What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Brick is selling a deliberate pause from selected phone apps: users choose what to block in its companion app, tap their phone against a physical Brick to start a session, then return to the device to restore access. The company is also courting creators and brands, but public posts show event and partnership activity—not a confirmed marketer hiring campaign or public affiliate program.

How Brick works

Brick combines a phone app with a small physical device. In the app, a user chooses distracting apps and can set up custom modes for situations such as deep work, family time, training, creative time, study, social time, or sleep. Tapping the phone against Brick activates the selected block; to reconnect, the user returns to Brick and scans again. That extra step is the product’s central idea: put physical friction between an impulse to check an app and access to it.

The goal is not to abandon a smartphone. A person may want to block social feeds while retaining practical phone functions, depending on the apps and modes selected. Brick says the device has no battery to charge and that one Brick can be used with multiple phones. These are company product claims. Its FAQ currently lists Android 12.0 or later and iOS 18.0 or later; check the official product page for current compatibility and setup details, since software requirements can change.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Does Brick actually stop scrolling?

Brick is designed to interrupt access to apps selected by the user, not to make phone use impossible. Its physical rescan requirement can make an automatic check less immediate, which may help someone who finds app limits too easy to dismiss. It does not remove the underlying reasons a person reaches for a phone, and whether the added friction is useful depends on the person’s routines, work, and need for access.

#1 Best Overall
Mindsight Timed Lock Box | Unplug from Phones, Video Games, Social Media, Snacks & Cravings | 3 Modes based on Willpower | Easy to Use | Out of Sight ~ Out of Mind | Boost Your Mental Wellness
  • 🔒 WHAT ITS FOR – Building better habits in today’s busy world. The Mindsight Timed Lockbox helps you disconnect from your phone and reconnect with friends & family. Use as a tool to build better screen habits, reduce consumption of snacks & cravings; build better willpower leading to a happier, healthier mind & body
  • 🔒 HOW TO USE IT – Out of Sight ~ Out of Mind. Set countdown timer and select Commitment Level. 3 unique modes allow users to select ‘Commitment Level’ ranging from simple lockbox (no timed countdown), Standard Mode (Timed Countdown w/ unlock code) & Patent Pending Fortress Mode (Timed Countdown w/ NO unlock code). Timer can be set from 1 minute up to 30 days. (Fortress Mode Override Code can be provided in emergency by emailing customer support)
  • 🔒 WHO ITS FOR – Those who spend too much time on their phones, screens, social media & other unhealthy habits and want to improve their mental and physical health by living in the moment and reducing consumption. Additionally, works for securely storing medication, ensuring it is taken as scheduled and in accordance with daily requirements
  • 🔒 WHERE & WHEN TO USE IT – fits perfectly on kitchen counter, bedside table, home office or even in the classroom & workplace. Set limits on screen time and practice when kids get home from school, family dinner time, lazy Sunday morning’s or during night time wind down (no more doom scrolling)
  • 🔒 FEATURES & SIZE – Exterior Size: "9 x 5 x 4" | Holds 3–4 phones (depending on thickness; no iPads) | Fits small items like controllers, snacks, cards & medication | Custom-designed safe-lock system prevents forced openings | Includes 2 AA batteries (6-month battery life) | Charging slot allows devices to stay plugged in while locked

Brick’s storefront reports that 95%+ of surveyed users felt less distracted, 93%+ felt more focused, and 99%+ reduced their screen time. The company says the figures are based on a survey of 3,500+ users, but the page does not provide the survey date, recruitment method, question wording, baseline, or calculation. Treat these as vendor-reported survey results, not independent proof that the device causes those outcomes.

A Marie Claire UK writer’s month-long account offers one practical example rather than a controlled test: she described feeling more focused and present while using custom modes, but sometimes needed access to social media for work and had to unbrick. That illustrates a real trade-off for people whose work or responsibilities depend on apps they might otherwise block; it does not establish a general effect on productivity, sleep, or health.

