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5 Phone Mounts That Make Navigating Your Trip Way Easier
If you use your phone as a GPS, it's still absolutely essential that you keep your eyes on the road at all times. Leaving your phone in your lap might tempt you to glance down at it, which is unsafe for any amount of milliseconds. The best phone car mounts help you position your phone where you can get all the benefits of its GPS. But the thing is, not all phone mounts are created equal and the market is flooded with cheap and unreliable phone car mounts that all kind of look the same.
A lot of phone mounts cause more trouble than they're worth. Some fall easily, others take forever to attach your phone to, and many break quickly (sometimes because they fall so easily). We've done the research and found the very best. These car phone mounts are quick to install and keep your phone right where you want it — without dropping it.
But before choosing a phone mount, there's a couple of things you need to keep in mind that. First, knowing your state's laws is paramount, because in more than half of the country, mounting your device to the windshield is illegal. And, most importantly, mounting your phone does not make driving safer — it's what you're doing with your phone that counts. Experts agree that hands-free texting or talking on a hands-free device is distracting and leads to many accidents. And, when it comes to using your phone as a GPS, taking your eyes off the road for even a moment to adjust the route or figure out complicated directions can be disastrous.
But, if used safely, phone mounts make finding your way a whole lot easier. These five cover a variety of needs and work with both iPhones and Android phones, so you can keep your phone out of your lap and off the passenger seat.
1A Mount That Can Be Used On The Dashboard Or The Windshield
TaoTronics Car Phone Mount Holder, $9, Amazon
This convenient phone mount can be used on either the dashboard or the windshield. It features an extra-strong suction cup with sticky gel that does a great job of adhering to either surface. If this mount starts falling down, all you need to do is rinse it with warm water and let it air dry and it'll work like new again.
This mount even rests on a ball joint so that it can be easily rotated 360 degrees. That means, you can quickly adjust the phone so that you can check in on your directions in your car, or shift it if you get any sudden glare without having to remove the mount. One thing to note: This one can accommodate phones as large as an iPhone X, but if you have a phone larger than that you’ll want to keep scrolling.
2A Phone Mount That Gives You Two USB Charging Ports
Vansky Car Phone Mount, $15, Amazon
This car phone mount plugs into the cigarette lighter of your car and has a flexible arm, so you can aim the phone wherever you want. It works with nearly any smartphone, and best of all, it immediately converts your outlet into two USB ports, ideal for charging the phone itself, your passengers' devices, or whatever else needs some juice.
As opposed to the mount above, this one has a flexible arm that can rotate 360 degrees (it doesn’t rest on a joint ball), so you can adjust the angle your phone is at, and even stretch or coil up your phone to position how far away it is from you.
3A Phone Mount That Slides Into The CD Slot
iOttie One Touch CD Slot Car Mount Holder, $20, Amazon
This car mount holder slides into your CD drive, which you probably aren't using anyway, and has a convenient lock and release system that lets you attach your phone and take it back off with just a touch. Your phone will be off the windshield and easy to remove once you reach your destination. And, because the clamp on this device is entirely adjustable, you can hold your phone there easily, or swap it out for a larger or smaller device if you’re riding with a friend.
But, one big thing to note is that you won’t be able to remove or insert CDs in while your phone is mounted, and the manufacturer recommends you remove all CDs from your car before inserting the mount. That means you won’t be able to listen to CDs even if you insert them into the drive first, and then attach the mount.
4A Highly-Rated Mount That Hold Onto Your Phone With A Powerful Magnet
WizGear Magnetic Mount, $9 (2 Pack), Amazon
This magnetic car mount is one of the most popular on Amazon, with more than 18,000 reviews. And with this two pack, you even get an extra unit. It slides right into your air vent and holds tightly, and it comes with metal plates to attach to your device. This way, you phone will cling right to the magnetic phone mount, with no buttons or hassle.
Best of all, even though this mount attaches to your vent, it won’t get in the way if you want to blast the air conditioning, and users who have tried it out say it won’t fall off when the air starts to blow. And reviewers are quick to note that placing a magnet near their device has had no negative effects on its performance at all. So if that concern crossed your mind, you can rest assured it won’t be an issue.
5A Phone Mount That Prevents Glare From The Sun
Bosynoy Cell Phone Holder, $13, Amazon
This car mount attaches to the dashboard and works with any smartphone or small device. Its unique, sloped shell cover prevents the sunshine from creating a glare on your device. It spring-loaded attachment system also prevents it from falling.
The device is reinforced three times so that it’ll strongly stick to your car and not fall off. It adheres to the your dashboard with its silicone base, which can actually be removed and washed with water to clean. And, while the sloped angle at which it rests helps it avoid glare, it also secures your phone better if you need to slam on your brakes.
This mount is also compatible with Garmin’s as well as other GPS devices, so you can swap out your phone for your GPS if you end up driving into an area you’re less familiar with. Over 2,000 glowing reviews declare: “As near perfect a cell phone holder as you can find.”
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