Monday, April 23, 2018

Best Universal Car Mounts for 2018

Keep your phone safely in sight and secure with a car mount.

When you're on the go, your phone is more than just a tool for keeping in touch. It's your road trip playlist and your GPS, too. For safety's sake, mounting your phone to your dashboard, windshield, or air vents is the best way to keep it in view while keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. We've gathered up a list of some excellent options for universal car mounts, and trust us, there's no shortage of choices out there.

Note: Before you consider a windshield mount for your phone, you should make and check that windshield mounts are allowed in the states you'll be driving most frequently in. As it stands, most states outlaw windshield mounted GPS or phone holders due to visibility and safety concerns.

iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Qi Wireless Car Mount

iOttie has been a leading brand for car mounts for years, and their latest dashboard/windshield mount, the Easy One Touch 4, is the best mount they've yet released.

The Easy One Touch 4 can be oriented any way you like your car with a swiveling telescopic arm. The suction cup mount that's installed on the mount out of the box is ideal for smooth surfaces such as a windshield. However, since a majority of states and provinces have imposed a ban on windshield mounts that can obstruct a driver's vision, iOttie also includes an adhesive pad to attach the mount to the textured surface of your dashboard.

Simply press the tabs on the side of the mount in then tap your phone to the button in the middle of the mount to spring it closed. The Easy One Touch 4 also includes Qi wireless charging technology, which is great if your phone supports wirelessly charging. It's easy to use and can accommodate even the largest phones out there with or without a case. At $50 it's a pricey accessory, but it's also one of the best out there!

iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Qi Wireless Car Mount at Amazon

iOttie Easy One Touch Qi Wireless Fast Charge CD Slot

iOttie gets another mention on our list because they make great accessories, and they have a couple different styles of car mounts for you to consider. As the name implies, this one clips into the CD slot you haven't used in ten years. This not only takes advantage of an otherwise unused space in your car, but — depending on the layout of your dash — keeps your view of the road unobstructed. There's fast charge support for compatible iOS and Samsung devices, and an additional USB port for charging your passenger's phone as well.

Everything we said about how easy iOttie's mounts are to use is just as true with this model, so you won't have to fiddle with your phone every time you hop in for a drive. This accessory is the same $50 as the other model, so pick one that best fits in your car.

iOttie Easy One Touch Qi Wireless Fast Charge CD Slot at Amazon

Spigen Kuel OneTap Car Mount

Love the style of the iOttie One Touch 4 but don't need the Qi wireless charging tech? Consider the Spigen Kuel OneTap Car Mount. It's got a similar set of features and design, but because it's just a car mount the price is way lower at $19.

The mount is capable of holding even the largest phones securely, and there's a telescopic arm for orientating the arm precisely where you need it in your vehicle. This mount will not work on a leather dashboard so keep that in mind. It's also available in black or white.

Spigen Kuel OneTap Car Mount at Amazon

iDoo Qi Car Charger Mount

The car mount from iDoo is one fantastic multitasker. It offers wireless charging for your Qi-enabled phone, or space for a charging cable if you need to plug in.

You have three installation options: dashboard mount, air vent clips, or windshield mount. Take the time to experiment a little with the best sight lines for your phone when you're ready to get set up so you'll know which variation works for you. The cradle arm is completely adjustable, so you can avoid glare, and the frame rotates 360 degrees. No matter where you put it, the mount will be an essential part of your commute. It's a great option that's available for just $17.

iDoo Qi Car Charger Mount at Amazon

Affordable Universal Car Mount

This offering from Affordable is as minimalist as they come, and you know what that means: no obstructed view. It's ideal for dashboard or windshield installation.

It's simple to install and remove when you're switching vehicles. Bonus points are also awarded to this mount for living up to the name Affordable. It's also been favorably reviewed for some time now; it won't drop your phone when you're traveling bumpy roads, and potholes won't shake its grip. It's available for $12 before shipping costs.

