Only the large 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max gave them some trouble when held horizontally, although the mounts were rock solid with a 6-inch Pixel 2 XL. And it can tilt a full 90 degrees back or to the sides, which makes it ideal for sloping or vertical surfaces.
The MagicMount Dash’s magnetic attachment performed the best in our testing, holding even a large iPhone XS Max securely everywhere we drove. The latest iOttie models offer the best combination of fast charging, serious stability, and easy adjustability.
The Best Car Phone Mounts for 2021
A good car phone mount is an essential accessory for any vehicle that doesn’t include a built-in navigation system. Your vehicle’s DC port powers these mounts and save you from needing to plug in your phone each time you hop in the car. This budget-friendly model works on most standard car vents and can easily accommodate phones with displays up to 6.7 inches wide, including those with thick cases. Simply slide your phone in the mount and the clamps automatically slip into place for a perfect fit. When you’re ready to remove your phone, tap the button on the bottom of the mount to release the clamps. Beam Electronics Universal Smartphone Car Air Vent Mount $9.99 at Amazon See It The Beam Electronics Universal Smartphone Car Air Vent Mount features a bottom bracket for support, along with arms you press into place. And there’s no need to worry about draining your phone’s battery, as the mount offers built-in 10W Qi wireless charging. It works with Alexa’s Auto Mode and turns your phone’s display into a mini navigation panel.
Built-in microphones can easily hear your voice prompts over music and road noise, and the dock connects to your car’s speaker system via the aux jack or Bluetooth.
In addition to its support for Alexa, the Aivo Connect features 10W Qi wireless charging, an IR proximity sensor that automatically opens and grips your phone, and a twist locking mount that can attach to your dashboard or windshield. The mount supports both landscape and portrait modes; the ball joint pivots so that you can adjust your phone to any viewing angle. The 10W Qi wireless charging pad features foreign object detection and automatically turns off in hot conditions to protect your phone from overheating.
In addition to a spring-loaded arm to hold your phone in place, the Miracase has a bottom ledge for extra protection. A 360-degree rotating head allows you to quickly switch between vertical and horizontal orientations, as well as adjust the tilt angle of your phone. The mount supports wireless charging up to 10W and uses a powerful magnet array to hold your phone. With a rubberized anchor that attaches to standard air conditioning vents, the Steadiboost takes seconds to install and is easy to adjust.
Best Car Phone Mount (Review) in 2021
With decades of combined experience covering the latest news, reviewing the greatest gear, and advising you on your next car purchase, The Drive is the leading authority on all things automotive. Today’s smartphones pack over 100,000 times more power than the computers that guided astronauts to the moon and back 50 years ago.
Read on for what we hope is at least a partial answer to the smartphone take on the space-age phrase: If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we make a car phone mount that works? THIS IS A DRIVE HANDS-ON REVIEW Mike Bumbeck When he’s not wrestling with one or more first-generation Mitsubishi Monteros and other fine ‘80s-era Japanese cars and motorcycles, Mike Bumbeck evaluates a constant variety of automotive products from The Drive’s clandestine Science Barn testing facility in New England. Why Trust Us Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. These fakes were surprisingly accurate, with metal frames, glass backs, and ports and controls in the right places, just like their fully operational counterparts.
We used adhesive wheel balancing weights to hit the desired number, and even threw on a bit extra to account for cases and screen protectors. Mike Bumbeck Our heavyweight faux display phones tower over our daily driven Google Pixel 3A XL with cloth case.
We know some new car dashboards are expansive enough to create their own mirages, but a long gooseneck with a heavy slab of metal and glass mounted on one end is going to wobble. We know some new car dashboards are expansive enough to create their own mirages, but a long gooseneck with a heavy slab of metal and glass mounted on one end is going to wobble.
That mirror mount phone holder is all fine and good until the windshield adhesive or ball joint fails and drops the lot into your morning coffee. Besides, while laws against hanging things from rearview mirrors vary by state and are rarely enforced, you don’t want to give the authorities a visible reason to pull you over.
