Anti-Theft Phone Tether Review
A retractable anti-theft phone tether with a cut-resistant steel core, two per pack, that works just as well on keys as it does on a phone case.
This anti-theft phone tether is worth buying if you keep dropping your phone or misplacing your keys. The cable has a cut-resistant steel core and extends to 31.5 inches, and you get two in the pack so a second person in the house gets one. Easy buy.
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How this review was made: written from my own video review of this product. Every opinion here is my own, from using it myself.
| Extended length | 31.5 in |
|---|---|
| Cable | Cut-resistant steel core |
| Retraction | Hover-Lock, holds at any length |
| In the pack | 2 tethers |
| Also works with | Keys, wallet, USB drives |
Keys on a Tether Is a Retro Idea That Came Back
Watch a TV show from 20 or 30 years ago and somebody’s carrying their keys on a tether off their belt, that’s what this anti-theft phone tether on Amazon is, except retractable and built for a phone. Watch a TV show from 20 or 30 years ago and somebody’s carrying their keys on a tether off their belt. That’s what this anti-theft phone tether on Amazon is, except retractable and built for a phone. One end hooks to your belt. The other end goes in your phone case or onto a key ring. Dual form factor, and I’ve used it both ways.
I’ve left my phone on a restaurant table twice in one month. The tether has ended that, if I stand up, the cable goes taut and I feel it before I take a step.
The Steel Core Is the Part Doing the Work
Pretty good quality construction, and the cable isn’t just a cord. There’s a cut-resistant steel core running through it, which is the whole reason this gets called anti-theft instead of a lanyard. A pickpocket in a crowded mall isn’t lifting a phone that’s physically wired to your belt loop, and they’re not slicing through it with a blade in two seconds either.
The clip end feels solid. The adapter tab is thin flat plastic, and that’s the part I’d watch long-term, since it’s the piece living inside a tight phone case under constant tension. Mine’s held fine so far.
How It Mounts Without Tearing Your Case
The case install is smarter than I expected, and here’s why. Most phone cases have a small opening at the bottom, and the usual move is to thread a lanyard cord straight through it. On a rubber case that opening tears. I normally wouldn’t put anything there for that reason.
So instead you take your case off, lay the flat adapter tab inside against the back of your phone, and push the little tab out through that bottom hole. Phone goes back in, and the phone itself pins the adapter in place. Nothing is pulling on the rubber. Then the tether’s ring slides onto the tab like a key ring. Easy peasy. I’m glad they thought about this.
Once it’s on, you pull the phone out of your pocket and the cable pays out to 31.5 inches and just holds there. It doesn’t yank back while you’re trying to take a photo. That hold-anywhere behavior is the difference between this and a cheap retractable badge reel, and it’s the feature I’d actually pay for.
Quick correction on something I said on camera. I called the reach roughly 30 feet. It’s 31.5 inches. I was looking at the number, not the unit. Inches is the right amount for this job anyway, since you only need enough slack to raise the phone to your face.
The key use is underrated. I clip my house key to the tether before a run so I’m not fishing around a sweaty pocket when I get back, 31.5 inches is exactly enough reach to unlock the door without unclipping anything.
There’s Nothing to Maintain
No batteries, no app, no subscription, nothing to recharge. You clip it and forget it. The only ongoing cost is swapping the adapter tab over if you change phone cases, which means pulling the case off again for about ten seconds.
Buy It as a Two-Pack and Split It
Two come in the pack, which changed how I think about it. I kept one and my wife got the other. If you live alone, put the second one on a set of keys or a backpack zipper rather than letting it sit in a drawer.
Two things worth knowing before you order. It’s selling noticeably faster lately than it has been, sitting around #4,289 in Cell Phones & Accessories against a 90-day average near #20,088, with over 500 bought in the past month. And the current price is well under where it’s usually sat over the last three months, close to the lowest it’s been tracked at. Check today’s price on Amazon since that moves.
Pros
- Cut-resistant steel core, not just a fabric cord
- Extends to 31.5 in and holds there instead of snapping back
- Adapter tab mounts inside the case so the rubber opening doesn’t tear
- Works on keys and bags just as well as a phone
- Two in the pack
Cons
- You have to take your phone case off to install it, and redo it every time you change cases
- The adapter tab is thin plastic, the one part I’d expect to wear first
- Only useful if you wear a belt or something it can clip to
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it work with a MagSafe or wireless charging case?
The adapter sits flat against the back of the phone inside the case, so it adds a thin layer between your phone and any charging pad. If you charge wirelessly through the case, test it before you commit, or route the tab off a bag strap instead.
Can I use it without a belt?
Yes, the carabiner end clips to anything with a loop. Backpack strap, purse handle, belt loop on leggings, a jacket D-ring. A belt is just the easiest anchor because it sits at hand height.
Does it need an app or any kind of account?
No. It’s a mechanical cable, so there’s no app, no pairing, no subscription and no firmware. It also means it can’t track a phone that’s already gone, which is a different product entirely.
Clicking takes you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases β pricing and availability subject to change.
Get it now
Anti-Theft Retractable Phone Tether (2-Pack)
Get the best price on Amazon βAffiliate link. See the disclosure at the top of this post.
I bought this skeptical I’d bother clipping in every day. Three weeks later I feel slightly wrong leaving the house without it. That’s the whole review.
ποΈ Shop everything in this video
Every product mentioned, in one place. These are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
ποΈ Anti-Theft Phone Tether Retractable: check price on Amazon β
