There’s every chance you’ve been in at least one minicab where part of the windscreen is covered by a wall of phones. That’s not an example to follow. While there’s no additional support beyond the glossy Magsafe plate, it keeps a tenacious grip on compatible iPhones, and we couldn’t fault it during testing – provided the phone wasn’t in a silicon case. Our test phone’s case weakened the grip somewhat; but ESR sells its own Magsafe cases, which won’t suffer the same problem. This is a smart compact holder and charger that will do your iPhone proud.

Flexible Phone Holder | Waterstones Flexible Phone Holder | Waterstones

Mounts with built-in Qi wireless chargers are increasingly common. 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. Most are compatible with both Android devices and iPhones. If you often forget to plug in your phone and it supports wireless charging, this is a no-fuss way to keep it juiced up. Dash and windshield mounts are more versatile and are typically a better choice for most people. Some attach via a suction base. Others use automotive-grade adhesive that shouldn't damage your car; you can't easily move these mounts once you place them, but the adhesive does break down over time. If you plan to use this mount in multiple cars or simply don't want to clean gummy residue when you eventually remove it, choose one that uses a suction mount. As is the case with many phone holders, there’s not a lot to it, but the design works really well. This is largely down to its simplicity, with nothing more than an adhesive pad to contend with in terms of fitting. It’ll work a treat on many surfaces, including vertical areas of your dash as well as less practical locations where other phone mounts can’t even get near. This simple, spring-loaded clamp can accommodate a phone up to 84mm wide – more than enough for even a phablet-sized device like a Galaxy Note 10. The clamp’s grippy jaws hold your phone securely, and the clamp itself attaches to a small ball head atop the PIXI tripod, making it easy to tilt your phone up or down for high or low-angle shots, though only with the phone mounted horizontally. The ball joint on the vent mount gives you a wider range of tilt and swivel, so you can keep the phone in view, and – with a little practice – you can insert and remove it single-handed, with the arms releasing as you pull the phone vertically out of its cradle. It can only hold the phone in portrait mode, but it’s one affordable, sturdy mount.

Do You Need Wireless Charging?

Cleverly, the vent design allows you to fix your phone into position using a wide variety of vent designs, which mean that dashboards that have horizontal, vertical and angled designs will invariably be able to handle the device. One of the most popular options is a clip that attaches to your air-conditioning vent. These are ideal for lighter smartphones, but the grip might not be firm enough to hold heavier devices and it also obstructs the airflow. First, you need to choose between the two basic types of car phone mounts: mounts that attach to your air conditioner vent and mounts that attach to your dashboard or windshield.

9 Best Cell Phone Holders In 2022 - Bustle The 9 Best Cell Phone Holders In 2022 - Bustle

While phone holders might appear to be a little humdrum, some of these accessories are even handier. The iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2, for example, not only allows you to keep your smartphone safe and secure, it’ll also recharge it wirelessly. 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.

A good car phone mount is an essential accessory for any vehicle that doesn't include a built-in navigation system. Phone mounts provide a safe and simple way to make calls, get turn-by-turn directions, and use your phone's voice assistant. But some mounts work better with certain cars and phones than others. We gathered our favorites here, along with some tips to keep in mind when shopping. The Blukar Car Phone Holder is fairly versatile. Compatible with numerous phone models including iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and HTC handsets, it ofers a bit more flexibility thanks to its 360 degree rotation. By using it, you can get the angle just right for using or looking at your phone. An extendable telescopic arm goes from 3.6-inch to 5.9-inches while also being pivoted up and down 270 degrees. Placement: Are you planning on traveling with your phone holder? Do you want it to stay on your desk? Think about where you’ll be keeping your phone holder and factor that into your decision. How We Selected While phone holders work well when mounted in, on or around the dashboard area, another route you can take is to go for the windshield-friendly accessory instead. In the case of the Exshow Car Mount holder you get a great solution that works with most smartphone models. The other great thing about this model is that it’s able to cope with all manner of larger phones, which is no bad thing given so many models are pretty beefy. It can, for example, handle the largest iPhone model with ease, but the Kenu Airframe Pro is able to hold a raft of other models and seems compatible with pretty much every relevant handset around today. Kenu does have other variations on the theme though, so if you’ve got a smaller phone there are buying options on that front too.

The Best Car Phone Mounts for 2022 - PCMag UK The Best Car Phone Mounts for 2022 - PCMag UK

They’ve even got one that’ll attach to a CD slot if you’ve still got such a thing in your vehicle. While it’s certainly possible to marry the iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2 accessory to old school hardware there’s nothing out of date about the wireless capability of this accessory. On top of that, this is another great little design, with a magnetic cord organizer that helps avoid a tangle of cables in the car. Compatibility: Compatibility will be the first thing you need to look at. Make sure that your selected phone holder stand is able to fit and support your phone.

Size Matters

A growing number of automatic and MagSafe-compatible options are now available. Automatic mounts use an IR proximity sensor, open when your phone is in range, and automatically adjust their grip to your phone. MagSafe mounts attach to the MagSafe array on newer iPhones, such as the iPhone 13. Some folks prefer to opt for the vent-mounted phone holder accessory. In which case there are many options at your disposal. One of the most impressive we’ve tried is the Kenu Airframe Pro, which in the tradition of car phone mounts goes for a ‘less is more’ approach on the design front. This is a positive however as there’s very little effort involved in getting the thing into position. With a weighted rubber base, this free-standing cell phone holder can be placed on any flat surface, and it has an aluminum alloy rod that can be adjusted from 7.1 to 8.5 inches, so you can find the most comfortable viewing height. The rotatable holder has no side clips, making it easy to secure your phone, and it’s suitable for both horizontal and vertical viewing. At the top of the metal rod is a loop that holds your charging cable in place, so it won’t get in the way if you’re using the stand while your phone is plugged in, and the anti-skid silicone on the bottom of the base protects your furniture from scratches. This option is available in seven colors, so you can match it to your decor. A car phone holder is a must-have. 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. With voice assistants, you can even use them to make calls or receive and send texts hands-free. The best in-car phone holders you can buy in 2023 1. Halfords Magnetic Windscreen Mount: Best windscreen mount