Best cellphone mount on your automotive in 2023, examined and reviewed

Style: Vent | Magnetic: Yes | Charging capabilities: No

PROS: Strong magnets; cellphone may be positioned to not block vent; consists of steel rings to be used with non-iPhones

CONS: On the costly facet for a easy vent mount; not suitable with spherical vents

Lisen’s MagSafe-compatible arm attaches to a brief, sturdy vent-gripper; it will probably rotate to place your cellphone above, beneath or to the facet of the particular vent, the higher to maintain scorching air from blowing on it throughout winter months. You may orient your cellphone in portrait or panorama place, no matter fits you finest. And in case you do not personal an iPhone, you should use the included peel-and-stick rings to make nearly any cellphone suitable.

Unlike many vent mounts, this one would not depend on a “pince grip” that may shake free over time. Instead, the attachment arm hooks across the again of one of many vent louvers. While it took me just a few tries to work it in correctly, as soon as it was in place, the bottom appeared rock-solid. Hasn’t moved since. While I do not love the retail value of this mount, which appears a bit excessive, I undoubtedly just like the mount itself — particularly when it is on sale.

Style: Cupholder | Magnetic: No | Charging capabilities: No

PROS: Doesn’t block vents or sprint; suitable with almost all cupholders

CONS: May take focus away from the highway; mount’s cupholder is smaller than the one it replaces 

If you don’t need a mount that blocks your air vent or exposes your cellphone to dashboard warmth, there is a third possibility: your cupholder. This caddy matches nearly any dimension (due to its expandable base) and holds your cellphone atop a telescoping arm. Whether or not that is preferable will depend on the place your cupholders are positioned. In my Kia, the positioning works fairly properly; within the van, much less so as a result of the display screen finally ends up a bit too shut.

In each circumstances, I discovered the center-console-area positioning lower than very best as a result of it takes your gaze away from the highway. But there is a potential upside: I truly like this a bit higher for the passenger than for the motive force, because it affords good positioning if the previous desires to observe a video.

Style: Dash | Magnetic: No | Charging capabilities: No

PROS: Inexpensive; sturdy nonslip base; works even with oversize cellphone circumstances

CONS: Holds cellphone solely in panorama orientation; not nice for closely curved dashboards

Don’t need your cellphone blocking an air vent? This large, sturdy, anti-slip pad places a clamshell holder atop your dashboard, preserving your cellphone securely in place with out the necessity for sticky tape (although a sq. is included right here in case your dashboard is not sufficiently flat). I do want the clamshell had room for an upright cellphone, as iPhones (and a few Android telephones) do not assist a panorama view for the Home display screen. Alas, this can be a sideways-only mounting system. That’s wonderful for sure purposes (navigation, and so forth.), however not very best for truly interacting together with your cellphone.

Style: Dash or windshield | Magnetic: No | Charging capabilities: No

PROS: Inexpensive; robust suction; strong maintain

CONS: Not deep sufficient for thick circumstances; restricted left/proper motion

I’ve by no means favored windshield mounts till I attempted iOttie’s One Touch 6, which holds the cellphone rock-steady — in contrast to the wobbly gooseneck mounts of yesteryear. You may use a peel-and-stick pad to suction it to the highest of your dashboard; both approach, a telescoping arm brings the mount ahead an additional few inches as wanted, which is good for vehicles with deep dashes or windshields. (Worth noting: iOttie additionally makes variations of this to be used with CD slots, air vents and even car screens that stick up out of the sprint.)

The mount has height-adjustable toes and clamping side-arms that spring collectively once you push the cellphone into the middle. (Hence: “one touch.”) Then you squeeze two facet levers to launch it. Although this association permits nearly any dimension cellphone to suit, the mount is a bit shallow; it will not work with an Otterbox or equally thick case. 

I additionally discovered that though the arm itself can pivot up and down, it would not go facet to facet — and there is little left/proper play within the ball joint that holds the precise mount. These are hardly dealbreakers, simply areas for enchancment. As it stands, this is a wonderful mount that I like rather a lot.

Mount type: Air vent or dashboard | Mount mechanism: MagSafe | Built-in charging: Yes

PROS: Easy to put in; wonderful instruction information; robust magnets 

CONS: Blocks air vent; would not work with spherical or crisscross vents; requires separate adapter for quick charging

iPhone customers who desire a easy, reasonably priced, powered MagSafe mount ought to check out ESR’s possibility, which may clip to a vent or mount atop a flat dashboard floor. I just like the vent possibility as a result of there’s a bit assist arm beneath that provides stability, however the draw back is you will have to shut that vent to maintain scorching air from blasting the bottom of your cellphone.

As for energy, you simply plug the included cable into certainly one of your automotive’s USB ports. That’s essentially the most handy possibility, however in order for you the 18-watt quick charging the HaloLock is able to, you will want an non-compulsory power-port adapter (like this one).