NBC Staffers Test the Brick, a Physical Phone-Blocking Puck

A device called the Brick, part app and part physical puck, promises to curb mindless phone scrolling in a way that's harder to override than typical screen-time tools. NBC Select had five staffers test it for two weeks to see whether it delivers.

The Brick works as both a smartphone app and a small physical object. Once a phone is "Bricked," access to chosen apps — or all apps — is blocked until the phone is tapped against the physical puck. Unlike most screen-time apps, which can be disabled from within the app itself, the Brick cannot be turned off remotely if the puck isn't nearby. Users get five emergency unBricks through the app, but replenishing them requires emailing customer support.

One Brick costs $59 with no subscription fee, and it can be shared across multiple phones in a household. Users can block all apps, block specific apps, or allow only certain apps while blocking the rest. The app also supports up to 10 automated modes or schedules that Brick the phone at set times or days.

Updates editor Mili Godio said she tried the Brick after already using a paid screen-limiting app and hearing social media buzz about the product. She keeps the physical puck on her fridge at night and in her work bag during the day, finding it works best when she can't see it. During work hours, she blocks specific apps like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest, while blocking everything at bedtime. Her longest stretch with the phone Bricked was eight hours during a workday.

Godio said she relied heavily on scheduled Bricking for work and bedtime routines, and that the feature helped her go to bed earlier, get more work done and stick to journaling goals. Her main complaint was the on-screen timer showing how long the phone had been Bricked, which she said made her anxious about what she might be missing.

Associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris said she was drawn to the Brick's physical component as a non-digital reminder to put the phone down, noting that evenings after work were when she most struggled with unplanned phone use. She typically places the puck on a table or kitchen counter.