Heads Up, Eyes Forward: We Pick the Best Car Phone Mounts (2024)

The X-Grip is likely one of the best-made mounts on the market, thanks to its use of stainless steel and high-strength composites. It mounts to your windshield using a strong Twist-Lock suction cup, and it offers a wide range of adjustability thanks to the use of ball and socket joints. Most important, your device is secured with spring-loaded X-design arms that fit phones ranging from 1.87 to 3.25 inches in width.

RAM offers a plethora of styles and accessories, too, making its entire line of mounts super-customizable and compatible with almost any vehicle on (or off) the road, even motorcycles.

The Velox was named Best MagSafe Mount in the Gear Team's test of the Best Car Phone Mounts because it's designed to work only with Apple MagSafe products. (Sorry, Android users.) It uses magnets to secure your iPhone while also providing wireless charging. We use this mount in our personal cars, and while it generally works great, we have had our phone fall off the mount once or twice. So we usually remove the case before throwing the phone up there, just to ensure a solid connection and seamless charging.

This particular model uses silicon prongs to secure the mount to your vehicle's vents; however, a dashboard and windshield suction-cup model is also available.

This unit stands out for its flexibility and affordability. It can be mounted to the windshield, dashboard, or air vents. It has an arm that extends up to 7.3 inches and a ball head that allows it to rotate 360 degrees.

Andobil also claims that the whole thing is "bumpy roads friendly," and we believe it; the arms are robust and feature rubber pads for extra grip. The carbon fiber look is also cool and will blend nicely with sporty cabins; it's available in black or silver.

The Auto Sense Qi is the only cupholder mount to make our list, and it was also named the Best Cupholder Mount by our Gear Team testers. It features spacers that expand to fit securely into just about any cupholder, a Qi-certified charging pad that works for iPhones and Androids, and automatically gripping arms. A neat feature is the built-in battery, which allows it to grip and release your device for up to an hour after you shut off your vehicle.

We don't normally recommend cupholder mounts, but we love iOttie. We suggest opting for the windshield/dashboard mount or the air vent/CD slot mount versions of the AutoSense Qi.

The Easy One Touch 5 from iOttie is an affordable and simple option from a renowned brand that comes with a cool party trick: iOttie's patented Easy One Touch mechanism. This allows the arms to open and close automatically, which saves you from having to secure your phone with two hands while on the move.

Our Gear Team named it the Best Budget Vent Mount and was satisfied with its easy operation and competitive price. The testers were less satisfied with the mount's grip on the test vehicle's vents; to resolve this, opt for the dashboard and windshield or CD slot versions of the Easy One Touch 5.

Are car phone mounts legal to use while driving?

In many places, using a car phone mount is legal as long as it does not obstruct your view and is mounted in a safe location. Many local laws prohibit mounting anything to your windshield, though, and leave the question of whether it "blocks the driver's field of vision" up to the officer. For example, in the image above, we can imagine certain law enforcement taking issue with the placement of this particular phone mount. If using a windshield mount, we recommend low, inconspicuous placement. It's essential to check your local laws and regulations when choosing the type of phone mount you want to buy.

Can I use a car phone mount with any smartphone model?

Most car phone mounts are designed to be adjustable and accommodate various phone sizes. However, it's crucial to check the mount's specifications and reviews to ensure compatibility with your specific phone model.

Can I use a car phone mount with a phone case?

Many car phone mounts are designed to accommodate phones with cases. Look for mounts with adjustable arms or specifications that indicate compatibility with phone cases. Magnetic phone mounts may not secure your device, or wirelessly charge it, through its case.

What should I do if the mount loses its suction or grip?

Clean the suction cup or adhesive surface, and ensure it is free from dust and debris. If the mount uses a gel pad, rinsing it with water can restore its adhesiveness. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintenance.

Do magnetic car phone mounts damage cell phones?

No. Modern chip technology is made with nonmagnetic materials, so your phone is totally safe.

Road & Track and its sibling publications at Hearst Autos represent three of the most influential automotive publications in the world. We rely on decades of experience in the automotive and gear spaces to help readers make informed purchasing choices. Read more about our testing process here.

With the legacies of Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track behind us, the Hearst Autos Gear Team is more concerned with the trust our readers have in us than our bottom line. We won't tell you to buy something if we wouldn't buy it ourselves or recommend it to our friends, and we'll never claim to have used or tested something if we haven't.

We've evaluated dozens of product categories, from snow blowers to tire chains. Our picks and recommendations of products and gear are based on testing and knowledge, not hype.