That mirror mount phone holder is all fine and good until the windshield adhesive or ball joint fails and drops the lot into your morning coffee. Besides, while laws against hanging things from rearview mirrors vary by state and are rarely enforced, you don’t want to give the authorities a visible reason to pull you over. Best Overall iOttie Easy One Touch Check Latest Price High-quality materials, a washable and reusable suction cup car mount, and an innovative snap-tight phone holder earned the iOttie Easy One Touch our best overall car phone mount pick. A quick cleanup, positioning, and one push on the locking lever fixed the suction cup firmly in place.
If the suction cup doesn’t work out, the vent-type car mount features a beefy wingnut with a threaded brass insert that cinches the jaws onto the vanes with authority. Squeezing the ratcheting side clamps secures the phone in the holder, and pressing a button releases tension for removal. Adjusting the cradle for the right viewing angle was a cinch, and the padded jaws maintained a firm grip without fail. The faux carbon fiber finish left us wishing for a grippier material, but dual mounting options and stable operation make the Anobil Easy Clamp a secure and versatile choice.
This setup is far easier to adjust and tighten down than others that put the ball joint cup and threaded ring on the phone holder’s back. The clip mounts seemed like an excellent idea for our application, but none of the rectangular dash shapes were compatible with the built-in curve of the top arm of the clamp.
The tension phone holder worked well once we peeled off a metal logo plate inexplicably stuck onto the silicone pad. Despite our best efforts, we glued on the base in the wrong direction for vertical adjustment and ran into viewing angle issues.
The magnetic phone holders have a soft-touch plastic coating with a threaded ring collar on the back for adjustment. The machined aluminum alloy mount and magnet housing had a black anodized finish, and the steel ball joint allowed for 360-degree unidirectional adjustment. Alloy construction gave the Coolpow mounts a premium feel, and the steel ball joint offered just the right amount of resistance during adjustment and held fast while driving.
Powerful magnets underneath a soft silicone pad grabbed onto the steel plate and held onto the heaviest and largest phones without slipping over rough terrain. Mike Bumbeck Our best overall car phone holder in action with an operational Samsung Galaxy Note 9 flagship heavyweight.
Best car phone mounts 2021: tested and rated
Finding yourself the best car phone mount can be the difference between making it to your destination in once piece and missing that concert you’ve been looking forward to since the start of the pandemic. That may sounds extreme, but being able to keep your phone, and the navigation app, in view isn’t as easy as you might have thought.
While they don’t tend to break the bank, the Black Friday deals season is here and offering discounts on all manner of products. Those are the oddities, the mounts that clip into things, slip into cup holders, or something else equally as strange.
The name is a mouthful, but it’ll fit in any car with a CD player and kept an iPhone 12 Pro firmly in place. Not only does it work with pretty much every phone out there, it also comes with built-in cable management to help keep your dash board tidy. Using a cup holder isn’t the most obvious place to keep your phone mount, but it works surprisingly well. Thanks to its long neck and sturdy construction, this holder will position your phone high enough so it’s easy to see while keeping it out of your field of vision. You’ll lose a place for your skinny latte of course, but that’s the price you pay for not being too hot or cold or worrying that your phone will fall at any moment.
