I just spent 75 minutes analyzing Swippitt’s popup strategy, and honestly? They’re making some expensive mistakes.

For those who don’t know me, I help DTC tech brands turn traffic into cash through email lists that actually convert—without bribing people with discounts.

My goal? Help you build email lists that sell through education, not desperation.

OK, here’s Orbitkey's popup:

About Swippitt

Swippitt caught my eye because they’re tackling a universal pain point—dead phone batteries at the worst moments.

This startup debuted at CES 2025 with their “Instant Power System.”

It’s pretty genius.

It swaps your phone’s battery in just 2 seconds. No more waiting for 30+ minutes to charge!

The system costs $450 for the hub plus $120 per phone case. They target iPhone users who care more about time than money. This is a smart move for a premium product.

Swippitt stands out from other brands that offer “10% off” on their popup.

Instead, it aligns itself with premium companies like Apple and Dyson. But they’re missing some key optimizations.

Here’s what I found:

Timing and presentation

The popup triggers about 10 seconds after the page loads.

What they’re doing well: The 10-second delay gives visitors time to briefly understand the product before interrupting their experience.

Here’s what they could do better: The popup completely takes over the entire screen on both desktop and mobile, creating a jarring interruption that feels a little too aggressive for a premium brand.

Here’s how I’d fix it: Increase the timing to 60 seconds. And use a smaller popup so it doesn’t cover the whole screen. This way, visitors can poke around on the site first and still see the website behind the popup when it triggers, which helps them feel less trapped.

Headline effectiveness

What they’re doing well: “Swippitt Pre-orders sold out” shows scarcity and social proof right away.

Here’s what they could do better: The headline focuses on what’s unavailable rather than what people can get right now. This negative framing could stop people from acting after such a strong full-screen interruption.

Here’s how I'd fix it: Use “Join over 5,000 people for early access to Swippitt” or “Be the first to know when Swippitt is back in stock.” Focus on the benefits of joining, especially after such a strong introduction.

Offer strategy

What they’re doing well: They completely avoid the discount trap and create urgency with “sold out” messaging.

Love this.

Here’s what they could do better: The phrase “First to hear when Swippitt is released for sale” is vague. It doesn’t explain why a full-screen takeover is needed in the popup. Visitors deserve better value for that kind of interruption.

Here’s how I’d fix it: Be clear and offer quick benefits. Something like, “Grab a free ‘Battery Optimization Guide’ while you wait.” Give them something valuable for free in an educational lead magnet.

Here are a few other things I noticed about Swippitt’s popup…

Mobile vs desktop experience

What they’re doing well: The popup design is consistent on all devices. It uses the same burnt orange color scheme and lifestyle image.

Here’s what they could do better: Full-screen takeover feels too aggressive on mobile. Screen space is limited. Also, both versions use the same copy, even in different contexts where a desktop and mobile user may have different intentions.

Here’s how I’d fix it: Try a less invasive mobile experience. Maybe a slide-up from the bottom that covers 70% of the screen instead of 100%. Also, tweak the messaging for quick decisions on mobile.

Close/exit options

What they’re doing well: The X button is clearly visible in the top right corner on both devices.

Here’s what they could do better: They could improve by offering a follow-up after the full-screen popup. Some people may close it but still want lighter engagement.

Here’s how I’d fix it: After closing the full-screen popup, show a small banner. It can offer “charging tips” or “restock alerts via SMS.” This gives people an easy option after the main request.

Call-to-action button

What they’re doing well: The button text “Join the 5,000+ waitlist” reinforces the social proof number from the description copy above.

Here’s what they could do better: The CTA is purely action-focused without reinforcing the value or outcome—it tells people what to do but not what they’ll get from doing it.

Here's how I'd fix it: Try “Get my restock alert” or “Secure my priority access”—these reinforce the personal benefit while making the value clear. The button should remind people why they want to join, not just how to join.

Pulling it all together

Swippitt’s popup is clean and functional but missing conversion optimizations that could improve their waitlist signups.

These fixes focus on better timing, clearer value propositions, and device-specific experiences—all while maintaining their premium positioning.

These improvements emphasize education over discounts, which is exactly what a $450 product needs to succeed.

Here's my fixed Swippitt popup:

And here's a before-and-after view:

See the differences?

These 5 fixes could easily boost Swippitt’s waitlist conversions. And if you’re running a DTC tech brand, you might be making similar mistakes.

Quick tips

→ Time popups based on engagement signals: Let people understand your product before interrupting their experience

→ Lead headlines with customer outcomes: People buy results, not processes or features

→ Make “early access” specific and valuable: “30 days early + bonus guide” beats “early access” every time

Why I do these breakdowns

Your email list should be your most valuable sales asset—not just a discount club.

That starts by rethinking how you ask for the opt-in.

If you’re ready to upgrade yours, let’s talk.

Which brand should I analyze next?

I’m always looking for DTC tech companies that are doing cool things with popups and email strategies.

Hit reply and let me know.

Until next time, see ya! 👋

Gannon

P.S. I only do 5 of these teardown calls per week (they take serious prep time). If you want yours, grab a slot before they fill up: Book a free, quick call here​