It’s worthwhile to put down your cellphone if you drive. There’s a cause why it’s unlawful in 19 U.S. states to carry an digital machine whereas driving. The very best automobile cellphone mounts assist drivers in every single place comply with the legal guidelines and keep protected, whether or not they need to comply with a map, maintain a hands-free dialog, take heed to a podcast, or rock out to music.
Our specialists have been writing about mobile telephones, auto equipment, and protected driving for over twenty years. Over time, we’ve tried dozens of cellphone holders mounted to numerous places inside numerous vehicles. We’ve seen what occurs to window-mounted suction cups within the warmth of summer season (and the lifeless of winter). And on a number of events, we’ve needed to pull over to the aspect of the highway to retrieve a cellphone that we thought was safe from wherever it tumbled onto the ground.
After vetting dozens from spec sheets and on-line critiques, we selected 11 cellphone mounts. These ranged in value from $14 to $100. Just a few have been neglected of this last information for numerous causes. Some have been too troublesome to make use of, didn’t cost telephones, or wouldn’t be launched to the general public for some time. The remainder have been evaluated in quite a lot of real-world highway situations to see how nicely the cellphone mounts held their very own.
Beneath are one of the best automobile cellphone mounts based mostly on our testing. That can assist you discover one of the best automobile cellphone mount in your distinctive wants, we’ve included a Purchaser’s Information, a Value & Worth part, and a Comparability Chart.
For our November 7, 2024 replace, we added a Value & Worth part to point out what patrons get with totally different value factors.
The Greatest Automobile Cellphone Mounts of 2024
Attachment Level:
Vent
Attachment Technique:
Retractable hook, rubber brace on vent slats
Charging:
Non-compulsory
MagSafe Appropriate:
Sure
Minimalist design with premium supplies
Straightforward to put in and alter
Consists of USB-C charging twine and 12V automobile adapter
Routing clips decrease stray cords round sprint
Non-charging model accessible for $35 much less
Costly
Could require a Peak Design case or common adapter
Scott Tharler
Attachment Level:
Headrest
Attachment Technique:
Spring-loaded
Charging:
No
MagSafe Appropriate:
No
Very cheap
Tremendous easy to put in
Accommodates all kinds of machine sizes
Straightforward to angle and lengthen
Might be laborious to search out on-line
Scott Tharler
Attachment Level:
Dashboard
Attachment Technique:
Clips into dashboard seams
Charging:
Non-compulsory
MagSafe Appropriate:
Non-compulsory
Made for particular automobile fashions
Nicely-constructed
Doesn’t cling off the vent slats
Simply repositioned, eliminated
Comparatively costly
Base and holder are bought individually
Requires meeting
Non-charging model is portrait-only
Scott Tharler
Attachment Level:
Sprint
Attachment Technique:
Adhesive to sprint
Charging:
No
MagSafe Appropriate:
Sure
Minimal footprint on sprint
Tremendous sturdy magnet
Straightforward to tilt into place
A part of an expandable ecosystem
No charging
Adhesive to sprint, not simply repositioned
Scott Tharler
Attachment Level:
Vent, sprint
Attachment Technique:
Rubber brace (vent), Adhesive base (sprint)
Charging:
No
MagSafe Appropriate:
Sure
Easy set up
Straightforward one-handed operation
A number of mounting choices
Comparatively cheap
No built-in charging
Not as sturdy as different choices
Scott Tharler
Attachment Level:
Vent
Attachment Technique:
Retractable hook, rubber brace on vent slats
Charging:
Sure
MagSafe Appropriate:
Sure
Quick 15W wi-fi charging
Snazzy design
Can set off NFC shortcuts
Model accessible particularly for Tesla fashions
Feels plasticky
Studying curve to make NFC shortcuts work
Scott Tharler
Attachment Level:
Window, sprint
Attachment Technique:
Suction cup
Charging:
Sure
MagSafe Appropriate:
No
Mechanically opens and closes
Quick wi-fi charging
Comes with an 18W USB charging adapter
Extremely adjustable double-jointed design
LED depth mechanically adjusts to surrounding gentle
Obstructs driver’s view
Doesn’t work as nicely on textured surfaces
Solely auto-opens and closes when powered
Scott Tharler
Attachment level:
Between automobile seat and middle console
Attachment technique:
Slides between
Charging:
Sure
MagSafe appropriate:
Sure
Distinctive placement subsequent to seat
Tremendous sturdy development
Mechanically closing charging cradle
Cellphone display screen is nearer than in sprint, vent and window mounts
Built-in compartment holds small objects
On the expensive aspect
Some meeting required
Have to look down extra to see cellphone display screen
Scott Tharler
Automobile Cellphone Mount Comparability Chart
How We Examined Automobile Cellphone Mounts
Our Skilled Tester
GearJunkie is aware of vehicles, and our workers is aware of their autos in and out. Lead tester Scott Tharler has been writing about automobile equipment for 25 of the 35 years he’s been a licensed driver.