2. iOttie Easy One Touch 4 CD Slot Mount Putting your neglected CD player to good use Specifications Price: $20 Wireless Charging: No Color: Black Orientation: 360-degree Type: CD Slot TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Amazon View at Walmart 11 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + The mount can be rotated into portrait and landscape + Using a CD player slot means you don’t lose an air vent or have to make sure it’s mounted firmly on your dashboard + The mount is strong and doesn’t move when you tap or rotate your phone Reasons to avoid – Not all cars have CD players – People who need to use the included Bracket might have a battle on their hands – No charging capabilities
Once set up, your phone isn’t going anywhere and the chances are good that your CD slot will be high enough that your screen is never more than a quick glance away. Read the full iOttie Easy One Touch 4 CD Slot Mount review
Specifications Price: $25 Wireless Charging: No Color: Silver Orientation: 360-degree Type: Vent TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Crutchfield Check Amazon Reasons to buy + The mount can be rotated into portrait and landscape mode + Construction is solid and will stand up to daily use + Cable management is a feature other mounts don’t have + Nice soft grips mean your phone won’t be damaged Reasons to avoid – There are cheaper options – The mount doesn’t charge your device – Some larger phones might not fit if they’re wearing a case Belkin included an area for you to keep your charging cable so it doesn’t fly around your car when you aren’t using it, and it’s surprisingly effective. Similar to the iOttie CD Slot Mount, the Belkin accessory is small and slim enough that it doesn’t stand out even when it isn’t being used. 4. iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Smartphone Car Mount Proving suction cups don’t have to be terrible Specifications Price: $30 Wireless Charging: No Color: Black Orentiation: Portrait and Landscape Design: Suction Cup TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Best Buy View at BHPhoto Reasons to buy + You don’t lose any air vents + Once attached it will definitely stay that way + Putting your phone into the holder is a cinch + The telescopic arm gives you more flexibility than other mounts Reasons to avoid – Getting the mount off the dash can be a real battle – Pretty big and can get in the way when not in use – As good as that suction cup is, you still need a surface to attach it to
We’ll preface this by saying that a lot of people don’t normally rate phone holders with suction cups. Like some of the best mounts, this one holds your phone rock steady when you’re driving around, and putting the device into the holder is a simple one-handed affair. Sandmarc Active Car Mount For the people who want magnetic charging Specifications Price: $60 Wireless Charging: Up to 7.5W Color: Silver Orientation: Vertical Type: Vent TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon View at Sandmarc Reasons to buy + Strong magnets to hold your phone steady + Charges your phone while you drive + Looks the part, unlike some cheaper options + Come with a charging cable in the box Reasons to avoid – Arguably on the pricey side – Works best with iPhone 12 and MagSafe, needs a magnet to use it – Clip mechanism means you need something to attach it to YOSH Car Phone Mount Holder Magnetic Air Vent The cheap and cheerful option Specifications Price: $11 Wireless Charging: No Color: Black Orientation: 360-degree Type: Vent TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Amazon 37 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + The magnets are strong and your phone won’t budge from the holder + Almost invisible when you aren’t using it + Comes with multiple magnets in the box so you can use two phones with it Reasons to avoid – You’ll lose an air vent – The mount won’t charge your phone and magnets don’t support MagSafe
The only potential issue with this holder is the fact you need to affix a disc to the back of your phone — something for the magnets to attach to, basically. The PopSockets PopMount 2 Car Dash holder has a strong suction cup that should do the trick on most dashboards.
You’ll also need to take your phone’s unique qualities into account, like if it has MagSafe or you need something that can accommodate a PopSocket or similar stand. Testing begins with making sure the holder itself is able to find a solid grip on whatever part of the car it’s supposed to attach to — windscreen, air vent, etc — and that it will hold a phone in place while driving.
From there, it’s a case of seeing how easily a phone can be inserted and removed, how well any movable parts work, and whether any additional features do their jobs well.
Best mobile phone holders 2020
Just about all of us carry phones in our cars, but holding a mobile behind the wheel is a serious offence, with penalties of up to six points and a £200 fine, plus an automatic ban for new drivers. With any, make sure your forward visionisn’t obstructed; and with phones getting ever bigger, it’s wise to check yours will fit before you buy. Allowing phones to be easily and safely fitted and removed one-handed gained extra marks.
We also entered a route into a sat-nav app and checked if vibrations made it hard to read the screen.
