Most of us use our phones to navigate while driving these days. While this is often necessary and convenient, it can also be distracting, especially if you’re gazing down at your phone in your lap or in your cup holder. It’s safer to utilise a car phone holder for your own and other road users’ safety. Keeping yourself safe on the road is no laughing matter. According to the CDC, automotive accidents are the biggest cause of death in the United States.
Accidents that aren’t fatal take their toll as well, with over 4 million people injured in car accidents each year in the United States. Other countries are a little different. Car phone holders are inexpensive, simple to install, and can increase the safety of using GPS apps in the car significantly. These mounts come in a variety of styles: some stick to your windshield or dash, some clip into air vents, and still others are meant to fit inside your vehicle’s cup holders.
The type/style of car phone holder is the most important factor to consider. The most common phone holders are those that attach to the dashboard or the windshield. Keep in mind that not all states allow windshield mounts, so be sure they’re legal where you live.Air vent car phone mounts are simple to install and transfer between vehicles, but they might restrict airflow and aren’t necessarily as stable on bumpy roads.
Cup holder mounts are less popular, and they’re generally less secure, because you still have to look down a long way to check Google Maps or Waze! This article is for you if you’re looking for a good car phone holder. Because there are so many options on the market, we’ve spent time figuring out what’s really worth buying and what isn’t. These are the top automotive phone holders of 2021, ranging from simple magnetic solutions to sophisticated windshield attachments.
1. Best Car Phone Holder: Kenu Airframe Pro
The Kenu Airframe Pro is a simple, adaptable, and economical phone holder that comes with a few unique features that set it apart from other vent-mounted phone holders. There are a few other variants available, but the Airframe Pro is the one to get. It usually costs a few dollars more, but it can hold larger phones and cases (up to 3.6 inches wide) and features a 360-degree rotating ball joint, giving you more options for how you mount it and how your phone is oriented when driving.
The push-button mechanism that opens and shuts the pinchers at the back secures the holder firmly to horizontal or vertical vents, providing a firmer grasp than many of its competitor. Other vent-mounted models frequently fall out on uneven roads or during fast turns, but the Airframe Pro requires a significant amount of effort to do so. The spring-loaded arm secures your phone in place while driving but doesn’t require a lot of force to disengage at the end of the journey.
Most individuals should be able to accomplish it with only one hand, without having to pull the entire mount out of the vent at once. In a pinch, you can also change the mount into a phone stand by inserting a credit card or similar object through the pinchers at the back. It won’t replace a specialised stand, but it’ll suffice if you’re on a plane or in a hotel room.
We prefer vent mounting like this to windscreen or dash variants in general. Because they’re smaller, lighter, and easier to install and transport between vehicles than other versions, they’re ideal for travel. Most vehicles’ air vents make it easier to link a charging cord to the phone without having it draped over the dashboard, and they don’t have the risk of glue or suction cups wearing out over time, which is a typical concern with other installations.
We’ve been using Kenu mounts for years with no problems, thanks to a much higher build quality than the no-name economy counterparts. However, if you do have a problem, the firm gives a generous lifetime warranty. The Airframe Pro’s main significant flaw, and one that most vent-mounted holders share, is that it has trouble properly attaching to recessed air vents. A small recess will generally enough, but anything larger will likely result in a less solid grip.
Pros
- Quick and easy mounting
- Strong grip
- 360-degree rotation
- Phones can be removed with one hand
- Doubles as a travel stand
Cons
- May not work in recessed air vents
2. Runner-Up, Best Car Vent Phone Holder: AINOPE Car Phone Holder Mount
The AINOPE Car Phone Holder Mount is a horizontal air vent phone mount that clamps onto your car’s dash. This style of holder, like the Kenu model above, is simple to install and works in most vehicles, but you have less options for where you may display your phone. This mount is unique in that it includes support on both the bottom and the sides.
Simply put your phone into place, and the weight of the phone will press the lower mount component down, while the sides will automatically clamp on. It’s a very little mount when not in use, about half the height of a credit card. This means that, unlike many other vent-mounted variants, it won’t significantly obstruct airflow. Naturally, airflow will be reduced when your phone is attached.
The clamps adjust to fit most phones, with the holder designed to fit phones with thicknesses up to 14mm and sizes up to 6.7′′. As a result, even larger phones and slightly thicker cases should be compatible with this mount. While we prefer the Kenu Airframe Pro in general, the AINOPE is usually less expensive, can handle somewhat larger devices, and is a good backup if our top pick isn’t available.
However, there are two drawbacks. One is that the mount’s shape can obstruct some phones’ auxiliary connectors, making it impossible to listen to music if you have an older vehicle without Bluetooth audio. The other issue, which is similar to almost all vent mounts, is that your phone may get heated when the heater is turned on because it is immediately in front of the air vent. However, most cars allow you to close particular air vents.