A vent mount is an efficient stability between cellphone entry and windshield visibility; (picture/Scott Tharler)
In that point, he’s logged a whole lot of hundreds of miles behind the wheel, crisscrossing the U.S. within the early days and, extra lately, taking his three children to their each day actions. Alongside the best way, Tharler has used and written about myriad gadgets, together with third-party Bluetooth speakerphones, backup cameras, cellphone boosters, and lots of different devices that plug into audio jacks, USB, 12-volt adapters, and OBD-II ports.
Our Testing Course of
Throughout a number of weeks of real-world testing, we put in eight automobile cellphone mounts — often with a number of models side-by-side. We caught an encased Google Pixel 6 Professional and iPhone 15 loaded into a number of mounts. With these secured, we drove over curbs, speedbumps, and gravelly stretches of highway (along with clean pavement simply round city). The purpose was to imitate the situations the typical driver faces each day whereas bouncing the rides round a bit.
Cellphone mounts positioned above the middle console are straightforward to put in and place the cellphone bodily nearer to your face; (picture/Scott Tharler)
If a cellphone holder failed by not staying mounted or simply dumping the cellphone, it didn’t make our listing. We rated those that did based mostly on components corresponding to ease of set up, steadiness, adjustability, value, and particular options. We’ll proceed to evaluate further cellphone mounts for future iterations of this information.
Purchaser’s Information: Tips on how to Select a Automobile Cellphone Mount
Deciding on a automobile cellphone mount isn’t straightforward — or, let’s face it, enjoyable. It’s a type of merchandise that, when it’s doing its job, simply fades into the background. Conversely, when it fails, the outcomes can vary from offputting to actually disastrous.
To make issues worse, seemingly each electronics, workplace provide, and grocery retailer carries cellphone mounts to not point out the numerous on-line retailers. You may even be tempted to stroll in or click on by way of and simply seize the primary one you see. However discovering the fitting automobile cellphone mount for you requires some thought and analysis.
This useful how-to-choose information has all of the important info compiled to search out one of the best resolution that matches your wants. We focus on why it is best to and shouldn’t think about explicit sorts of cellphone mounts and which options matter most. Beneath, you’ll discover every part it’s worthwhile to know to determine which automobile cellphone mount will work greatest for you.
Common vs. Customized Mounts
Customized mounts are made for explicit autos. For example, a model of the Pitaka MagEZ Automobile Mount Professional 2 solely matches the air vents of two particular Tesla fashions. And when ordering the ProClip USA Middle Sprint Mount, you point out your automobile’s make, mannequin, and yr, and so they ship a base that clips into a particular spot in your actual automobile.
The Nite Ize Steelie Orbiter Plus Sprint Package is a tiny but sturdy magnetic mount; (picture/Scott Tharler)
You may count on that customized mounts are prohibitively costly, however not essentially. For example, the ProClip we examined was $75, and the Pitaka was simply $60. They have been a little bit greater than a number of the common mounts we examined, however positively price it if you happen to care about clear, purposeful design.
Window, Vent, and Sprint Mounts
Though different mounting places exist, these three are collectively the preferred, every with pluses and minuses.
Window mounts can’t assist however be in the best way. Even with a protracted sufficient extension arm, a cellphone mounted to the middle of your windshield will considerably lower your subject of view. In the event you mount it a little bit out of the best way on the left aspect, you’ll nonetheless must marvel when it’ll merely peel off on a scorching day.