It came with two steel plates (circular and oblong) for fitting to the phone or case so it would ‘stick’ to the large magnet which could be twisted to any position on the ball and socket joint. Easy to fit single-handed, it worked well in landscape or portrait positions, plus was rock-solid down bumpy roads and when tapping the screen. The phone bracket was simple, with both arms springing out manually, so two hands were required to fit, although with practice we could remove it one-handed. The bracket slotted into a base on the end of its 130mm flexible arm, the obvious benefit being that it could be turned every which way as required.
Buy now from Amazon Olixar inVent Gravity Auto-Grip Universal Smartphone Car Holder 9 Price: Around £10Rating: 3 starsContact: www.mobilefun.co.ukMounting: Air vent
Best mobile phone holders 2020
Just about all of us carry phones in our cars, but holding a mobile behind the wheel is a serious offence, with penalties of up to six points and a £200 fine, plus an automatic ban for new drivers. With any, make sure your forward visionisn’t obstructed; and with phones getting ever bigger, it’s wise to check yours will fit before you buy. Allowing phones to be easily and safely fitted and removed one-handed gained extra marks. We also entered a route into a sat-nav app and checked if vibrations made it hard to read the screen.
It came with two steel plates (circular and oblong) for fitting to the phone or case so it would ‘stick’ to the large magnet which could be twisted to any position on the ball and socket joint. Easy to fit single-handed, it worked well in landscape or portrait positions, plus was rock-solid down bumpy roads and when tapping the screen. The phone bracket was simple, with both arms springing out manually, so two hands were required to fit, although with practice we could remove it one-handed. The bracket slotted into a base on the end of its 130mm flexible arm, the obvious benefit being that it could be turned every which way as required. Buy now from Amazon Olixar inVent Gravity Auto-Grip Universal Smartphone Car Holder 9 Price: Around £10Rating: 3 starsContact: www.mobilefun.co.ukMounting: Air vent
Are magnets bad for phones?
That is why a number of leading Mous products utilise magnetic force without causing any problem to your smartphone. In the slight chance that the magnets do cause interference with your phone, you can simply recalibrate your device by moving it in a figure of 8 with your arm and continue using as normal. In fact, all Mous phone accessories that boast magnetic characteristics are safe to use with whichever device you have.
Likewise with our mounts, our wallets for Mous phone cases do not cause problems to iPhones, Google Pixels, or the Samsung Galaxy models.
For example, our magnetic card holders which are compatible with our Limitless range of smartphone cases, are purposely designed with functionality in mind. Go hands-free in the kitchen with a wall mount, safely navigate the roads, and keep vital cards accessible for easy payments. With powerful materials such as aramid fibre or polycarbonate clear cases, you can relax knowing that your device will be well protected.
It’s True – A Magnetic Car Mount will NOT damage your Smartphone
From compasses to the incredible inventions of today, MRI body scanners, next-generation electric cars, even maglev floating trains and of course magnetic phone mounts, magnets have made our life more comfortable. As the expert from first4magnets, Matt Newby explained, why you might be concerned about magnets ruining your digital devices stems from an understanding of older electronic devices, such as CRT monitors (Cathode ray tube) and televisions, which were susceptible to magnetic fields. However, he then goes on to explain that, “most modern electronics, like our smartphones, are not going to be adversely affected by small magnets”.
Today, you will find a wide variety of different magnets used in many different situations, each one specifically designed for the task required—for example, the refrigerator and microwave oven.
The typical type of magnets embedded in a smartphone mount is usually tiny, discrete and not capable of interfering with your device’s signal or data. To make you feel even more confident that magnets will not affect your smartphone, check out this video.
The components or apps will not be affected if you don’t use your phone near a strong magnetic field. When it comes to magnetic interference, the speaker, the screen, the GPS module, the inbuilt compass, and the phone’s cell signal are most likely to be affected.
As I previously mentioned, the only time that the speaker would only be affected is if you were making a call otherwise, it has no impact.