Pros
- Clamps automatically adjust to the size of your phone
- Compact design doesn’t block the full air vent
- Fits phones with a screen size of up to 6.7” and up to 14mm thick
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Blocks access to the auxiliary port on some phones
- Phone can get hot when heater is on
3. Best Car Cup Phone Holder: TOPGO Cup Holder Phone Mount
The TOPGO Cup Holder Phone Mount is a simple phone mount that fits in your current cup holder. It comes with a rotating gooseneck mount for your phone that rotates 360 degrees. There’s no need for any complicated setup: simply insert the mount into your cup holder and tighten the clamps to ensure a secure fit. It’s made to fit cup holders that are up to four inches in diameter.
Most conventional cup holders, measuring 3 to 3.8 inches in diameter, would accommodate this. Although the gooseneck arm extends up to eight inches, you will still need to look down to see your phone because the mount is in the cup holder. As a result, when it comes to keeping your eyes on the road, this isn’t the safest design.
Some people, on the other hand, prefer to keep their phone hidden so that it does not distract them. Another disadvantage of this holder is that it may not be compatible with phones that have battery cases or thick cases such as OtterBoxes. The maximum thickness is 0.51 inch (13mm).
Pros
- Adjustable cup attachment to fit in most cup holders
- Gooseneck mount lets you customize viewing angle
- 360-degree phone rotation
- Easy to use with no installation required
Cons
- Will not fit larger cases like OtterBoxes, or battery cases
- Not the best viewing angle for safety
4. Best Magnetic Car Phone Holder: Penom Magnetic Car Phone Mount
The Penom Magnetic Car Phone Mount is a straightforward, low-cost choice.
It’s likewise an air vent mount, except instead of a clamp, it secures the phone using a powerful magnet. The mount can swivel 360 degrees, allowing your phone to be displayed both vertically and horizontally. Because there are no clamps on this mount, it should fit almost any phone. The Penom mount, like the AINOPE mount, attaches to horizontal air vents.
It’s little and won’t obstruct the vent’s airflow much. Most phones are securely held in place by the powerful magnet. While the magnet is powerful and secure, several users have complained about the air vent clip’s lack of stability. This could be an issue with heavier phones or bumpy highways, but it shouldn’t be an issue with smaller phones or city streets.
Pros
- 360-degree rotation
- Holds just about any phone
- Sleek, simple design
- Strong magnet prevents shaking
Cons
- Magnet is strong, but vent clip itself may struggle with heavier phones
5. Best Car Dashboard Phone Holder: iOttie Easy One Touch 4
The iOttie Easy One Touch 4 mount is a one-of-a-kind accessory. It has a telescopic arm that stretches 4-6.5 inches and pivots on a 225-degree arc to alter the viewing angle of your phone and may be fixed to the dashboard or windshield. The telescopic arm is more secure and less unstable than the narrower gooseneck mounts, but it has less side-to-side adjustment than a comparable gooseneck-style mount like the Mpow.
As a result of this mechanical construction, the fit is incredibly secure and there is very little shaking. It fits any phone with a width of 2.3′′ to 3.5′′, which covers the majority of phones. iOttie, on the other hand, uses phone width instead of screen size. This holder is suction-cup mounted, but it also requires a semi-permanent dashboard pad. The pad is attached to the dashboard first, and then the mount is attached to the pad.
This creates a more secure connection, but it also has a drawback if you plan to move the mount between vehicles, as removing the dashboard pad can leave a sticky residue. The suction cup mount does not always withstand hot temperatures, and the adhesive may melt on really hot summer days. If you reside in a hot region, you might want to consider another choice.
Pros
- Easy one-touch lock and release
- Mounts to dashboard or windshield
- Telescopic arm provides a stable mount
- Compatible with most phones
Cons
- Suction cup can “melt” in high heat
- Dash mount requires semi-permanent sticker attachment
6.Best Wireless Charging Car Phone Holder: Mankiw Wireless Car Charger
The Mankiw Wireless Car Charger serves as a phone holder as well as a Qi wireless charger. It attaches to the dashboard of your automobile, and the height- and angle-adjustable arm may be modified to fit your favourite viewing position. This holder’s wireless charging capabilities are amazing, allowing up to 10W Qi fast charging and charging through cases as thick as 4mm thick.
The phone holder’s functions are simple, but they do the job. It’s a decent choice if you want wireless charging for your phone, but there are cheaper solutions if you simply need a simple phone holder. A connection extends from the mount to a compatible QC 2.0/3.0 car charger or your vehicle’s cigarette lighter power supply. Normal automobile USB ports and most car phone chargers do not have enough power to charge at 7.5 or 10 watts.
If you want faster wireless charging, you’ll probably want to get this adapter or something similar that supports QC 3.0 output. The only significant disadvantage of this device, aside from the necessity for a separate power adaptor, is that the suction cup attachment can be a little unstable with heavy phones. It is, nevertheless, a good alternative for anyone with a small to mid-size phone that supports wireless charging.
Pros
- Charges your phone with up to 10W wireless Qi charging
- Can charge even through thick cases
- Automatic clamp opening and one-touch release
Cons
- Suction cup can struggle under the weight of heavy phones
- Doesn’t come with cigarette lighter power adapter (sold separately)
