EletiofeThe Best Car Phone Mounts and Chargers

The Best Car Phone Mounts and Chargers

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Getting ready for a drive? Whether you use your phone for navigation, music, or podcasts—or are just bringing it along for the ride—the right accessories can make it the perfect passenger. A good car mount will keep it within easy reach and in view, so you don’t need to dangerously fumble for your handset and take your eyes off the road. You’ll also want to keep your device charged. We have tested a range of mounts, chargers, and other accessories that might be useful for your daily commutes. 

Looking for more? Drivers should also consider putting together a Car Emergency Kit and checking out our Best Travel Mugs guide to round out the driving experience.

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  • Smartphone charging inside of a car

    Photograph: SUNG YOON JO/Getty Images

    First, Stay Safe

    What to Consider With Car Mounts and Accessories

    Before we get started here, there are a couple of things you need to think about.

    Mount placement: Wherever you place your phone mount, it’s vital to ensure it does not obstruct your view of the road. Many mounts allow for dash or windshield placement, but you should check your local laws. (It’s illegal to attach mounts to the windshield in many US states.)

    Cable placement: Think about where cables will run, and use cables just long enough to prevent tangles and excess. (Read our Best USB-C Cables guide for some recommendations.) Consider how to keep the end of the cable handy. (The best mounts have cable management for this purpose.) If you are using a dashcam, they usually come with a small tool you can use to push the cable into the seams of your car’s interior panels to tuck it away. That can work for charging cables too.

    Keep your eyes on the road: Whether setting up navigation, picking a playlist, or doing anything that requires your attention, do it before you start driving. Once you’re on the road, use voice commands or have a passenger deal with any issues, and keep your focus on the road. Distracted driving leads to thousands of deaths every year.

  • Photograph: iOttie

    A Dash Mount

    iOttie Easy One Touch 5

    What I like best about this phone mount is that you can use it one-handed. Adjust the bottom feet, and when you place your phone against the trigger button, the arms automatically close around it. To remove, simply press the release bars. The telescopic arm allows you to tweak the placement, and the ball joint makes it easy to set an ideal angle. This thoughtful design carries to your charging cable as well—there’s a magnetic tab you can attach to the end of your charging cord so it sticks to the back of the mount (so you don’t have to fish around for it). 

    In my testing, the base with the locking suction cup was very secure, even on bumpy terrain. The downside? Removing the adhesive pad from my dashboard was tricky.

  • Photograph: iOttie

    A Wireless Charging Mount

    iOttie Wireless Car Charger

    This is the mount in my car now, and it maintains everything that’s good about iOttie’s previous mount but adds wireless charging support. You can get it with the suction cup for the dashboard or opt for a CD slot or air vent mount. It closes automatically around your phone, has adjustable feet, a rotating ball joint to angle your phone, and a quick-release bar that pokes out on both sides. The Qi wireless charging can deliver 10 watts to an Android phone or 7.5 watts to an iPhone, and your phone automatically charges when you place it in the mount and start the car. You’ll want to make sure your smartphone supports wireless charging in the first place. 

    All you’ll need to do is plug the supplied cable into your car’s power socket, and the other end goes into a MicroUSB port on the bottom of the mount. The car socket end handily includes a second USB-A port you can use to charge another device. 

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