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iPhone 12 How do you hold your iPhone 12?

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Seanm87

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Oct 10, 2014
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This may seem like a strange question but I’m having all sorts of difficulty with my iPhone 12.

This is my 3rd attempt at trying to use this phone. For some baffling reason I get bad hand pain/strain when using this boxed design. This isn’t something that happens when I’ve been holding it for long periods of time, it happens pretty much in seconds of using it.

I am coming from a XS so it is a small step up in size but it is worth noting I used to have a XR for 2 years which is both an overall bigger phone and much heavier phone with absolutely no issues.

The way I’m holding it is basically having it rest on my pinky same as before with my 3 fingers resting on the back and the thumb being used to scroll on the screen. I do this sometimes with 2 hands but doesn’t seem to make any difference.

It’s really frustrating as it doesn’t feel like my hand is straining when holding it, and the pain/discomfort mostly seems to be in my wrist and base of fingers. Almost like its the ligaments instead of the muscles. I can’t seem to find anything online about this either, there are a few complaints of the squared sides being uncomfortable but nothing about actual hand pain. Feels like I’m the only person out of the millions of 12 users that has this issue.

I just want to know did anyone else have to adjust the way they hold their phone after going to this design, and if so in what way? Or is it just a case of just keep using it and my hand will adjust to the design?

I did try the mini as an alternative, it was fine but didn’t like the small screen.
 
I hold it the same as you and notice no issues in my wrist or fingers. I do feel the weight of it, but it hasn’t bothered me at all. What may help is adding a popsocket to the back of the phone. That will “lift” off some of the weight when you hold it through there so it won’t put so much strain on your wrist.
 
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Depending on your palm/finger size and the shape/weight difference compared to XS, perhaps do not use it one-handed at all? You can then hold it properly in one hand and use the index finger & the thumb of your other hand to navigate. I could occasionally manage to use my iPhone 11 one-handedly, yet it was never comfortable. Now that I use mini, all problems solved. ✌️
 
I ran into this problem as well (coming from an 11 pro), and it was quite painful. A pop socket sort of worked but I still had a strain in my thumb from reaching to the far corner of the screen one handed. Even though the screen only went from 5.8 to 6.1 inches, it was enough to make a difference in how much screen I could actually reach, and the flat edges didn’t help. As much as I would love to have the extra features of the pro, I really value one handed usage, so I bought a mini and my hand feels great now.
 
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I experienced this with the 12 and 12 Pro. I don’t recall experiencing it with the mini or the Max. I felt it most in the knuckles closest to the palms. I stopped using the phone in that hand for a day and used some ice at one point. Pretty crazy to think about lol It helped though. I guess overtime my hand just got used to it. No more irritation.
 
GeeMillz22 said:
I experienced this with the 12 and 12 Pro. I don’t recall experiencing it with the mini or the Max. I felt it most in the knuckles closest to the palms. I stopped using the phone in that hand for a day and used some ice at one point. Pretty crazy to think about lol It helped though. I guess overtime my hand just got used to it. No more irritation.
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That’s reassuring to know you adapted to it. My pain is in the exact same place in the knuckles. Are you still using the 6.1 12 now?
 
Like this, with pinky finger resting under the ports. Hence why sharp cut outs are bad for me and I encourage case manufacturers to not create sharp cut outs.
 

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Seanm87 said:
That’s reassuring to know you adapted to it. My pain is in the exact same place in the knuckles. Are you still using the 6.1 12 now?
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No, I switched back to the 12 Pro Max a couple of days ago. Up until that point I had no more pain or irritation though. My guess is the new dimensions of the 6.1” models require the right amount of bend in the fingers to cause a little bit of irritation. Never happened with the 5.8 Pro or 6.1 11.
 
For me it all depends what case I use. I used to get pinky strain when using my old note but I put that down to size and weight. I guess I’ve been so used to bigger and heavier that this is a breath of fresh air with my 12.

Granted I get the odd ache but it’s nothing too bad.

Right handed, pinky resting under the mic, index finger rests under the camera to the middle of the device and middle finger and last finger balances the edge of the device.
 
Presently I use the 12 cupped in both hands and typing with both thumbs. Occasionally I’ll one hand it with my my pinkie in the bottom, middle and ring finger cupping the left, index on the back and thumb used for typing
 
Sometimes with my left hand, sometimes with my right hand, sometimes with both hands, haven't tried with my feet yet. 🤔🦶📱
 
If on a call, I like to hold my right thumb just under the power button and 3 of my four left hand fingers along the other edge just under the volume buttons. My pinky usually dangles on or just just below the edge of the phone. If I try and put my pinky under the phone against the ports, I find it to be a very unnatural way to hold the phone.
If I am typing, I hold the phone lower with my pinky supporting it under the ports. My other fingers support the rear of the phone.
None of this is in any way uncomfortable for me nor cause any pain.
 
jimmy_uk said:
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I'd laugh but I just watched a fascinating piece on a ballerina in Brazil born without arms - Vitoria Bueno. That's how she uses her phone. An amazing girl.

I don't have problems holding my 12 Pro Max in my hand but I do use a case - a heavy Otterbox Defender case at that. I like its rounded edges with a very positive patterned grip to them.
 
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sparksd said:
I'd laugh but I just watched a fascinating piece on a ballerina in Brazil born without arms - Vitoria Bueno. That's how she uses her phone. An amazing girl.

I don't have problems holding my 12 Pro Max in my hand but I do use a case - a heavy Otterbox Defender case at that. I like its rounded edges with a very positive patterned grip to them.
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Why not laugh?
i had my left arm blown off just below the elbow about 30 years ago from an IED and i find it funny, but i rest my 12pm on my pinky, fingers around the back and sometimes will press it into my hand with my left stump, but mostly i find it comfortable as a one handed phone, it actually feels more secure with the squared off sides then the 6s thru the 11pm...
 
I don’t have a 12 but my wife has a XR and struggled with the size after switching from her 6s. Got her an OtterBox symmetry with a pop socket integrated into the back and she absolutely loves it. When I got my SE I ended up getting the same thing even though it’s a smaller phone. It’s nice to have a little handle while watching videos and a kickstand available all the time.
 
I have small hands for my height. I've always struggled with sleight of hand magic tricks.
Although I'm right handed, I use my phone with my left hand. I hold my phone the same as you: index finger, middle finger, and ring finger resting on the back of the phone; pinky finger centered at the bottom where the lightning cable goes; and my thumb to scroll. The only issues I run into is, sometimes the joints on my thumb become stiff from doing the same motion repeatedly or the case I have on my phone at the time will leave a deep imprint into my pinky, causing pain and one side of the imprint to turn purple. I'll either switch the phone to my right hand or adjust my grip so the pinky is at the bottom left-hand corner of the phone (the other fingers stay in the same position).

iPhone 12 Pro Max for reference, but this is how I've held all of my previous smartphones, including the iPhone XS Max.
 
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