Even when they keep caught to your windshield with suction and/or stickiness, window mounts aren’t all the time very steady. In addition they put your cellphone in an uncovered space the place it may possibly get so scorching that it shuts down. So, for sure, we’re not followers of window mounts as a rule.
Vent mounts are a combined bag. As talked about above, they have a tendency to place your cellphone at an affordable peak. However the issue is how they connect. For example, the alligator clamp type looks as if a good suggestion. However the issue is the awkward dexterity; it may possibly require pinching to open and/or tighten them. Both manner, the cellphone’s weight in such a holder might shut the vent, instantly affecting your air circulation.
On vent-mounted holders corresponding to Scosche’s MagicMount Professional 2 4-in-1 Vent/Sprint, it makes an enormous distinction which manner you put in the rubber prongs; (picture/Scott Tharler)
The Scosche MagicMount Professional 2 4-in-1 Vent/Sprint‘s rubber prong type, which we examined, was high-quality. However we desire those that additionally make use of a retractable hook arm for further stability, such because the Peak Design and Pitaka fashions featured. Simply watch out to not overtighten the arm, lest the primary massive bump you go over pop the air vent slat proper off.
Sprint mounts, sadly, endure from a number of the similar quibbles as window mounts by way of visible obstruction and susceptibility to warmth. On high of that, they’re even much less dependable on a textured dashboard. However their saving grace, as with the Nite Ize, is that these mounts could be positioned on a clean floor farther from the windshield and even on a vertical/angled a part of your dashboard.
Dimension
The small stature of the Peak Design and the Nite Ize was an enormous consider our highlighting these mounts, however solely together with how rock-solid they perform. In different phrases, being a small cellphone mount doesn’t make it good. You should definitely take a look at how a lot metallic (vs. plastic) is utilized in its development.
Adjustability
Cellphone mounts could be adjustable in just a few methods. For instance, the Scosche MagicMount equipment consists of a number of mounting choices on the vent and sprint. The Baseus mount could be adjusted in a number of instructions, sliding, pushing, pulling, tilting, and swiveling it into simply the fitting place.
And the Nite Ize could be pivoted round that metal ball in tiny increments. However even the mounted, stiff ProClip may very well be slid left or proper inside the dashboard seams. Most automobile cellphone mounts are adjustable ultimately, however some greater than others.
The Baseus JoyRide Professional Automobile Backseat Mount can maintain telephones and tablets in quite a lot of positions behind a headrest; (picture/Scott Tharler)
Portability
Though a cellphone mount’s portability does have one thing to do with its dimension, it has extra to do with how straightforward or painful it’s to take away and reinstall. So if you happen to get a cellphone mount that’s straightforward to uninstall, toss in a bag with out it breaking or taking on an excessive amount of house, and reinstall, that’s definitely a bonus.
It’s additionally another excuse to not need to take care of the messy, sticky pads and suction cups discovered on sprint and window mounts, despite the fact that they will generally be washed and reused.
Charging
Juicing up your machine on the go looks as if a no brainer. However if you need a charging mount, there are some things to think about.
Wired charging can occur in one in all a number of methods. The mount can merely place your cellphone in a manner that exposes your cellphone’s charging port, to which you’ll be able to connect a twine and adapter you provide. Some cellphone mounts — such because the wired charging model of the ProClip — embrace these equipment and place the charging twine in a manner that if you slide the cellphone into the mount, it goes proper onto the twine and is able to cost. We didn’t take a look at any programs like this, so we will’t converse to how a lot finagling they’d take.
Wi-fi charging mounts are nice for a way straightforward they’re to connect your cellphone and rotate it to no matter orientation you need. However it’s worthwhile to watch out about a few issues. First, MagSafe doesn’t all the time imply it’s a charger, as with the Scosche MagicMount. Second, telephones and instances range drastically of their magnetic sticking energy.
