8 Best Car Phone Mounts for 2023
Updated: Feb. 16, 2023Car mounts allow safer phone use while driving, making it less risky for you, your passengers and those around you.
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Buying a Car Phone Mount
It’s no secret that for most of us, our phones are a part of daily life. A car phone mount lets you safely access your device via voice activation without taking your eyes off the road. Texting or otherwise fiddling with your phone while driving is an exceptionally bad idea. Don’t endanger yourself or others.
When choosing a car phone mount, keep these factors in mind:
- Mounting location: Options including the dashboard, windshield, CD slot, cup holder and air vent. The best choice depends on your personal preference and the layout of your vehicle.
- Mounting method: Most car phone mounts employ side arms or magnets to hold it in place. A few alternatives made our list.
- Ease of charging: A car phone mount with a dead phone is useless. The holder should let you easily access your charging port.
- Adjustability: Some mounts keep the phone fixed in place. This is fine, until you make a turn and the sun’s glare renders the screen unreadable. But extremely adjustable mounts are often prone to shaking. Look for a balance of stability and adjustability.
Best Telescopic Arm Car Phone Mount
The iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Dashboard or Windshield Mount features an adjustable arm that pivots, telescopes and locks into place, so you’ll find an angle that works for you. A magnet at the back allows for easy power cord management, and the arms open and release one-handed.
One note: Make sure your power cord can reach your phone’s charging port.
Best Gooseneck Car Phone Mount
The Andobil Cup Holder Phone Mount uses a gooseneck to position the phone where you need it. We love the ease of adjusting the position and angle of the phone itself, and the ability to raise or lower it as needed. That keeps the screen visible without blocking center console controls.
Cup holder phone mounts can be frustrating because holders vary in size, and certain mounts may not fit yours. The Andobil addresses this with a trio of non-slip silicone bumpers that expand to fit any cup holder between 2-1/2- and 4-1/2-in. in diameter.
Best Car Phone Mount for Cable Management
We mentioned ease of charging. The Belkin Vent Mount Pro uses a simple pinch mechanism behind the mount face to hold the charging cable in place. This is particularly useful when you leave the charger/cable in your car.
This Belkin car phone mount keeps a low profile with a MagSafe-compatible design. This means it securely holds an Apple iPhone series 12 to 14, or any phone in a MagSafe-compatible case, via integrated magnets.
Best CD Slot Car Phone Mount
Have a CD player in your car but don’t play many CDs? With the advent of smartphones and streaming services, many drivers found they’d rather use the auxiliary port or Bluetooth to listen to their phones instead of shuffling shiny discs. Some mount a car phone holder there.
The CD-slot-mount version of the iOttie Easy One Touch 5 uses the same one-handed connection, without the telescoping arm.
Best Splurge Car Phone Mount for iPhones
There are enough phone mounts on the market that you don’t need to spend a great deal for a good one. However, if you want a brand name, a good option is the Belkin Air Vent Mount. Magnetic, it uses MagSafe technology to attach, align and wirelessly charge Apple 12 to 14 series iPhones.
To be honest, wireless charging on a car phone holder is not a huge benefit. Because the mount needs power, you’ll still have a cable running up your dash. The only difference is: It plugs into the holder rather than the phone. There’s a slight advantage to not unplugging the phone to take it off the holder. Whether that convenience is worth the price jump is up to you.
Best Low-Profile Car Phone Mount
TechMatte makes slick, low-profile car phone mounts. Their smallest is the TechMatte Magnetic Car Phone Mount, an astonishingly slim product that clips to your air vent and slips it into your pocket so you can easily take it with you from car to car.
The TechMatte features a magnetic connection. If your phone lacks integrated MagSafe or similar technology, you’ll need to attach a metal disc to the back of your phone or inside the case.
Best Pop Grip Car Phone Mount
If you use a PopSockets Pop Grip on the back of your mobile device, you’ve likely noticed most phone holders aren’t designed with that additional bulk in mind.
The PopSockets PopMount 2 solves this issue in the most obvious way: Your phone’s Pop Grip slips into a U-shaped bracket, securing and supporting it. Mountable on your dash or windshield, it offers a range of motion to combat sun glare while staying within easy view.
Most Stable Car Phone Mount
If you prioritize stability over flexibility, the Loncaster Car Phone Holder is a great pick. This non-adjustable dashboard mount holds your phone in landscape mode only and can’t be moved or rotated. Available in six colors, it’s a good choice if you’re driving off-road or across uneven ground, or want a set-it-and-forget-it option.