Back then, CRT monitors would generate a picture by shooting an extremely focused electrons beam at a phosphorous coated glass screen and bend the beam horizontally and vertically using magnetic fields.
However, large obstacles like mountains and buildings can affect weak GPS signals and cause them to error. Within milliseconds, your phone converts the sound of your voice hitting the microphone into a digital signal which is then transmitted as radio waves across the cellular network.
At the other end, the signal is converted back into sound by your friend’s phone and played out through the speaker without any noticeable lag. In brief, your phone signal is transmitted through a massive network of cell towers, and these kinds of radio waves are immune to minor magnetic fields. As you can tell, once the metal steel which we usually use to shield a magnet gets below a critical thickness, the material is saturated. (though once you reach a specific limit, adding steel thickness won’t improve your shielding much.)
It has the security and simplicity of magnetic mounting along with the ability to wirelessly fast charge your phone at the same time; automatically aligning itself, all of which I have covered in another article Here are 5 Reasons why you really need a Magnetic Car Mount for your Phone. The testing of the MagEZ Mount Qi proves that careful and clever engineering ensures that the phone is secure and that all functionality works as expected. Coupled with the PITAKA MagEZ Case and you have the perfect combination, the best-looking case and car mount, the strongest protection and secure connection between the smartphone and the mount, and no ugly stick on metal plates anywhere to be seen.
Best car phone holders 2021: windscreen and dash mounts
Our phones have a lot of great features which now allow us to use them as a multifunctional device such as a sat nav or speakerphone for taking calls in the car. A car phone mount is designed to hold your device in the optimum position for safe viewing of the screen while driving. Well, we’ve got some good news for you – Black Friday will be here at the end of November and we’re expecting some BIG discounts this year. Belkin Car Vent Mount A low profile phone mount that leaves your windscreen clear of screens and smudges Specifications Best for: Subtlety Attachment: Air vent clip Compatible with: Smartphones up to 5.5 inches Adjustable: Yes Reasons to buy + Grips securely but gently + Low profile Reasons to avoid – You’ll need to switch the vent off if the car heating is running TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Amazon 566 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Kenu Airframe Qi Wireless Charging Car Vent Mount Support your phone and recharge wirelessly Specifications Best for: Charging Attachment: Air vent clip Compatible with: Both Adjustable: Yes Reasons to buy + Qi compatibility + Slim and well made + Dual QC 3.0 adapter Reasons to avoid – Not all phones are wireless charging TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon 85 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ This sleek option from Kenu is just the ticket, with 10W Qi wireless charging built in, saving you from having to mess around with unsightly cables.
Logitech ZeroTouch A voice assisted car phone mount for hands free navigation Specifications Best for: Hands free control Attachment: Air vent clip Compatible with: Android Adjustable: No Reasons to buy + Compatible with Alexa + No touching required Reasons to avoid – Need to download the app There is no adjustment features on this mount, but the air vent clip is sturdy and allows your phone to be at the perfect angle for viewing.
You’ll also get 360 degree ball adjustment which will allow you to find the perfect position and orientation of your screen, holding any smartphone up to 6 inches.
Yosh Magnetic Car Mount A simple yet effective design for easily mounting your phone Specifications Best for: Design Attachment: Air vent clip Compatible with: All smartphones Adjustable: No Reasons to buy + Magnetic attachment + Can hold a tablet Reasons to avoid – Requires you to stick a sticker on the back of your phone TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon 39 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
You do have to stick a magnetic sticker to the back of your phone in order for it to work, which can be a little unsightly if you have a pretty cover or coloured case. Some had trouble initially sticking this mount to their dashboard, but found a little bit of water helps it grip nicely.