Uniquely, the bottom of Tackform’s Automobile Seat Cellphone Holder is inserted between the entrance seat and middle console; (picture/Scott Tharler)
Which means that though MagSafe is a handy attachment technique, your cellphone/case combo could not stick as strongly as others. For that reason, we appreciated with the ability to take a look at the Peak Design along side one in all their particular, tremendous magnetic cellphone instances. Equally, if you happen to rock an Android or older iPhone, to do wi-fi charging you’ll want a MagSafe adapter, ideally included with the cellphone mount.
One other key factor to search for with wi-fi charging is whether or not it’s the older, slower model (7.5 watts) or the newer, sooner model (15 W). On product pages and web sites, search for “Qi2” as a characteristic. And identical to with the wired variations, it’s clearly nicer when the mount comes with a 12V adapter and charging twine.
Bonus factors if the adapter affords extra volts, the twine is USB-C and the equipment consists of stick-on cable guides to maintain your dashboard as uncluttered as potential.
Design
The minimalist seems of the Peak Design and Nite Ize may converse to you. Or maybe the carbon fiber look of the Pitaka matches your design sense. However past the aesthetics, how well-built the mount is issues. We’d go to battle any day with both the ProClip or the Tackform. They feel and appear so nicely conceived with high-quality components which might be as heavy, sturdy, and dependable because the autos we drive.
Value & Worth
Finances
On the price range vary, you’ll be able to count on to spend wherever from $15 to $50. It’s possible you’ll not get perks like premium supplies, wi-fi charging choices, and inventive mounting places, however you’ll be able to nonetheless discover strong, dependable holders on this value vary. For instance, The Baseus JoyRide Professional Automobile Backseat Mount ($14) has labored nicely and hasn’t given us any issues with stability or reliability all through weeks of testing.
Mid-Tier
The typical value of our eight examined mounts is $62. This mid-tier vary can be utilized as a normal guideline about how a lot you might need to spend on a terrific automobile cellphone mount. On this vary, you’ll discover automobile cellphone holders that provide charging, extra mount adjustability, and burlier supplies. The Pitaka MagEZ Automobile Mount Professional 2 Qi2 ($60), for instance, is MagSafe appropriate, has wi-fi charging, and NFC customized capabilities.
Premium
Whereas you will get glorious automobile cellphone holders with out breaking the financial institution, there’s nonetheless a correlation between value and construct high quality. The three highest-priced fashions we examined — Peak Design Automobile Vent Mount ($100), Tackform Automobile Seat Cellphone Holder ($80), and ProClip USA Middle Sprint Mount ($75) — are every fantastically designed and constructed. Every affords a particularly safe maintain, a satisfying aesthetic, a number of charging choices, and MagSafe compatibility.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
As mentioned above, it will depend on a number of components, corresponding to what sort of cellphone you will have, whether or not you need to cost it within the holder, and the way seen you want it to be. However the final purpose is to keep away from — or at the very least decrease — distracting the motive force. So, crucial factor is that the cellphone sits securely inside the holder, which is, in flip, securely mounted inside the automobile. Every of our alternatives listed above accomplishes that.
That’s a little bit of a conundrum. The extra seen the cellphone is (corresponding to hanging off the rear-view mirror), the extra it’s blocking the motive force’s view. The much less seen it’s (corresponding to in a cupholder mount), the extra the motive force has to focus away from the highway.
So the place it’s most secure to mount a cellphone within the automobile is a stability between not blocking the view of the highway, but nonetheless being someplace close to the motive force’s eyeline. That’s why cellphone holders mounted to the dashboard and air vent are so widespread. They permit the motive force to see their cellphone display screen by glancing their eyes, versus turning their head.
However no matter the place a cellphone is mounted, the best is to offer as little consideration as potential to your cellphone whereas driving, in favor of concentrating on the highway situations and the place you’re going.
As mentioned above, a automobile cellphone holder may very well be hazardous by obstructing the motive force’s view — and even simply by being a tempting visible distraction. Or to a lesser extent, it might make you uncomfortable by blocking the air vent and affecting the cabin’s local weather.
Lastly, a automobile cellphone holder might offer you a false sense of safety. If the cellphone falls out of the mount and turns into a projectile or the entire thing crashes down, it’s extra distracting than if you happen to’d simply averted the mount altogether and left your cellphone in your pocket the entire time.
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