Affordable Universal Car Mount at Amazon

Koomus CD-Eco Car Mount

Remember when you kept stacks of CDs in the backseat so that you'd always have your favorite tunes close by? Well, your phone takes care of the songs these days, but your CD player can still be put to good use. The Koomus mount uses it to hold your phone in a very convenient place.

The low-profile mount is easy to install, and your CD player won't be damaged or even recognize that it's in use. The flexible clamps hold your phone securely with or without its case. You can also rotate your phone 360 degrees for easier viewing. Give your CD changer new life with this $15 car mount.

Koomus CD-Eco Car Mount at Amazon

New Trent Arcadia Magnetic Mount

For something completely different, check out the mount from New Trent. It holds your phone with a strong magnet and installs onto your air vents. You don't have to worry about snapping your phone into a cradle, just stick it to the magnetic pad and you're on your way.

The base mount is available in black or blue and comes with two magnetic plates you can stick to the back of two devices, especially handy if you share your car with other family members. The magnetic plates are thin enough to fit into your phone's case and strong enough to adhere to the base without having to constantly remove the case every time you get in the car. At just $6, it's the cheapest mount on this list!

New Trent Arcadia Magnetic Mount at Amazon

WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Mount

Wizgear produces another magnetic car mount we're a fan of. The magnet is strong on this one, and if you take the mount out of the car, it doubles as a kickstand for your phone. The magnet can be concealed inside most phone cases, so you won't have to constantly remove the case before sticking your phone to the mount.

The air vent clips keep your phone highly visible without obstructing your view. The base swivels your phone into your preferred position and promises to keep it there until you move it, even when going over rougher terrain. It's perfect if you just need to jump in the car and go with your phone at the ready. Get yours for just $7.

WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Mount at Amazon

Spigen Style Ring

An inexpensive alternative to car mounts is the Style Ring. The mount is a tiny black hook that sticks to your dashboard, and the ring sticks to the back of your phone. If you're not wild about sticking things to your car or device, this may not be the right choice for you, but it's convenient.

The ring that attaches to your phone doubles as a kickstand in both portrait or landscape. It hooks to just about anything, so you might find yourself hanging your phone from a variety of places. Positioning the car mount might take some patience to get it just where you'd like it to stay, but it works well for hands-free calling and accessing music. Your phone snaps into place and swivels 360 degrees. It's the smallest car mount you can find, so if space on your dashboard is at a premium, the Style Ring is a solid option. Get yours for just $14.

Spigen Style Ring at Amazon

Nite Ize Steelie

This is definitely one of the coolest mounts on this list. The Steelie is a two-piece mounting system wherein a circular magnet adheres to the back of your phone or its case, and a spherical magnetic base adheres to your car's dashboard or console.

Hop in the car, and your phone mounts in a snap. This is about as minimalist as it gets in terms of car mounts. Making sharp turns and hitting potholes? No worries: The magnet is super strong and the magnetic ball moves with your phone to prevent it from falling off.

If you want a mounting system that barely noticeable, the Nite Ize Steelie is your slick solution for just $18.50.

Nite Ize Steelie at Amazon

Baseus Wireless Car Charger

More and more phones are including Qi wireless charging, so if you're in the market for a car mount, you may as well get one that charges your phone while you drive. Baseus's wireless car charger fits that bill exactly. It's powerful enough to fast charge compatible Samsung phones, and clips into your air vent so your view of the road is unobstructed. The one-touch design helps you get your phone in and out without fuss, meaning you can get on the road that much faster.

Baseus's wireless car charger is available for $28.

Baseus Wireless Car Charger at Amazon

The bottom line

First and foremost, you need to know the details of your local laws, in terms of whether or not you are allowed to mount anything on your windshield. Next, you need to consider how often you'll use a car mount and where in your vehicle it's going to be. Each of these car mounts has distinct advantages all their own, but we think that versatility and durability are the most important qualities to look for.

Which universal car mount are you using these days? Tell us about it in the comments!

Update April 2018: Added the iOttie Easy One CD Slot and Baseus Wireless car charger mount to our list.



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