Owners found this small mount to hold even larger phones very well, but some had trouble with the sticky pad staying put on their dashboard. Mpow Grip Pro 2 This mount slots into your CD player for a secure hold Specifications Best for: Anti-slip Attachment: CD insert Compatible with: Screens up to 3.5 inches Adjustable: Yes Reasons to buy + Can still play CDs + Solid and sturdy Reasons to avoid – Can obstruct view in portrait position TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon 665 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ If you’re not convinced by the sticky pads or suction clips, then this car phone mount is a sturdy and solid alternative. It is fully adjustable via swivel and tilt, although users with bigger screens have said that in a portrait position it can obstruct their view.
The mount clips to most dashboard air vents and comes with a pair of magnetic plates (one circular and one square) for sticking to the back of your phone.
Best car phone holder 2021: The easiest to use and most secure windscreen, vent and dashboard mounts
Today’s smartphones can give you easy access to satnav features with up-to-date maps and traffic info, while also allowing you to play music and podcasts as you travel. Just be aware, though, that the law is expected to change later this year, and that a wider range of interactions with your phone will be made illegal. You should stay out of trouble as long as you remain hands-free, but if you appear to be distracted by calls or by the phone screen, then you can still end up in an uncomfortable conversation at the roadside.
Set your satnav route before leaving home, and steer clear of the TikToks, WhatsApp messages and in-car selfies.
These are ideal for lighter smartphones, but the grip might not be firm enough to hold heavier devices and it also obstructs the airflow. There will, of course, have to be a cable between your car’s USB port or 12V socket and the charger, so make sure it doesn’t dangle anywhere it might obstruct your driving.
There’s also no maximum phone size to worry about – it’ll handle devices of up to 650g – and the joint means it works at a decent range of angles. Key specs – Weight: 46g; Mounting: Suction cup on windscreen; Max phone width: N/A; Colours: Black
Key specs – Weight: 130g; Mounting: Grip on air vent; Max phone width: 88mm; Colours: Black
This isn’t a massive issue if you’re happy with your phone in the conventional portrait mode, but if you’re using your smartphone as a satnav, having more horizontal screen space to work with makes more sense.
Key specs – Weight: 37g; Mounting: Grip on air vent; Max phone width: 93mm; Colours: Black and Aluminium The mount itself keeps a sure grip on your vent, rotating into horizontal and vertical positions, and there’s a little play in the ball joint to get a decent viewing angle for the screen.
Key specs – Weight: 90g; Mounting: Grip on air vent; Max phone width: iPhone 12 series and upwards only; Colours: Black The actual holder connects via a ball and socket joint into the supplied vent mount or dashboard/windscreen arm, while a suction cup on the latter hooks onto the windscreen or an adhesive silicone disc. What’s more, you’ve got the option to extend the arm through a nifty sliding bracket, giving you a good range of positions and viewing angles to work with. Key specs – Weight: 260g; Mounting: Grip on air vent/windscreen and dashboard suction cup; Max phone width: 112mm; Colours: Black
This simple, compact phone holder can be attached via its suction grip to either a windscreen or a dashboard (simply turn it upside-down to switch between the two modes). Key specs – Weight: 91g; Mounting: Suction cup to windscreen or dashboard; Max phone width: 89mm; Colours: Black, red Objectively, this is the best smartphone mount available: it’s small, avoids blocking your view, can be attached to the windscreen or dashboard and is easily moved to between vehicles. It’s also extremely stable, keeping your phone steady as you crash over Britain’s potholed streets, and has a ball and socket joint for easy adjustment.
Your phone is secured in the mount with a magnet, meaning there’s no width restriction and it’s easy to put it in place and remove it at either end of your journey. Key specs – Weight: 118g; Mounting: Suction cup to windscreen or dashboard; Max phone width: N/A; Colours: Black
Key specs – Weight: 59g; Mounting: Clip to air vent; Max phone width: N/A; Colours: Black, grey The spring-loaded arms and adjustable foot hold it firmly in place, and it’ll cope with devices up to 93mm in width, aligning the phone dead-centre to give you the best wireless charging connection.