Rank #2
Sale
Gemaxvoled Cell Phone Jail Lock Box, Mobile Phones Prison Lockable Cage for Classroom Family Time Party
  • Enjoy Your Face to Face Time-If you want to replace screen tapping with talking during family time, your home needs a cell phone jail. Don’t let electronic screen interrupt your communication fun.
  • Don’t Let Phone Addict in Your Life - Use this Cell Phone Jail when someone needs to pull their nose out of their phone. Also can be used to keep other small things locked up where you lack self control!
  • Big Size- 5.9*5.12*7.48inches.Standing 7.48inch tall, this fun grey and black plastic jail comes in six easy to assemble pieces and can even incarcerate up to six mobile phones. Locked with a mini padlock with two keys.
  • Suitable for Multi Occasions- This cell phone jail is perfect for family gatherings, kids time-outs, or lessons with students.
  • What You Get:A Cell Phone Jail that can get off your phone and gather with friends or family! Our 1-year worry-free warranty and friendly customer service.

Is Brick different from Screen Time?

The main distinction is the kind of friction. Built-in tools such as Apple Screen Time and Android Digital Wellbeing use software controls, while Brick adds a physical device that a user must revisit to restore access. Brick’s site argues that ordinary limits can be easy to bypass. That is the company’s positioning, not a universal technical finding about either platform: the tools, settings, and override options vary, and this evidence does not establish that Brick is more effective in a head-to-head comparison.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

A 2025 Journal of Macromarketing analysis examined 320 digital-well-being market offerings, including apps and blockers, tangible products such as dumbphones and Faraday cages, retreats, and information products. The study frames these products as attempts to negotiate technology’s useful and distracting sides—not simply reject technology. It also raises a broader question: such tools may help individuals manage attention, but can also shift responsibility for distraction onto individuals while the incentives of the attention economy remain in place. Brick offers a personal friction tool, not a fix for those wider incentives.

Rank #3
ySky Phone Lock Box with Timer,Phone Access Blocker Device for Cell Phones, Limits Smartphone Access, Reduces Screen Time & Improves Focus,Timed Jail Locker to Help Kids,Students, Adults Focus Back
  • 【Fit for Most smartphones with Cased】:The internal size of phone lock box is about 18.3 * 8.7 * 1.5cm (7.2 * 3.4 * 0.59inch), Compatible with i-Phone 17 Series/16 /16Pro/16Plus/16Pro Max/15 /15Pro/15Plus/15Pro Max/14/14Pro/13Pro/13 /12 Pro Max /12/11/X/XR/XS/8 Serials, Sum-Sung, Hua-wei etc.(Cautions: some folding phones or with thick phone case not support.)
  • 【Two Locking Ways Optional 】: 1.Phone's Screen Face to You when locked,You can Use Phones except Games by the small holes on the lid .2.Phone's back Cover Face to You,Only Emergency Calling can use by Earphone Siri or Small Holes on the Transparent lid to answer/hang up the calling.(Please Note: for kids using ,better put phone's screen down so that they can not touch the screen,otherwise they still can use the phone by the small holes on the lid of the phone jail locker box )
  • 【TAKE CONTROL OF SCREEN TIME & BUILD BETTER HABITS】:ySky Phone Access Blocker Device for Cell Phones Easy-Carrying ,Lightweight Phone lock box , Make good Habit for Kids,Students,Adults. More respect and Love from ySky timed phone lock box ,Make their Focus Back.Lock your phone away to reduce distractions, improve focus, and take back your time. Perfect for office use, studying at school, or use to engage with friends & family while setting healthy boundaries with your screen usage.
  • 【30 days long working Time with Auto-Timer】: Max working time reach up 30days once full charge. Max setting Time is 99hrs and 59mins ,Super standby time over 90 days.ySky Phone jail lock box with timer can make you reduce screen time, focus on work, study and life, effectively multiply your time.Compact and secure, it's easy to bring anywhere—whether to work, home, car (prevents distracted driving) or on the go—offering peace of mind and total focus.
  • 【Emergency Calling Support when locked】:You can Use Earphone , Siri or Small Holes on the Transparent Cover Once important Calling Coming.There is reserved power on the motherboard of phone lock box, so It will unlock when time is up even battery runs out.

What Brick costs and what the company is selling

On its storefront, Brick lists the device at $59 and the Brick Case at $39, alongside a 30-day money-back guarantee. These are the prices and policy advertised on the company’s dynamic storefront, so verify them before buying. The Case is an accessory; the core concept is the device-and-app combination.

Brick’s support article says, “We spend an average of four hours a day on our phones — that’s nearly 60 full days a year.” The article does not name the study, publisher, year, or method behind that figure, so it should be read as a company statement rather than an independently verified population statistic.

