The 5 Best Car Phone Holders of 2021

Check and use your phone safely and easily

by
David Beren
Writer
David Beren is a tech writer Lifewire,  with 10+ years' experience. He has written and managed content for companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, and TracFone Wireless.
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David Beren
Updated on April 21, 2021

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The Rundown
Best Basic:
Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount at Amazon
Allows your device to tilt quickly from landscape to portrait mode or anywhere in between.
Best Magnet:
TechMatte Mag Grip at Amazon
Rotating and swiveling your smartphone is no trouble, thanks to the movable base.
Best Grip:
Bestrix Universal Smartphone Car Mount at Amazon
Standout solution for minimal use with maximum function.
Best Windshield:
iOttie Easy One Touch 4 at Amazon
Extends from 4.9 to 8.3 inches in size and pivots on a 225-degree arc for easy repositioning.
Best Splurge:
RAM MOUNTS X-Grip at Amazon
It's made out of high strength composite, stainless-steel construction.
in this article

The best car phone holders allow you to secure your phone safely while you drive. In this modern-day cell phones are illegal to use while driving, but they could offer helpful functions like GPS. When GPS is needed, using a phone holder makes looking at directions less threatening by offering an easy access alternative to holding your device.

When researching your next holder, it is important to decide if you want a magnetic device or not, if a charger is included, and the number of mounts given. The iOttie Easy One Touch (view on Amazon) is a mount that wirelessly charges your device while it secures your smartphone in place without magnets. If you are looking to secure your phone outside of your vehicle, consider investing in a tripod instead.

Only the best car phone holders should be trusted to secure your smartphone from danger.

Best Basic: Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount

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What we like

  • Minimalist design

  • Can be mounted virtually anywhere in your vehicle

What we don't like

  • Phone will reorient slightly during turbulent traffic

The Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount is a great choice for smartphone owners who want a mount that’s truly out of the way. Compatible with nearly any smartphone, including Apple's, Samsung's and Google’s Pixel lineup, the 3M-based adhesive magnetic attachment secures directly to the phone or a rigid case. The attached socket then connects to the dash mount, which is also equipped with 3M adhesive that can safely adhere to any vertical or flat dashboard. Once the steel ball is connected to the phone, the mount allows your device to tilt quickly from landscape to portrait mode or anywhere in between to find the most comfortable viewing angle for you. The neodymium magnet offers a strong grip, so you don't have to worry about this mount detaching at any point while driving on a bumpy road.

Mount Placement: Dash / Vent | Charging: No | Closure Type: Magnetic

Best Magnet: TechMatte Mag Grip

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What we like

  • Phone remains secure through even the toughest bumps

  • Magnetic sticker can be hidden under phone case

What we don't like

  • Vent mount only

Attaching directly to your car’s air vent, the TechMatte Mag Grip universal car mount is a unique solution that gets out of the way visually while remaining highly functional. Assisted by neodymium magnets, the TechMatte differs from alternative magnetic car mounts that utilize more standardized magnets. Capable of holding most smartphones, including Samsung, Apple, HTC and Google devices, the rubber construction ensures that the grip to the air vent will always be secure. Rotating and swiveling your smartphone is no trouble, thanks to the movable base that allows magnets to remain in place. Measuring 1.75 x 1.5 inches in size and weighing only 1.25 ounces, the lack of a cradle allows your entire smartphone to be displayed without any distracting supporting equipment.

Mount Placement: Vent | Charging: No | Closure Type: Magnetic

Best Grip: Bestrix Universal Smartphone Car Mount

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What we like

  • Can handle all but the largest of phones

  • Can rotate for landscape or portrait view

What we don't like

  • Vent mount only

Available in both gray and orange, the Bestrix Universal Smartphone Car Mount is a standout solution for minimal use with maximum function. They attach directly to the air vents in your vehicle via dual silicone clips that connect to most conventional air vent blades, leaving no damage or scratches in their wake. The clamping grips of the Bestrix are compatible with any smartphone up to six inches in width, including the entirety of Apple’s iPhone lineup, as well as Samsung, LG and HTC. Once connected to a vent, the Bestrix can easily rotate into portrait or landscape modes to allow the driver to find an ideal angle.

Mount Placement: Vent | Charging: No | Closure Type: Spring

Best Windshield: iOttie Easy One Touch 4

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What we like

  • Easy mounting and removal to just about any surface in your vehicle

  • One handed mounting

What we don't like

  • No charging capability

Securing directly to a windshield via suction cup, the iOttie Easy One Touch 4 car mount properly secures any smartphones 2.3 to 3.5-inches in width. The telescopic arm of the iOttie extends from 4.9 to 8.3 inches in size and pivots on a 225-degree arc for easy repositioning while driving. As a bonus, iOttie offers two free audiobooks for use in the car to help keep your eyes on the road. Another iOttie advantage is the downloadable smartphone app on both iOS and Android that utilizes GPS positioning to pin and remember the last location where you parked.

Mount Placement: Dash | Charging: No | Closure Type: Spring

Best Splurge: RAM MOUNTS X-Grip

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What we like

  • Versatile mounting options

What we don't like

  • Side grips aren't super effective

Don’t let the unique design fool you. The Ram Mount X-Grip has a spring-loaded four-leg holder and can adjust sizing to fit nearly any smartphone. It's made out of high strength composite, stainless-steel construction and designed with a one-inch diameter rubber ball and socket, which provide nearly limitless movement for adjusting and discovering the perfect angle for viewing while driving.

Mount Placement: Dash | Charging: No | Closure Type: Spring

Final Verdict

Our favorite phone holder for your car is the Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount (view at Amazon) thanks to its versatile mounting options and a grip that just won't quit. This mount is a simple and elegant solution that doesn't need to block AC vents to be effective.

About Our Trusted Experts

David Beren is a tech writer with more than 10 years of experience in the industry. He has written and managed content for tech companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, and TracFone Wireless.

FAQs

The suction cup on my phone mount stopped working, what now?
The best solution for this is to simply rinse the suction cup in warm water, this makes the suction cup slightly more flexible and makes it easier for it to stick to surfaces.

Can I remove and reapply my phone mount?
This depends on the type of mount you have. Mounts that use adhesives can be reapplied, but will gradually lose their effectiveness over time. Suction cup mounts aren't always as secure but can be removed and applied many times before degrading.

What's the best place to mount a phone in my car?
Ideally, you want to place your phone somewhere that's visible and you can quickly press buttons and respond to alerts if necessary. It is legal to keep a phone powered on while operating your vehicle as long as it doesn't interfere with your ability to drive.

What to Look for in a Car Phone Holder

Multiple mounts

Some car phone holders come with a single cradle and more than one mount. If you have more than one vehicle, this allows you to install one mount in each vehicle, and just take the cradle portion of the holder with you. Look for one that includes a variety of mounts, including vent, dash, and windshield, if you think this would be a useful feature.

Magnets

There are a lot of ways to secure a phone to a mount, but the most convenient makes use of very strong magnets. This allows you to easily snap your phone in place, and remove it without messing around with springs, clasps, or other retaining mechanisms.

Power

In addition to dash- and window-mounted phone holders, some are actually built right into power banks. This type of phone holder is mounted on a 12V plug that you insert into a cigarette lighter socket, so you can also use it to charge your phone and other mobile devices.

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