Article updated on June 11, 2024 at 11:00 AM PDT
Having a car phone mount is super convenient when you're on the go. Here are our favorites, all tested and reviewed by CNET experts. cnc milling process
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Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on a car mount.
Pay careful attention to the type of mount because it will determine where your phone rests while driving and whether you can view it easily.
Many mounts come equipped with charging capabilities, whether wirelessly or corded.
The best car phone mount will depend on what you want your mount for. Some prefer to keep their phone down low, others want to see it up high on the dashboard as they use it for GPS. There are really cool features available like arms that will open when your phone is near, magnetic holding options and even Apple MagSafe abilities, making charging simpler.
Note that just because a mount offers wireless charging, that doesn't mean there are no wires involved. You'll still need to connect the charger to your vehicle, but you don't have to plug the charger into your phone each time to charge it. To get the fastest wired and wireless charging speeds available for iPhones and Android smartphones, you'll need a power adapter that offers fast charging (most fast chargers have a USB-C connection and can deliver at least 20 watts of power).
CNET experts have tested and reviewed all the products on this list in their own cars. We update this roundup periodically as new car phone mounts are released.
Read more: Best MagSafe Accessories for 2024
iOttie's "autosense" automatic clamping wireless car charger with a phone mount is one of the best out there. While it's pricey, we've seen some nice discounts on it recently. The Auto Sense Automatic Clamping Qi Charging Car Phone Mount is available in a dashboard mount version or a CD, cup holder and vent clip version (I tried the dashboard wireless charging mount). This wireless car charger mount has a nicely designed telescoping arm and a strong suction cup, and the wireless charging mount feature is compatible with most phone cases. You get 7.5-watt charging for an iPhone and 10-watt charging for Android phones, which is considered fast wireless charging.
This Qi wireless charger comes with a dual-charging USB cigarette lighter adapter. My only gripe -- and it's a small one -- is that the included cable is Micro-USB and not USB Type-C. Once this Qi charger is plugged into the wireless car charging mount you can basically forget about it, but if the cable accidentally becomes unplugged (which does happen), it's easier to plug in a USB-C cable for phone charging, especially when you're driving.
If you don't mind going with a no-name brand like ZeeHoo, its wireless car charger has most of the features you want for phone charging, including auto clamping, a secure suction cup that can be installed on your car's air vent, windshield or dashboard. It has USB-C and up to 15-watt fast charging for Android phones that support it (iPhones are capped at 7.5-watt charging). This upgraded version has a sleeker design than the original (see below) and it costs about $20 less than the iOttie above. This wireless charger doesn't come with a cigarette lighter adapter -- only a USB-C cable.
This wireless car mount charger is one of the more popular generic wireless car chargers with an autosensing telescopic arm, and the original version I tried worked well overall, attaching securely to my car vent mount and giving my smartphone or QI-enabled device a quick charge.
Note that to get fast charging, you'll need a power adapter that supports it (not included).
If you don't want wireless charging or arms or a mount with arms that open automatically, iOttie's tried and true Easy One Touch 5 is a solid mount for just under $25. You can pick up the first-gen version of the mount for $23, but this improved model has a telescoping arm.
Belkin's Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe technically isn't a charger. It's just a certified MagSafe vent mount. Belkin also has a wireless charging version of this (it costs $34 without the car charger and $50 with it), but you'd have to connect a cable to it anyway for charging. The advantage of a wireless version would be that unlike with this vent mount, you wouldn't have to plug a cable into your phone every time you want to charge it. I have a USB-C-to-Lightning cable set up in the car for fast charging, but I don't love the extra step of having to plug in the cable each time I want to charge the phone.
All that said, what sets this Belkin apart from other generic, non-MagSafe-certified mounts that look similar (and some even offer wireless charging), is that the Belkin has a strong magnet while many of these other vent mounts don't. If you have a MagSafe case on your phone, or just a naked newer iPhone model, the phone really sticks to the mount. The clip also keeps the mount securely in your vent and you can rotate the mount from portrait to landscape mode as needed.
