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This pocket-sized gadget helped cut down our editor's screen time - and it's on sale

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Why This Matters

The Brick device offers a simple yet effective way to reduce screen time by physically disabling selected apps, helping users focus and unwind. Its on-sale price makes it an accessible tool for consumers seeking digital wellbeing solutions, highlighting a growing industry trend towards tech-assisted screen management. This innovation underscores the importance of physical tools in managing digital habits amidst increasing concerns about screen overuse.

Key Takeaways

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

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Save up to 25%: During Brick's back-to-school sale, you can save up to 25% off on Brick bundles. Get one Brick for $50 (15% off), two for $94 (20% off), and three for $133 (25% off).

Stuck doom-scrolling? There's a tool to help with that, whether you need to focus more on work or school, or just want to take back some of your time. Right now, the Brick, our editor's favorite device to help manage screen time, is on sale for up to 25% off.

Also: Bloom Card vs. Brick: My verdict after trying both gadgets to cut screen time

The Brick device is a magnetic square with a compatible app. Upon downloading the app, you select the apps you want to disable once your phone is bricked. Brick uses NFC to enable or disable app use. Tapping your phone on the brick, or "bricking," prevents these apps from running until the phone is tapped again and "unbricked."

Also: I bricked my iPhone to prevent doomscrolling - how life has been after six months of use

You can set up schedules to block apps at specific times of day and modes to block certain types of apps. Brick gives you five free "unbricks" you can use in an emergency, when you aren't near the physical Brick.

The Brick app on the iPhone. Nina Raemont/ZDNET

During her testing, ZDNET health and wearables editor Nina Raemont reduced her screen time by 7% in just the first week of use. Raemont still swears by the Brick for more focused work, even after months of use.

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