Rank #4
Mindsight Timed Lock Box | Unplug from Phones, Video Games, Social Media, Snacks & Cravings | 3 Modes based on Willpower | Easy to Use | Out of Sight ~ Out of Mind | Boost Your Mental Wellness
  • 🔒 WHAT ITS FOR – Building better habits in today’s busy world. The Mindsight Timed Lockbox helps you disconnect from your phone and reconnect with friends & family. Use as a tool to build better screen habits, reduce consumption of snacks & cravings; build better willpower leading to a happier, healthier mind & body
  • 🔒 HOW TO USE IT – Out of Sight ~ Out of Mind. Set countdown timer and select Commitment Level. 3 unique modes allow users to select ‘Commitment Level’ ranging from simple lockbox (no timed countdown), Standard Mode (Timed Countdown w/ unlock code) & Patent Pending Fortress Mode (Timed Countdown w/ NO unlock code). Timer can be set from 1 minute up to 30 days. (Fortress Mode Override Code can be provided in emergency by emailing customer support)
  • 🔒 WHO ITS FOR – Those who spend too much time on their phones, screens, social media & other unhealthy habits and want to improve their mental and physical health by living in the moment and reducing consumption. Additionally, works for securely storing medication, ensuring it is taken as scheduled and in accordance with daily requirements
  • 🔒 WHERE & WHEN TO USE IT – fits perfectly on kitchen counter, bedside table, home office or even in the classroom & workplace. Set limits on screen time and practice when kids get home from school, family dinner time, lazy Sunday morning’s or during night time wind down (no more doom scrolling)
  • 🔒 FEATURES & SIZE – Exterior Size: 9" x 5" x 4" | Holds 3–4 phones (depending on thickness; no iPads) | Fits small items like controllers, snacks, cards & medication | Custom-designed safe-lock system prevents forced openings | Includes 2 AA batteries (approx. 6-month battery life) | Charging access slot allows users to run their own charging cable through the base so devices can charge while locked (charging cable not included)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Why Brick is approaching creators and brands

Brick’s public LinkedIn activity describes appearances and activations at Cannes Lions, SXSW, and New York Tech Week. The company says it connected with talent and creators through United Talent Agency; it names OpenAI and Gamma in the context of Cannes activity, and Willpower and Billboard in connection with SXSW. The page also includes a freelance graphic-designer solicitation. Taken together, these posts show an effort to put the product in front of creators, brands, and people working in media and technology.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

They do not, on their own, establish a formal campaign to recruit marketers, an open marketing job, paid creator terms, or a public affiliate/referral program. The distinction matters: partnership and event activity are evidence of outreach, but not proof of a specific hiring or monetization arrangement. No affiliate terms or retailer listing were verified in the cited material.

Best Value
The Brick Smartphone Access Blocker, Subscription-Free Phone Lock
  • Take Back Control of Your Screen Time: Brick is a physical device that temporarily removes distracting apps and their notifications from your phone by creating real world friction. When you're ready to reconnect, return to your brick and tap to unblock your apps. Includes 1 grey Brick.
  • Effortless Control: Brick is subscription-free and includes lifetime access to the Brick app at no additional cost. No complex setups, just more time for what matters.
  • How to Use: Open the Brick app and choose which apps or websites you want to block. Tap your phone to the Brick to activate it and turn your phone back into a tool that supports your goals. When you're ready to reconnect, simply tap again to regain access.
  • Custom Modes: Create custom modes for different parts of your day — each with its own set of blocked apps. Boost productivity in Work mode, study without distractions in School mode, and be present at home in Family Time mode.
  • Track Usage: Make digital health a daily habit. As soon as your phone is Bricked, a timer starts tracking how long you are staying focused for. You can monitor your Brick activity such as hours spent Bricked or daily average Bricked time in the app.

Who might benefit from the physical friction

Brick may be worth considering if you repeatedly override app limits, know which apps tend to pull you away, and can identify times when blocking them will not interfere with essential tasks. It is a less natural fit when work, caregiving, navigation, or urgent communication requires frequent access to the same apps you want to restrict. Before setting a mode, decide what needs to remain available and how you will handle legitimate exceptions.

  • Choose a specific situation—such as a study block or bedtime—rather than trying to restrict everything at once.
  • Identify essential apps and responsibilities before activating a block.
  • Check that your phone meets the current operating-system requirements and that the device’s return process suits your routine.
  • Judge usefulness by whether the friction changes your own habits, not by treating vendor survey figures as a personal guarantee.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.