I used the Scosche Magic Mount Pro 2 for a couple of weeks and it's got a strong magnet (I have an iPhone 14 Pro with a MagSafe case) and the swing-arm allows for some good flexibility as far as positioning your phone goes. Note that this isn't a wireless car mount, so you'll have to plug a cable into your phone. The main advantage it has over other magnetic car mounts is the arm design. I use the car-vent option but you can mount it on a dashboard. Most people will use the air-vent option, though.
I installed this phone holder in my car because I didn't want to have anything sticking up from my dashboard when I wasn't using the holder. It's got a clamshell design and you open the top lid and set your phone inside. You can also prop your phone up vertically if you want, but I mainly keep my phone sitting horizontally in the holder. The base swivels, which is nice.
Note that you do need a flat dashboard to mount this. It sticks to your dashboard or any flat surface.
Belkin makes a MagSafe car-vent mount that costs around $40 (see above), as well as the BoostCharge Pro ($90), which is Apple-certified and wirelessly charges iPhones at up to 15 watts. While this model -- the Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger -- only charges iPhones at up to 10 watts, it's more affordable at around $60. Its USB-C cable is removable (it's integrated with the BoostCharge Pro) and you get a 20-watt cigarette-lighter power adapter. I like a car power adapter with two USB-C ports so a passenger can plug in a cable and also charge their phone, but you can always opt to add that later.
If you've already got Apple's MagSafe wireless charging puck, this Spigen mounting accessory is a good option for bringing it into your car. As I said, the MagSafe wireless charger isn't included. Nor is a USB-C cigarette lighter adapter. At $22, this is a fairly affordable magnetic mounting accessory.
Note: Make sure to use the right cigarette lighter adapter to get the maximum 15-watt charging speed. Also, since this relies on the magnets from the wireless charging puck for your phone to stick to it (MagSafe case required if you are using a case) this isn't recommended for the larger iPhone models as it's more likely to slip off the mount -- especially if you hit a bump -- because of its weight.
Some people like cupholder phone mounts, but be aware that they'll take up space in one of your cupholders. While it's pretty generic, the Tecknet is a good value if you're looking for this type of mount, which has a flexible gooseneck so you can better position your phone for viewing. It also comes with a car-vent mount and has a one-touch release mechanism.
OK, so this isn't a phone mount, but a lot of the mounts on this list don't include a cigarette-lighter power adapter, so I thought I'd throw this on the list at the end. I originally had an Aukey power adapter on this list, but it's out of stock and this low-profile Ainope mini fast USB Car Charger offers even faster charging (up to 24 watts) and costs less. It has both a USB-C and USB-A port so you can charge two devices at the same time, but to get 15-watt wireless charging you're going to be better off charging one device.
Note that to get the fastest wired charging for iPhones, you'll need to use a USB-C to Lightning cable. That cable is not included.
Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on a car mount. Value-priced mounts continue to improve, so you can find a decent mount for less than $20. But if you're looking for a more premium model, you'll likely have to pay more than $40 and even more for mounts with integrated wireless charging, like MagSafe certified products.
Some mounts stick to your dashboard. Others clip into your car's air vent mount or sit in a cup holder. Some have adjustable or rotating arms or pedestals. Pay careful attention to the type of mount because it will determine where your phone rests while driving and whether you can view it easily.
Many mounts come equipped with charging capabilities, whether wirelessly or corded. Some mounts come with a cigarette lighter power adapter, and some don't. Others have the cable and power adapter hard-wired into the mount. It's best if the power adapter has a second port for charging additional devices and ample wattage to charge two devices at the same time at high speed.
We evaluate car phone mounts using a few different criteria, including design, features, performance and value.
When we look at the design, we check whether the mount adheres securely to either the dashboard or air vent (certain mounts also fit in CD slots or cup holders) and test how durable it is over at least two weeks of use.
