As smartphone technology and 4G coverage improves, more of us are using our iPhones for in-car GPS rather than investing in separate dedicated devices.
Adoption of Apple’s CarPlay is yet to really take off, so for now you’re going to need a decent iPhone car mount to allow your iPhone to be easily viewable on your dashboard to guide you to your destination. Here are the best iPhone car holders and car mounts available.
Nite Ize Steelie
The Steelie is a cool minimalist mount, but it does require you to attach a small circular magnet directly to the back of your iPhone or to a hard iPhone case. If you’re happy to do so, then Steelie could be for you.
That magnet (which is super-strong, by the way) connects to the Steelie Ball Mount Component, which can be attached to your dashboard, so all you need to do is place your iPhone on the Ball Mount to begin using it hands-free. As it’s a ball mount, you’ll be able to easily reposition your iPhone in any way you choose to.
Kenu Airframe+ Portable Car Mount
The Airframe+ from Kenu is extremely versatile iPhone car holder and clips easily to most in-car air vents whether they’re horizontal, vertical, angled or circular.
It can accommodate any smartphone up to 6 inches (when measuring the screen diagonally), so is perfect for any iPhone as the current largest, the 7 Plus, 6 Plus and 6s Plus, are 5.5 inches. The spring-loaded mechanism makes it very easy not only to take phones in and out, but also to use for many devices if needed.
Konig Universal Smartphone Car Holder
This Konig universal mount from Konig is really easy to use and mounts simply to your windscreen.
It is 360 degrees rotatable and 90 degree tiltable, so angles aren’t an issue. You can pick one up for less than £10 in the UK, making it one of the cheaper mounts available, though it’s a little pricier if you’re in the US.
Clingo universal mount
The Clingo universal hands-free car iphone holder is pretty clever, and like many mounts it can attach to either the windscreen or dashboard of your car.
Rather than using clips or grips, the Clingo holds your iPhone (or indeed, any smartphone with a flat back) using a strong sticky pad that’s secure but supposedly doesn’t leave any residue on the back of your phone between uses.
Ipow non-slip dash mat
We like this car holder as it has a slightly different design to most on the market. The rubberised rectangular piece means you can put it on your dashboard and it won’t budge, allowing you to stand your iPhone vertically or horizontally in the grips to use for sat-nav purposes.
With no messy glues or adhesives needed, it’s a great alternative to the suction and vent-based mounts available.
UK shoppers can find the 3rd generation version of this mount on Amazon for £8.99. There’s also a 2nd generation version of this mount, though not available for UK shoppers, which is available for US shoppers on Amazon for $12.93.
Cygnett Magnetic Vent Mount
This is another neat little mount. Simply slide the attachment into a vent on your dashboard and slip the strong magnetic plate provided in between a case and your phone and voila – easy on and off and easy to adjust on the ball mount.
If you don’t want to have the metal plate touching the back of your phone between it and your case, then the mount also comes with two circular magnets with adhesive backs to stick directly to the outside of a case or your phone. Bear in mind that the set doesn’t come with a case like the red one pictured here.
Though this mount is available on Amazon UK, you may at times be able to get a better deal directly through Cygnett – so keep an eye on their website (link above).
Moshi Car Vent Mount
This is one of the more simplistic designs available, but that’s no bad thing. Moshi make excellent quality products and this car vent mount is no exception.
The jaw shape means this can take any phone with a diagonal screen size of 6in – if you want to measure your phone first, the jaw width is 2.2 to 3.5in. This is worth checking before buying, particularly if you want to use it with a case on your phone as it’ll add extra bulk.
This product is not currently available in the US.
Belkin Car Vent Mount
Belkin is a trusted brand, and this sturdy air vent car holder will serve you well when on the road.
It’s very easy to adjust at any position on the body of any iPhone out there (iPhone 4 or later). You can also rotate the phone 360 degrees if necessary for the best portrait or landscape viewing angles.
A subtle cable holder on the the back mount helps you keep the wires out the way while you’re driving, even if you want to charge it while you drive.