It's a surprisingly complicated question.
You don't necessarily want to turn your phone off.
You may need to be reachable.
You may be responsible for children.
You may be waiting for an important call.
You may use your phone before or after davening.
So what do you actually do with it?
Option 1: Keep it in your pocket
This is probably the most common solution.
The problem is that the phone remains immediately available.
Even if it's silent, you know it's there.
And if you're used to checking your phone frequently, the temptation to reach for it can remain surprisingly strong.
Option 2: Put it somewhere out of sight
This is better for many people.
If you can't see the phone, you're less likely to think about it.
But if it's sitting on a bench or in a bag, it may still be within easy reach.
Option 3: Put it away completely
For some people, the simplest answer is also the most effective.
Put the phone somewhere secure.
Close it up.
And leave it alone until davening is over.
That's the thinking behind a signal-blocking pouch.
The phone remains physically with you, but you don't have to keep looking at it or wondering whether a notification has arrived.
The goal isn't the phone
This isn't really about phones.
It's about attention.
Your phone is simply one of the many things competing for it.
For some people, the solution may be leaving the phone at home.
For others, it may be turning it off.
For others, it may be placing it somewhere out of sight.
And for some, a pouch provides the physical boundary that makes that easier.
The important thing isn't finding the "perfect" solution.
It's finding a solution that helps you be more present.