iMore Verdict
Price: $120Bottom line: The electronics sanitizer works with smartphones big and small and kills most germs in just five minutes.
Pros
- +
Quick cleaning time
- +
On/off button
- +
Six color choices
Cons
- -
Pricier than other solutions
- -
Not big enough for tablets
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When was the last time you cleaned the surface of your iPhone? How about the rest of its body? If you're like most users, you probably don't remember. Without regular cleanings, there's something disgusting happening on your handset that's naked to the human eye. Germs, many of them dangerous, are growing on your iPhone 24/7.
With the new PhoneSoap Pro, you can remove those germs in just five minutes using UV-C light. Featuring a larger bay and quicker cleaning time than previous PhoneSoap models, including the PhoneSoap HomeSoap, the PhoneSoap Pro is perhaps the company's best product to date. It's also colorful, as you'll see below.
For Amazon Prime Day 2020, there's a chance you'll find huge discounts on PhoneSoap products. Whether this includes the impressive PhoneSoap Pro remains to be seen.
A real need
What is the PhoneSoap Pro?
We use our iPhones everywhere we go. As they get carried around each day, the devices come into contact with various surfaces, such as desks, tables at Starbucks, and (yuck) public bathroom sinks. Along the way, they pick up germs and become a cesspool for bacteria. (Sorry about that lunch.)
According to a University of Arizona study, an office desk, where many iPhones reside over 40 hours per week, has hundreds of times more bacteria per square inch than an office toilet seat. At the same time, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found fecal matter present on one out of every six smartphones.
In its research, PhoneSoap found that a smartphone has 18x more bacteria than a public restroom.
It notes, "Your phone breeds more bacteria, too. Your phone's battery keeps it warm, and when it's stored in warm, dark places like your pocket or purse, the bacteria multiply."
The PhoneSoap Pro
To kill these germs, PhoneSoap uses UV-C light in all of its products, a type of light that uses a short-wave, ultraviolet light that can break apart virus DNA. UV-C can also neutralize those ever-pesky superbugs that have developed a resistance to antibiotics.
The PhoneSoap Pro uses twice the bulbs as the less expensive PhoneSoap 3. More bulbs mean 99.99 percent of bacteria are killed in around five minutes. The Pro model also has a larger sanitizing bay than previous models, which makes it ideal for larger smartphones or those with hefty cases. The cleaner is also ideally suited to disinfect other accessories such as AirPods and Apple Watch.
The newer model also turns on automatically whenever you open, then close the case. Alternatively, you can start the sanitization process manually by touching a button at the top.
Like other PhoneSoap units, the Pro has a so-called "acoustic outlet" that lets you hear notifications and alarms while your phone is being sanitized. Built-in USB-C and USB-A plug are available to charge your devices also.
About the Coronavirus
According to PhoneSoap:
PhoneSoap has been tested and clinically proven to kill 99.99% of Influenza type A, an enveloped virus similar to the coronavirus. PhoneSoap has also been tested to kill strong bacteria such as Staph aureus.
Easy setup
PhoneSoap Pro review: What I like
There's a lot to love about the PhoneSoap Pro and honestly, little not to like. As an original PhoneSoap owner, I'm most impressed with the quicker sanitization time of the newer model. Five minutes versus 10 doesn't sound like a big deal, but the time savings adds up, especially in a home where there are multiple devices.
Then there's the size, of course. The interior dimensions of 7.13-by-4.38-by-0.72 inches make it suitable for most smartphones and other devices.
When preparing this PhoneSoap Pro review, I was also impressed with the device's nano suction feet that allow it to attach to any surface firmly. With more stability, it's easier to open and close the tool. And then there's the color choices. The PhoneSoap Pro is available in six colors, including black, white, red, blue, purple, and green, allowing you to match your style.
Costly
PhoneSoap Pro review: What I don't like
The PhoneSoap Pro's quicker cleaning time and larger bay come at a cost, which some users might rather not spend. The Pro unit is $40 more than PhoneSoap 3, and $20 more than both the PhoneSoap Go and PhoneSoap Wireless.
But PhoneSoap produces some of the best UV phone sanitizers on the market, so I found the premium price worth it since I no longer have to remove the case on my iPhone 11 Pro Max prior to cleaning. Additionally, I appreciate being able to clean other devices, such as my AirPods Pro, keys, and other small objects with ease. You'll have to decide whether the extra cost is worth it for your home.
Is the PhoneSoap Pro big enough?
If you're also looking for a solution that also cleans iPads and other devices, you should consider the $200 PhoneSoap HomeSoap. Offering the same disinfecting power as the original PhoneSoap, the HomeSoap is big enough for the iPad Pro and Nintendo Switch.
Consider it, but ...
PhoneSoap Pro review: The Bottom Line
PhoneSoap offers a growing lineup of germ-killing devices for owners of smart devices. The PhoneSoap Pro is the company's quickest cleaner to date and holds larger phones than similar products. Buy this product when you have more than one smartphone to clean and also want to disinfect smaller items like AirPods.
An impressive choice
When you want to kill the germs on your iPhone or other devices quicker, this is the PhoneSoap to purchase.
Have any questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about the PhoneSoap Pro or similar products, let us know below.
