The Best Car Phone Mount (Review & Buying Guide) in 2020

Now you know our favorite items out of all the many car phone holders on the market today. Whichever model of car or phone you may own, there’s no doubt that one of the options on this list will suit your needs. In case you’re still unsure and want more of the full picture, scroll on to read some basic info that we’ve compiled about how to shop for a good car phone mount.

Things to Consider When Buying Car Phone Mount

When choosing a phone mount for a car, there are a few key considerations to make:

Your Car’s Interior

It’s important to think about your car’s interior so you can find a phone holder that will fit in your space without blocking your view. Different types of mounts will attach to your car in different ways, so not all options will be compatible.

You might not have room for a windshield mount if your windshield rises at a low angle to your dashboard. If your car’s dashboard is uneven or damaged, it may not function as a suitable anchoring point for a suction cup. Finally, you need air vents of certain shapes to make the most of vent mounts. Make sure to check the mounting features for your phone holder and check them against the space your car has available.

Outside Temperature

The outside temperature is another consideration you should make when looking for the best car phone holder. If a windshield-mounted car phone mount isn’t suitable to be used in a certain temperature zone, it will lose suction and likely fall off.

If you live in a particularly hot or cold area, it may be best to opt for a car vent mount or magnetic mount. That way there is no risk at all of the phone car mount losing its suction.

Car Phone Mount

Your Phone

When it comes to matching a holder to your phone, the most important factors are size and weight. Some mounts are stronger than others, while some types accommodate only certain types of devices. If your phone is particularly large, you might want a magnetic holder, rather than a cradle, to avoid problems with fitting.

How You’ll Use It

If you drive a lot, or if you tend to drive for long periods of time, you’re going to want a car phone holder that can hold up to the more regular strain. It might be worth it to splurge on a more versatile model if you want to get the most out of that level of ownership. It’s important to have the features you need, such as an open charging port or the ability to switch from landscape to portrait viewing.

Benefits of Using A Phone Holder For Your Car

Using a car mount to secure your phone has a number of benefits:

• Secures your phone in place, even when the road gets bumpy
• Prevents losing your phone in the cracks around your driver’s seat
• Makes it safe for you to follow GPS on your phone
• Lets you make hands-free phone calls without breaking the law
• Easily play music or podcasts without a fuss

Types Of Car Phone Mounts

Car phone mounts typically fall into one of four categories:

Air Vent Mounted

Air vent mounts attach to the blades of your car’s front air vent, letting you conveniently place your phone just to the left or right of the steering wheel, depending on the vent placement in your car. They tend to work better with rectangular vents than round ones and they can hook very firmly into place. However, using an air vent mounted car phone holder also brings the risk of overheating your phone when you’ve got hot air blowing in the winter.

Magnet Mounts

Magnetic car phone holders come in many different shapes and sizes to suit a range of different smartphones and a range of different cars. These types of mounts most commonly use a magnet that adheres to the back of a smartphone and a magnetic base that adheres to different locations throughout a car, usually on the dashboard or windshield.

As far as smartphone car mounts go, magnet mounts are a very effective style of car mount as long as the adhesive is strong and stands the test of time.

Cup Holder Mounts

Cup holders and mounts come in a range of different styles to suit all the different shapes and sizes of vents and smartphones. Some use powerful magnets to hold your phone in place while others use rubberized grips to attach themselves to the vent grill.

This type of car phone mount is very effective and is very usually very sturdy and solid feeling. The only trouble one might face with this type of car mount is that it can potentially block the air coming from a car’s air conditioning and, worst-case scenario, the mount might snap the vent grill if not removed carefully.

Clamp Mounts

Clamp mounts are just as they sound, a car phone mount that clamps onto a range of different sized securing points. They are best used to mount their phones on the back of a headrest. Making them perfect for backseat passengers.

Suction Cup Mounted

Suction cups are the most common type of mount for car phone holders. They are designed to stick to your windshield or dashboard, making them the most versatile. However, they can fall off if the surface isn’t clean enough and some suction cups are stronger than others, so your mileage may vary.

Adhesive Mounts

Adhesive mounts are uncommon in the market. They are designed to stick to any flat surface of your car, making them very easy to install, but difficult to remove since the adhesive is designed to last a long time. If there’s a specific spot you have in mind for your car phone mount, adhesive mounts are a good choice for achieving your ideal positioning.

CD Slot Mounts

Another type of car phone mount is one that slots into your car’s CD player. This is an extremely secure method of mounting that barely obstructs your driving view, if at all. However, installing them tends to be a bit more complicated and it will render your CD player useless while you’re using it.

Car Phone Mount

Top Brands

Here are the top brands that we both know and love.

Scosche

Scosche manufacturers many different phone and tablet holders to suit just about every car. The most notable of these is the Scosche MagicMount. The Scosche MagicMount is an award-winning design that conveniently, easily, and securely mounts smartphones and tablets to a range of different surfaces.

