Car mobile phone holder

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xpd

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#248341 20-Mar-2019 20:15

I'm going on a decent road trip next month (or thats the plan) and want something to hold the phone mainly for GPS but also dash cam app.

I don't really like the air vent mounts, as they tend to block flow, and also can snap off. So suction cup to the windscreen only option ?

Whats the story with the ones (vent or suction) with the magnet - take it involves attaching a magnet/metal disc to your phone/case ? If so, how thin are they, phone feels bulky as it is....

I've had $2 shop holders before which have been ok, but wife hates things on the windscreen and always rips them off, destroying them in the process.... so something easily removed would be useful.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Nikras

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#2202609 20-Mar-2019 20:46

Of all the ones I've used, ranging from cheap ones to more expensive one, the one i'd really recommend is this one:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/MPPSGP20917/Spigen-WindscreenDashboard-Universal-Premium-Phone

It can stick on to your dashboard as well as your windscreen. It worked so well I bought 3. Very happy with my purchase so far.

I'd stay away from Magnetic ones, i've used the logitech one for a long time but realised if you've got a metal plate on your phone, you can't wireless charge your phone. (if you have a phone that can of course)

Not sure if the magnets affect your phone too, some say they don't and some say they do... there were times when I had to remove my phone from the magnetic holder, my phone froze for 2 seconds. Can't imagine that being good for the phone.

Just a recommendation, good to do some research yourself too :)

Good luck!

maxeon

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#2202611 20-Mar-2019 20:49

Hi,

I have been using iOttie Easy One Touch mount (google it) and it can stick on your dash (with zero marks after removing) or glass etc.

I have been using it for years now and have nothing but good things to say about it. When you change cars, you can remove it and wash it so can be stuck again somewhere else.

I believe TM sells some of it - very few.

If you take the magnet option the downside is bulk plus the wireless charging (if your phone is having one) won't work.

Hope this helps

Gurezaemon

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#2202622 20-Mar-2019 21:16

So many of these things are huge contraptions on the dash, or attached to the windscreen, which block the field of view of the road. I've never had any luck with those attached to vents, either, as they always feel flimsy.

I recently bought an alligator clip style thing that attaches to the top of the dash, and is simplicity itself.
Aliexpress link

It has no moving parts, and holds the phone very securely, and close to the dash, not restricting my view of the road. Pretty much everyone who has seen this in my car has gone out and bought one. Highly recommended.

shk292

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#2202698 21-Mar-2019 07:51

Gurezaemon:
So many of these things are huge contraptions on the dash, or attached to the windscreen, which block the field of view of the road. I've never had any luck with those attached to vents, either, as they always feel flimsy.

I recently bought an alligator clip style thing that attaches to the top of the dash, and is simplicity itself.
Aliexpress link

It has no moving parts, and holds the phone very securely, and close to the dash, not restricting my view of the road. Pretty much everyone who has seen this in my car has gone out and bought one. Highly recommended.

How does that attach to the dash?
And is there any adjustment, eg if you're getting a reflection on the phone screen? Looks like a neat solution

xpd

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#2202700 21-Mar-2019 08:06

Gurezaemon:

So many of these things are huge contraptions on the dash, or attached to the windscreen, which block the field of view of the road. I've never had any luck with those attached to vents, either, as they always feel flimsy.

I recently bought an alligator clip style thing that attaches to the top of the dash, and is simplicity itself.
Aliexpress link

It has no moving parts, and holds the phone very securely, and close to the dash, not restricting my view of the road. Pretty much everyone who has seen this in my car has gone out and bought one. Highly recommended.

Im not bothered by things on the dash/screen as its a large front area, so plenty of space without causing view issues.

I suspect this attaches with the additional adhesive plates they sell ?

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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#2202705 21-Mar-2019 08:25

I have one of these. I highly recommend them over the ones that have spring clamps to hold the phone. You can drop the phone into the gravity ones single-handed, whereas the spring ones it takes both hands to put the phone in.

I also didn't like the suction cup or vent mounts, so I designed and 3D-printed a couple of custom phone holders. The first should be fairly universal; it plugs into the CD slot. Tightening up the ball socket on the back of the mount forces the insert to outward to grip the sides of the CD slot. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2943662 The second is specific to the Clarion head unit in my car, and mounts using the holes intended for releasing the head unit. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3328086 I prefer this second one because it places the phone in a really nice position, handy for my left hand for changing music.

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#2202706 21-Mar-2019 08:25

I have a magnetic one made by Scosche. I think it's this one but I got mine from The Warehouse.

The mount sticks wherever you want it (I've got mine on the dash) with really strong adhesive. I was worried it wouldn't be strong enough or that it would soften in the heat but so far (over a year) it's been great.

The metal plate can be stuck on the back of your phone or phone case, or you can just put it between the phone and phone case without using the adhesive (this is what I do). See the second product photo in the link above to see exactly how this works.

The magnet works really well, my phone has never fallen off and it's really great to just snap it on and off without pushing buttons or levers or whatever. I went through several phone holders from $2 shops and the holding mechanism would always eventually break. There's no moving parts with the magnetic ones so nothing mechanical to break.

Found a video that shows the Scosche's ones in use. It's on this page you need to scroll down a few screens before you'll get to the video.

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#2202710 21-Mar-2019 08:32

I use a Scosche magnetic one - I have a vent-mounted one for my wife's car too.

My one sticks to the dash by 3M adhesive (they asy it won't leave a sticky residue, but who knows).

The attachment is firm and secure - the plates on my various phone cases are thin and I don't notice them at all (I always put them on the inside of the case).

The version I have is this one: Scosche adhesive car mount and there's also a suction cup version: Scosche suction cup

I highly recommend these...but you'd need to see whether there's a good spot to mount one before pulling the trigger...

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Gurezaemon

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#2202711 21-Mar-2019 08:35

shk292:
Gurezaemon:

So many of these things are huge contraptions on the dash, or attached to the windscreen, which block the field of view of the road. I've never had any luck with those attached to vents, either, as they always feel flimsy.

I recently bought an alligator clip style thing that attaches to the top of the dash, and is simplicity itself.
Aliexpress link

It has no moving parts, and holds the phone very securely, and close to the dash, not restricting my view of the road. Pretty much everyone who has seen this in my car has gone out and bought one. Highly recommended.

How does that attach to the dash?
And is there any adjustment, eg if you're getting a reflection on the phone screen? Looks like a neat solution

It comes with a 3M adhesive pad that sticks very well, but can also be removed cleanly.

Adjustment - there are a couple of notches in both the top and bottom jaws of the clip so the angle can be changed a reasonable amount.

maoriboy

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#2202740 21-Mar-2019 09:24

I have a Scosche Magic mount Dash in my car. It has the adjustable ball type mount that allows you to swing the phone to varying angles. Never had an issue with it falling off and the metal plates are cheap to get off aliexpress if you need extras. I just have the plates sandwiched between my phone and case and has worked every time.