Bought the Rock Q16 electric suction phone holder at Changi Airport Metapod for $49. Thought electric suction would be more stable than regular clamps for my Singapore to Tokyo flight.
After 1 month of use? Not worth it for airplane use. Battery dies too fast, button too easy to press accidentally, and that suction sound is embarrassingly loud on a quiet plane.
Let me save you $49 and explain why this isn’t the solution for plane travel you think it is.
Quick Take
- Price: $49 at Changi Metapod (seen $30-40 online)
- Best for: Car use where you can keep it charged
- Not good for: Airplane travel (battery dies, loud noise, button issue)
- Skip if: You only fly occasionally – get $10 clamp holder instead
- My rating: 2/5 stars for plane use, maybe 3.5/5 for cars
What You Get – Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Rock Q16 RPH1016 |
| Type | Electric vacuum suction + MagSafe |
| Power | Built-in rechargeable battery |
| Mounting | Suction cup (needs smooth surface) |
| Phone Support | MagSafe compatible (iPhone 12+) |
| Adjustment | 360° rotation, 3-axis movement |
| Charging | USB-C (cable included) |
| Where I Bought | Metapod store, Changi Airport T3 |
| Price Paid | SGD $49 |
Source: Personal purchase, Rock official specs
Why I Bought This
So I was at Changi heading to Tokyo. 7 hour flight. Wanted something to hold my iPhone 16 Pro Max on the tray table so I could watch stuff without holding it.
Saw this Rock Q16 at Metapod store. Sales guy said “electric suction is much stronger than normal clamps, won’t fall off even with turbulence.”
Sounded good. Regular clamp holders sometimes slip when tray table moves. Electric vacuum suction seemed like upgrade. Paid $49, figured it’s worth it for comfort on long flights.
Spoiler: Should’ve just bought the $10 clamp holder.
First Use – Singapore to Tokyo
Ok so I’m on the plane. Seat 42A. Tray table down. Pull out the Rock Q16.
Press the power button. Holder activates.
**WWWWWWWWWWW**
The vacuum pump makes this loud whirring noise. Like a mini vacuum cleaner. Everyone around me turns to look. Guy next to me raises eyebrow.
Awkward, lah.
But ok, it’s working. Stick my iPhone 16 Pro Max on the MagSafe mount. The suction is indeed strong – phone stays put even when I adjust the tray table angle.
Watch a movie. Works fine. Holder doesn’t move at all during turbulence which is impressive.
Battery lasted the whole 7 hour flight no problem.
The Problems Started
Power Button Too Easy to Press
So after landing, I pack the holder in my backpack. Don’t think much about it.
Few days later in Tokyo, pull it out to use again. Battery completely dead.
Realize what happened: The power button is press-and-hold to activate. But in my bag, something kept pressing against it. Maybe my laptop, maybe other stuff. The holder kept trying to activate suction, draining battery.
This is a major design flaw. The button has no lock, no protection. Too easy to trigger accidentally.
Battery Dies By 3rd Use
Charged it fully in Tokyo hotel. Used it on return flight Singapore. Worked fine again.
But by my 3rd flight use? Dead. Battery couldn’t hold charge anymore.
According to LISEN electric holders (similar product), these should last 7-14 days on full charge. Rock Q16 died way faster. Maybe because of all the accidental activations in my bag, maybe just poor battery quality.
Either way, having to charge your phone holder before every flight defeats the whole “convenience” purpose.
That Loud Suction Sound
Can’t overstate how loud this thing is when activating. In a quiet airplane cabin before takeoff, everyone hears it.
It’s not just the initial activation – if you touch the bottom button area, it keeps trying to re-establish suction. More loud whirring noises.
On my return flight, accidentally triggered it 3 times trying to adjust the angle. People definitely annoyed.
Needs Perfectly Smooth Surface
The electric suction only works on very smooth surfaces. Most airplane tray tables are ok, but if there’s any texture or scratch, suction fails.
Tried using it on my desk at home – has slight wood grain texture. Wouldn’t stick properly. Keeps losing suction and making that noise trying to re-attach.
Regular clamp holders work on any surface. This one is picky.
Source: Personal testing over 1 month, 3 flights
When It Actually Works
To be fair, when the Rock Q16 works, it works well:
- The MagSafe connection is strong – phone doesn’t slip
- 360° rotation is smooth, can adjust angle easily
- Suction is genuinely stronger than normal clamps during turbulence
- Holds my heavy iPhone 16 Pro Max with case no problem
But these benefits don’t outweigh the problems for airplane use.
Better Alternatives for Plane Travel
Here’s what you should get instead:
| Option | Price | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ugreen Airplane Phone Holder | $10-15 | Cheap, no battery, quiet, MagSafe | Less stable in turbulence |
| YKI Rotatable Clamp | $12-18 | Simple clamp, works anywhere, no power needed | Not MagSafe (uses adjustable grip) |
| LISEN Electric Suction | $35-45 | Similar to Rock but better battery (7-14 days) | Still has loud suction noise |
| Rock Q16 | $49 | Strong hold, MagSafe | Battery dies fast, loud, button issue |
Source: Lazada SG, Amazon, personal comparison
My Recommendation
For plane travel: Get the Ugreen or YKI clamp holder for $10-15. No battery to die, no loud noise, works fine for watching movies.
For car use: Rock Q16 or LISEN might be worth it cause you can keep them charged via USB. The stronger suction helps on bumpy roads.
Who Should Buy Rock Q16?
Buy It If:
- You mainly use it in car where you can keep it plugged in
- You need strongest possible hold (delivery drivers, rough roads)
- You fly business class with bigger tray tables and don’t care about noise
- You’re ok with charging another device regularly
Skip It If:
- You only need it for occasional flights
- You pack phone holder in bag (button will activate accidentally)
- You’re self-conscious about loud noises on plane
- You want simple no-fuss solution
Real Talk After 1 Month
Look, I wanted this to work. I really did. The idea of electric vacuum suction sounded like the premium solution for phone holders.
But in reality? It’s over-engineered for airplane use.
The battery dying by 3rd use is unacceptable for a $49 product. The accidental button activation in bags is a design oversight. The loud suction noise is embarrassing in quiet cabins.
I’ve gone back to using a simple $12 clamp holder I bought from Shopee. Works just as well for watching movies on planes. No battery, no noise, no problems.
The Rock Q16 now sits in my drawer. Might use it in car if I remember to charge it. But for planes? Waste of money.
What Rock Should Fix
If Rock reads this (they won’t but whatever):
- Add a power lock switch. Prevent accidental activation in bags.
- Better battery. Should last at least 5-7 uses minimum, not 3.
- Quieter pump. The vacuum doesn’t need to be that loud.
- Battery indicator. Would be nice to know charge level before flight.
Final Verdict
Rock Q16 electric suction phone holder: 2/5 stars for airplane use.
The concept is good but execution has too many problems. Battery dies fast, button activates accidentally, loud suction noise annoys people around you.
For $49 at Changi Metapod, you’re better off buying 3-4 simple clamp holders and still have money left over.
If you’re a driver who needs super strong mount and can keep it charged? Maybe worth it. But for Singapore travelers flying from Changi? Skip this and get the $10 Ugreen holder instead.
Lesson learned: Sometimes simple mechanical solutions beat fancy electric ones. Don’t need a battery-powered vacuum pump to hold your phone on a tray table, you know?
Save your $49 for something actually useful. Like extra luggage weight or airport lounge access.
