Any suggestions for a good holder for iPhone so that it can be used for navigation in car? I’ve seen some that clip into air vents - does it get too hot in winter when heat is blowing? Some seem to have a magnet to hold phone in place - is it secure enough? Any reviews would be appreciated!
I use a magnetic holder that clips to the air vents on rental cars when I’m traveling. It’s very handy. It does block a lot of the air from the vent, so presumably if you run hot air through the dash vents (as opposed to the foot or windshield vents) at a med/high fan speed, the phone would get hot.
I’ve been through several holders - when I first started using them I kept leaving them in the rental cars! So after losing 3-4 different ones, I’ve settled on this one as my favorite:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXKK207/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The weight of the phone makes the vent slats sag, so the pivoting function on the holder is useful to tilt the phone back up. Heavier phones like an iPhone 7 plus might slide down, but the bottom of the phone should end up braced against the dashboard if it does.
I’m curious to find a good phone holder too. Even though I have GPS in my car, I have found that google maps does a better job with routing particularly when google navigates around a big delay. My phone has wireless charging and unfortunately that function is blocked if I attach the metal plate that is needed for magnetic holders. It is way too much trouble to remove the plate every time I want to charge so magnetic is out for me. I tried some gadgets that hook to the air vent and ended up with broken vent louvers.
I have two different ones and they’re both good. Both are magnetic and the magnet is strong enough to hold my iPhone 8 Plus.
The Magic Mount is at Costco (here’s a video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hUx_FcMSnA) – and can also be ordered online. The Costco offer is a 2-pack. The magnet is very thin and it just sticks to the back of my case but it’s very strong.
I live in a pretty hot climate and the Magic Mount sometimes comes loose from the dashboard when it gets really hot. I have also clamped it to the windshield with the suction cup and that seems to hold better.
The IPOW is best in my SUV because of the long arm. I have a sort of curved dashboard so the Magic Mount won’t stick. The IPOW keeps the phone closer so it’s easier to see the GPS.
I could never use one that hooks into the AC vent because it would block the air flow.
I bought this one:
It goes into my CD player rather than the air vent, so it doesn’t block nearly as much air. I never use the CD player anyway.
Thank you all!
@InigioMontoya - I like the idea of using the cd player to attach it instead of the vents.
I always wondered if the magnet in these holder was a problem for the phone. Has anyone had their phone malfunction after using a magnetic mount?
My d likes this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Bondi-Unique-Flexible-Holder-Silicon/dp/B007650ZNY
Attaches to the rear view mirror so you don’t need to look down to view it
Keep in mind no matter what the mount you use the phone will become a missle during an accident. And some states have outlawed having your cell accessible while driving.
Dh and I both tried the magnetic kind, but I guess they didn’t work too well through the case of our phones b/c the phones kept falling off - in his Jeep though, which is definitely a bumpier ride than a sedan. Funny this question was posted today b/c I actually started to ask if anyone here has a phone mount in their Jeep that works well but I ended up buying one that is specially designed specifically for his model so hopefully that one will work.
I have one that attaches to my air vent and love it. However, if I have the fan on for the heat or A/C, I close that vent. If the fan is not on, I don’t worry about it getting too hot. Plus, I usually use the vents at my feet b/c I don’t like air blowing at my head. This is the one I have - I love it, plus it’s easy to bring with me when I travel and rent a car https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D901B4W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.
I had considered the CD player type for my car, but then it blocks the screen to my radio, which is a touch screen.
@snowball - My phone itself is magnetic - it will stay in the mount without the case. My case is also magnetic. I’ve not had any issues with it scrambling my phone.
It might be more accurate to say that your phone and case contain ferromagnetic metals, which are attracted to the magnet in the mount. The phone and case themselves aren’t magnetic, I wouldn’t think.
The magnetic phone mounts include a little metal plate which you either glue to the case or stick between the back of the phone and the case, and that metal plate is attracted to the magnet in the mount.
Glad you brought this up. I’m looking for something as well.
I use one that fits into the cup holder between the front seats. Like this one:
I’ve seen them with longer & shorter “stems” – I like the longer one.
We use magnetic phone mounts in all of our cars. As noted by others, they work well unless the ride is ride is bumpy.
Magnetic mounts are also not compatible with induction charging systems like those in the iPhone 8, iPhone X and many Samsung phones.
I like the one @intparent linked but won’t work in my Santa Fe since cup holders are behind the gear shift - would have to look down to see. Is there anything that fits in “ash” tray/coin drawer? hmm will have to look.
I got this one for my son… supposedly a good one, we’ll see.
I didn’t need to use the metal plate, but the mount included 2 different plates, one for use inside a case and one for use on the outside.
Here’s my take:
- In winter I use defrost and floor, not vents, so heat is not an issue. In summer I DO use vents and cool air + phone is good. So I like the vent holder. Plus they're often super cheap, I've never paid more than $5 for one.
- The magnet thing. If the phone case used is not super-thick or heavy (like a wallet case) , they can work I was told. I bought one and not only did my wallet case fall off a lot, I had to re-calibrate my phone compass a lot. I ditched it.
- I hatehatehate anything on my dash or windshield - it blocks my view and feels dangerous. Plus it's too hot up there in sun.
I am currently using a bendable “spider” holder like this: https://www.ebay.com/i/201655943455?chn=ps
I currently have it in my vent where it has been very secure for months now, but if I want, I can pull it out to use as a tripod or put it on the console or even in the cd drive (sometimes in summer when I want all the cold air on me that I can get -hello hot flash- I move it there).
But in my car the vent is the sweet spot for vision - I can see the phone without having to look down or up or take my eyes off the road, it’s in my peripheral vision. YMMV depending on the car. It’s also close enough to the charger port so I can leave the phone plugged in while I use the Nav.
These are well under stocking-stuffer price. I think I paid $2-3.
Yes, that is why I like the longer “stem” – I can push it a little bit forward. I can’t see it without glancing down, but that is generally okay – I usually only need a quick look.