The mount fits onto the windscreen or dashboard using an ultra-strong suction cup, while the telescopic arm pivots and extends in a wide range of positions, so you can keep your phone out of the way but in view. Key specs – Weight: 430g; Mounting: Suction cup to windscreen or dashboard; Max phone width: 93mm; Colours: Black
Best car phone holders 2021: keep your phone safe while you’re driving
Not only can the best car phone holders keep your pride and joy in pristine condition, you’ll also be able to enjoy its full potential while it’s both safe and secure to do so. We haven’t had all of these car phone holders in our test labs yet, but based on our experts’ opinion and knowledge of the most reputable brands around, we think these are worth looking at.
Our selections take into account online reviews, brand reputation, product capability, or unique features, to help you pick through the maze of choices available to you.
The Scosche MagicMount is a brilliant little phone holder that’s ingenious in that it can let you attach your smartphone if more traditional accessories aren’t quite up to the job. It’ll work a treat on many surfaces, including vertical areas of your dash as well as less practical locations where other phone holders can’t even get near. Considering it uses an adhesive pad to grip, the holding ability seems reassuringly robust, even with heavier and larger handsets.
One of the most impressive we’ve tried is the Kenu Airframe Pro, which in the tradition of car phone holders goes for a ‘less is more’ approach on the design front. Again, top marks go to iOttie for designing a unit that’s very nicely made and there are variations so you can choose between dashboard or windshield mounting, cup holder and vent editions too.
The telescopic arm on the one we tried was fab too, with an additional pivot capability that delivers plenty of scope for viewing your phone screen no matter where you’ve got it mounted. You’ll need to check the compatibility of your own handset in terms of the wireless charging feature, but aside from that there’s plenty to like about this model in all its different guises. Not so with the TechMatte edition as it attaches to a variety of dashboard vents without fuss or, indeed, leaving marks, scratches or scuffs in the process. Meanwhile, your phone is kept safe and secure thanks to a seemingly invincible magnetic mount, which delivers plenty of dependable performance.
Considering this is a budget solution the TechMatte accessory is a great option, especially if you tend to jump from one car to another, perhaps in a workplace scenario, where you won’t be too heartbroken if you accidentally leave it behind one day. Add in the ability to air-lock the pad in place and you’ve got a robust in-car solution that doesn’t leave you feeling nervous that it might suddenly pop off as you’re driving along. Going for a dashboard mounting option makes for the optimum position for an in-car phone holder anyway as it leaves your windshield free from any kind of obstruction. As with the many other models here, the Arteck Car Mount benefits from a 360-degree rotational design, which means you can easily get your handset into a prime position prior to a journey and then not have to worry about it again.
While the grip is definitely reassuringly snug, the Arteck Car Mount is still kind to your handset, which is pretty good for such an affordable bit of kit. One slight trade-off with the wide range of positioning options that come with the Exshow Car Mount is that the accessory can tend to throw a little bit of wobble into proceedings.
With its 30cm arm you’re able to move the viewing angle into many different positions and orientations, which makes the Exshow Car Mount mighty handy for taller or shorter drivers due to its generous reach. Another reason the Vicseed Car Phone Mount appeals is its ability to give a home to a wide variety of handsets. In fact, it’ll cope with just about any smartphone you can think of, although as always our advice is to check the compatibility details just in case you’re using a phone from years ago. Usefully, there’s a one-button release system, which is a really practical consideration so you don’t have to fight with the accessory if you’re stopped and want to quickly get hold of your phone.
The design is impressive and features a neat way of adjusting the cup holder clamps so that you get a snug fit that won’t move while you’re in transit. However, once it’s in position in the cradle the handset can be moved 360 degrees thanks to the gooseneck, which is solidly constructed but wonderfully flexible in equal measure.
This is another absurdly simple but really quite clever car phone holder that can give a safe, secure and road-legal home to many popular smartphones. And, perhaps more impressively, for something so unobtrusive the Yosh Car Phone Holder can keep any kind of screen in a stable position, including tablets. However, the solid grip that you get thanks to the magnetic aspect means that your smartphone (or tablet) stays nicely in place once you’ve positioned it.