Baseus

Baseus is another quality smartphone car mount manufacturer. Their mounts come in a range of different styles and are perfect to protect your phone from being dropped underneath your feet as you drive.

iOttie

iOttie is a New York City-based manufacturer that makes a wide range of different phone mounts and smartphone car holders. One of their best products is the iOttie Easy One Touch. iOttie’s Easy One Touch suctions onto a range of different surfaces and will fit many different sized phones.

Beam Electronics

Beam Electronics universal car phone mounts are up there with some of the very best on the market. Beam Electronics is based out of Georgia and manufactures all of its products within the United States. If you are in the market for a really well-made car vent mount, Beam Electronics is the brand for you.

Mpow

Mpow makes a range of different products including Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and, of course, universal smartphone car mounts. Their extensive range includes windshield, dashboard, CD slot, and magnetic car phone mounts.

Bestrix

Bestrix produces some of the best quality auto accessories on the market. Anything from wireless charging devices, tablet mounts, and, of course, cell phone holders. Their car phone holders are specially designed to keep any sized phone in your line of sight without obscuring the road ahead.

Humixx

Humixx makes a ton of affordable car phone holders. Many of their mounts make use of a metal plate that offers strong and secure magnetic holding power. Ensuring you can use your phone at any stage without the fear of it dismounting and falling into the footwell of your car.

Pricing

Car phone mounts come at a price that will fit anybody’s budget. Here are some of the best ones at their respective price points.

Up to $10

• WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Car Mount Phone Holder
• Vansky 3-in-1 Universal Phone Holder
• Dashboard Mount TechMatte MagGrip Car Mount Holder

From $10 to $15

• Beam Electronics Car Air Vent Mount Holder
• Mpow Car Phone Mount
• Maxboost Universal Air Vent Magnetic Phone Car Mounts Holder
• Mpow Cell Phone Holder for Car

Over $15

• iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Dashboard
• iOttie Easy 2 Car Mount Universal Phone Holder
• Humixx Dashboard Cellphone Car Mount Holder
• Baseus Wireless Car Charger Air Vent Phone Holder
• Bestrix Magnetic Phone Holder for Car Air Vent

Best Phone Mount For Car FAQ:

Q: What is the purpose of a case-compatible holder?

A: Case-compatible holders have the versatility to hold your phone without removing its case, saving you time and trouble getting in and out of the car.

Q: What should be the capacity of a charging-compatible holder?

A: Your charging-compatible holder should have a minimum capacity of at least five watts. Be careful not to choose a capacity higher than 10 watts, or you may overload the battery.

Q: Are there any device-specific mount holders available on the market?

A: Most car phone holders are compatible with many types of smartphones. It is possible to buy one intended for a specific model or device, but it’s unlikely you’ll find more benefits other than your phone fitting into it easily.

Q: What additional features should you look at before buying a car mount holder?

A: Top features to look out for include:

• Rotating and pivoting joints
• Ease of installation
• Mechanisms for securing and releasing your phone
• An open gap in the support to allow charging

These are the most common features for general quality of life, and you can expect to be satisfied with most products that offer them.

Q: What is the best iPhone car mount?

A: There are a number of different car phone mounts that will suit iPhones really well. Although, the best is probably magnetic car mounts. iPhone’s back panels are well flat and well suited to the adhesive plates that are used with magnetic holders. Making them the perfect solution for iPhone car mounts.

Q: Are magnetic car mounts safe for phones?

A: Yes. Most magnetic car mounts are safe for phones. They have been specially designed to be powerful enough to hold your phone in place but not so powerful that they penetrate the phone’s casing and damage any of its sensitive components.

Q: What is the best cup phone holder?

A: The best phone cup holders are designed to hold your phone securely in place while limiting the possibility of damage to your car’s air vent. Good cup phone holders are paddle and are made in a way that they won’t break any of the grills on your air vents.

Q: Are car vent mounts bad?

A: No, not if they are designed well. The biggest issue with car vent phone mounts is they either block air from blowing out, clamp wrongly on the vent’s grill potentially causing damage, or hold the phone too close to the vent and cause the phone to overheat from hot air.

Q: Where should I place my phone mount?

A: The dashboard of your car is usually the best place to mount a phone holder. That way, your phone stays in your line of sight, it doesn’t obscure the windshield at all, and it keeps the phone in reach for ease of use.

Q: How do I get my car mount to stick to my dashboard?

A: To ensure a car mount sticks well onto your car’s dashboard, pick a nice flat spot so the adhesive can stick well, clean the surface down with an alcohol wipe, peel off the adhesive paper, and firmly push the mount onto the dashboard for at least a minute or to ensure complete adherence.

Our Top Pick

In the end, the best car phone mount from the bunch is the Easy One Touch Four from iOttie. We were most impressed with the versatility it offers. For such an affordable product, it offers a great array of compatibility and functionality. From the easy-to-use quick-release mechanism to its overall durability, this is a quality item that will satisfy your needs for a long time.