a card-shaped device for your wallet, costing $39; however, I like that the Brick is a larger object, as a card is easily lost or misplaced. You can also create your own Near Field Communication (NFC) tags or even use QR codes and pair them with open-source apps like Foqos.

There are also apps you can download from the app store that block app access, such as Opal, but being able to turn them off in the app doesn’t create that much of a barrier; this is more for rewarding mental resilience.

Brick review: Design

The Brick is exactly that. A small gray square. It’s nothing special, and I don’t think it’s going to win any design awards, despite its minimalistic flair. However, it’s all that it needs to be.

It measures 2 x 2 inches, so it’s very small and doesn’t get in the way wherever it is. At 3.17 ounces, it has a little weight to it, but nothing crazy.

The base of the Brick is a silicone material that keeps it secure on a table, so it doesn’t slip around, and it’s also magnetic for easy storage. I’ve opted to keep mine on the refrigerator in the kitchen, which works well for me as it blends in with the rest of my magnets.

Brick review: How does it work?

The Brick is not battery-operated, but contains a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip. This chip is embedded in the device, so when you tap your phone to it, a signal is exchanged, acting as a cue for your phone to block the apps you have selected in the Brick companion app. It uses the same action and communication range as a contactless payment you make in a store.

You may have come across NFC chips like this in other places, such as viewing a menu at a restaurant or bar, tapping your card on the subway, or data sharing when you hold two phones together.

This is different from a Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) chip, which works via long-range. NFC requires much closer proximity, which is what the Brick relies on. You need to physically get up, walk over to the Brick, and hold your phone to it. This is what the technology is relying on — your unwillingness to get up and out of your chair. Well played, Brick.

Once your phone is Bricked, you then have to go back to wherever you left the Brick to UnBrick it. Obviously, the premise doesn’t work if you keep the Brick close to you at all times, so I recommend leaving it in a different room, or at home if you’re heading out. This is where the card design of Bloom falls down, as it’s more likely to be with you at all times in your wallet.

If, for some reason, you can’t get to the Brick and you find yourself desperately needing access to an app you’ve chosen to block, you get five emergency UnBricks that automatically unlock all of the apps.

A single Brick can be used for an unlimited number of devices; you just need the app downloaded to the device. Because of this, I can see it being a useful addition to classrooms and homes too, where you need some social media boundaries.

Brick review: App

The Brick app is free to download and use and is compatible with an unlimited number of Bricks. It’s interesting to me because when you’re in an active Brick session, you can’t use it except for looking at your Brick time, which for me is useful because I’d be tinkering with the settings.

When setting up the app, you make modes based on what you’ll be using Brick for. I created one for Focus and one to block apps designed for scrolling. You can add any apps on your phone to this list. You can also block websites, so I opted to block the web versions of the apps I frequently use, like Instagram.

There are also a couple of different modes you can toggle in settings. I recommend turning on strict mode, as it prevents you from ending an active Brick session by deleting the app. You can also allow Brick to block app installs, in-app purchases and mature content. This means it can also be used as a parental control aid for the entire device, which is easier than setting different permissions in different apps.

Brick review: Experience

I wanted to test the Brick because it was constantly advertised to me on my social media feeds. And I, cocky as ever, thought it couldn’t be any different from the screen time limiters built into my phone because I surely have more willpower than that. Oh, how wrong I was.

During my first Brick session, I can’t tell you how many times I reached for my phone only to be met with a screen that read “Instagram is blocked”. Did I seriously just tap on Instagram? I’ve been shocked by the realization that I have a reliance on my phone. A dependence. I’ve found that I’m using it as a sort of crutch to fill empty space. Queueing for a coffee? Scroll. Waiting for my dinner to cook? Scroll. Clock off from work? Scroll. You get the picture.

Social media can be fulfilling in a lot of ways, but it wasn’t until my phone was Bricked that I noticed the specific moments I would reach for it. And I’ve found it troubling. Look, I’m not exactly proud of what this particular review has shown me. But I know that it’s not just me with an addiction to this slab of plastic and aluminum in my hand.

Once I got past the initial itchiness of the withdrawals — because yes, that’s what it was — I was gaining a lot of my time back. On a day without Brick, I clocked up 6 hours and 48 minutes just on social media, a number that shocked me to my very core. But on a day with Brick, my time on social media was just 1 hour and 15 minutes.

But the Brick isn’t what’s stopping me from using these applications. It’s my own willpower. I could easily tap my phone to the Brick and scroll on my phone, but that almost feels like admitting defeat. I’ve noticed that it’s feeding into my competitive side. I’m in competition with myself to have my phone Bricked longer than it was the day before.

While I was in competition with myself, the Brick also relies on another somewhat ugly trait of us humans to work its magic. That’s our laziness. If my phone is Bricked, and I’ve left it downstairs as I tuck myself into bed, there is no way I am going back down just to UnBrick my phone. Therefore, I break the cycle of scrolling before I fall asleep and scrolling first thing when I wake up. The concept is genius as it uses us against ourselves.

I’ve also noticed that my phone pickups are reduced. Getting notifications from these apps is what often makes us pick up our phones. Then once you’re on the app, it’s a subconscious decision to start scrolling because it’s almost second nature.

I’ve found the Brick incredibly helpful in helping with a problem I didn’t know I had. I’ve found more time in the evenings for reading, organization and general self-care that I’m so grateful for. I’m even going to bed earlier.

Brick review: Verdict

My time with the Brick has shown me that this is the kind of gadget every household needs. Phone usage is such an issue nowadays that app blocking is almost essential, and I think Brick is the best way to do it.

It has effectively reduced my screen time on social media, and I love how you can customize the modes to suit you during different tasks. Some of the modes are strict, but I think that’s needed. The minimal design is also non-slip and magnetic for ease of use, and it can be used on an unlimited number of devices.

The only thing is that, like giving up most things, it relies heavily on your personal willpower or laziness. But if I can do it, I think you can too. So, let’s look up from our phones and touch some grass, people!