The best phone holders for your car
It’s not a bad idea to keep your phone handy in the car for navigation or in case of emergencies. You often have to place a small magnetic pad inside of your case to keep the bond strong. The other popular type of mount pinches onto the sides — and sometimes the bottom — of your phone for a tighter grip.
Some options attach directly to your dashboard, while others slot nicely into your air conditioning vents. If you don’t mind a larger mount, you can even pick up adjustable versions that suction to your windshield. Belkin’s universal vent mount is our current favorite car phone holder because it offers a little bit of everything. It brings a simple design to the table, and it slots right into your car’s air conditioning vents. That simple design hides a durable construction, with arms made from aluminum rather than the more popular plastic approach.
However, Edgar found that he could push the car phone holder much further with his Pixel 3 XL and Galaxy S10 Plus. Belkin’s clever design also hides a handy cable clip, which means you can keep your phone at full power while on the go.
The Belkin vent mount isn’t cheap at $24.99, but it’s worth the money without a doubt. If you don’t have large enough or deep enough air conditioning vents, you may have trouble keeping the mount in place.
Check out our full review to learn more about the Belkin universal vent mount. While the Belkin universal vent mount is our top recommendation, keep reading below for other choices worth considering. Topgo cup holder phone mount: If you really want to keep your dash and your vents clear, why not use your cupholder? Aukey has had a turbulent year since its removal from Amazon, but the magnetic car phone holder remains one of our favorites.
Once you attach the suction cup to your dashboard or windshield, you can adjust the curved arm for the perfect view. Edgar had the chance to test this mount out and found that its design is the perfect solution to freeing up dashboard space.
Right now, the Aukey magnetic mount will set you back $25.99, and you’ll have to head straight to the source to pick it up. Edgar found that the materials and overall build felt cheap, and there’s always the drawback of attaching a plate to your phone. In front of the main slot, you’ll also find a small notch to store your charging cable. The Loncaster mount offers a small amount of tray space, which is handy for loose change and parking validation. Loncaster’s extra grip can be a double-edged sword, however, as the silicone tends to pick up dirt and dust quickly. According to Edgar, you can toss the car phone holder around and put it through a lot, just be ready for a long cleaning process.
The flexible arm works a bit like a bendy straw in that you can twist it and wiggle it into any position you can imagine. Just be careful if you let your kids sit in the front seat — they may find completely new ways to reposition the arm.
Scosche’s MagicMount Dash is a bit like the iOttie iTap in that it sits right on your dashboard and relies on a magnet. Scosche added a small rubber grip to the backplate, which is gentler on your expensive devices than plastic or metal.
There aren’t too many moving parts on the MagicMount Dash, but that doesn’t mean you lose flexibility. You can adjust the ball-shaped head for tons of different angles, and your phone always stays tight to the dashboard.
Scosche picked a tough magnet, too, and Edgar had no troubles keeping his phone in place on rocky roads. It doesn’t feel the best, and the rubber grip tends to pick up dirt quickly.
Automatic mounting and an adjustable arm make the Easy One Touch 4 stand out from the crowd. The large silver iOttie button hides a mechanism that tightens when pressed, instantly trapping your phone in place. The Easy One Touch 4 won’t blend in with very much at all, but the price isn’t bad for what it offers. The Logitech Plus Trip is a tiny gray disk that attaches to your air conditioning vent and uses a single magnet for stability.
The vent prongs actually house a small cable management slot, but you’d never know at first glance. However, you’ll have to make sure that your charging cable is all the way in the slot, otherwise, it may weaken the grip on your vent. Vent mounts tend to skew small to keep the weight down, but Mpow is large and in charge. Mpow’s car phone holder costs just $15.20 at Walmart, but you won’t find the retailer on Amazon these days.
Supports plenty of large phones Cons Cheap build quality
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