For features, we look at including an auto-clamping mechanism, charging compatibility and what sort of power adapter and cable are included. Some mounts with integrated charging have cables integrated into the charger's design while others have a detachable cable. Also, some power adapters have additional ports for plugging in a second cable, allowing you to charge a second device.
When it comes to performance, we look at how strong a mechanism might be on the mount to hold your phone. For mounts with charging capabilities, we check the corded and wireless speeds for iPhones and Android devices.
In selecting best products, we also take into account how much bang for the buck they offer. Value is determined by the quality of the product in relation to its price.
ESR Wireless MagSafe Car Charger: While ESR is known to make some value accessories for the iPhone, its MagSafe wireless car charger is fairly pricey at around $100 (that seems to be par for the course for MagSafe-certified wireless car chargers with fast 15-watt charging for iPhones). Its design is pretty elegant, the magnet is relatively strong and the air-vent mount has a strong clamp and some extra support that allows it to hook on very securely. Additionally, the mount has some built-in cooling (ESR calls it CryoBoost) so the charger doesn't overheat.
iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless Charging Car Mount: iOttie offers this MagSafe-compatible wireless car charger with a car vent mount. It has a strong magnet, so your iPhone stays on the mount, and it also has an integrated USB-C cable and cigarette-lighter power adapter so you're ready to start charging out of the box. Note that iPhone "fast" charging caps out at 7.5 watts.
Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge 5: Scosche's MagicMount Pro Charge is designed for both MagSafe-enabled iPhones but can also be used with Android devices if you stick the included MagicPlate on the back of your phone or case (it's a metal plate that sticks to the mount's magnet). You have the option to buy the mount in a variety of styles, including air-vent and dashboard versions as well as one with a telescoping arm. A 20-watt car power adapter is included, and the Qi wireless charger offers up to 15-watt charging speeds with certain Android devices (it drops down to 7.5 watts for iPhones).
Belkin BoostCharge ProWireless Car Charger with MagSafe: The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Wireless Car Charger with MagSafe is one of the few official Apple-certified MagSafe wireless car chargers, which means it can charge iPhones at the top wireless charging speed of 15 watts (most wireless car chargers only charge iPhones at up to 7.5 watts). The mount swivels, so you can view your phone in landscape or portrait mode, and a 20-watt car power adapter is included.
Scosche MagicGrip FreeFlow Autogrip charger: The Scosche MagicGrip FreeFlow Autogrip has two key features: an auto-sense arm that opens automatically when you place your phone in front of the mount (and closes around your phone when you place it on the mount), plus an articulating swing arm that offers flexible viewing options for your device, including landscape and portrait modes. This wireless car charger offers up to 10-watt charging speeds for Android devices and 7.5-watt for iPhones. A 12-volt power adapter is included.
Ultimately, the best place for a car phone mount comes down to personal preference. Some prefer to keep their phone down low and may prefer a cupholder mount, but this can cause the driver to look away from the road more frequently. Others want to see it up high as they use it for GPS and may opt for a dashboard, windshield, or vent mount. Keep in mind that windshield mounts are illegal in most states, so be sure to check your local laws for more information.
This is an interesting question. Theoretically, the maximum output from a 12-volt "cigarette lighter" socket is 180 watts, since most run through a 15-amp fuse (15Ax12V=180W). In practice, it's far lower. The last thing any manufacturer wants is for you to blow fuses in your car trying to recharge three phones, a laptop and a curling iron or something. For the most part, the fastest car chargers will charge your phone in a similar, though probably somewhat slower, timeframe as a decent charger at home.
rejection of heat laptop stand Magnetic car mounts are generally very safe for smartphones. Today, phones are built using solid-state technology, meaning they won't be affected by the small magnets used in car mounts. If you're looking for a mount with wireless charging abilities, a magnetic car mount would be your best option.