Phones can provide us with all the information we need at the touch of a screen. This includes maps and directions, which can be incredibly helpful if you're travelling somewhere new and need some guidance. However, looking at your phone if it's in an inconvenient position whilst driving can be extremely dangerous. This is where a car phone holder comes in handy!
No longer is there a need to have a pricey sat nav installed – once you have your map app of choice set up and ready to direct you, slip your phone into a holder just in your eye line (but not obscuring your vision) and you're good to go. To help you find your fit, we've looked at the best phone holders from brands like Belkin and PopSockets on Amazon, Argos and eBay.
Quick List - Top Car Phone Holders
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The first way of attaching your phone holder is by sticking it on the windscreen. This involves gluing, sticking or using a suction pad to grip the holder in place. They are good as they don't take up any room on your dashboard and also sit at a height that is easy to see.
This style is most useful if you find it difficult to follow directions while the phone screen is out of view. Having the screen well placed can be the perfect solution to this issue, as long as you are confident that you can keep your eyes on the road while ensuring you're on the right track! It is important, though, that you stick it somewhere that doesn't obscure your view.
The next group is holders that can be attached to your dashboard. They often use similar mechanisms to those that attach to a windscreen. In fact, sometimes you have the option of doing either so you can play around and decide what fits best with your car.
Having it on your dashboard will keep your phone lower and, while it might make your phone a little harder to see, it won't block your view out your windscreen. With your screen as less of a distraction, you can even use it for hands-free calls or streaming music while it's resting on the dashboard.
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This type is probably the easiest to install and requires the least amount of extra preparation. These attachments simply use the air vents of your car as a place to clip on, and can vary in their compatibility with horizontal, vertical or angled vents, or sometimes all three.
They are discreet and out of the way, but you can't pick exactly where you want to put these types of holder as you are bound to the location of the air vents in your car. They are also not the best option if you often find yourself reaching for the AC, as the variations in temperature could cause damage to your phone and the holder.
The majority of holders use a 'clip in' mechanism. These can range from holder to holder. For example, on some you slide your phone in whereas with others use a pincer grip to grab hold of your phone. You may need to check the size specifications before buying, but you'll find most clip-in holders will be compatible with various sized smartphones.
These are the best option if you're safety conscious, as clip holders are much more secure than other styles, and can help prevent drops and distractions on the road. They also don't require you to add anything extra to your phone, although they can be more bulky than other options.
What you don't want to do is to buy a phone holder only to find that your phone doesn't actually fit in it. Due to the fact that all that's required with these types of holders is two strong magnets, they will fit any size phone with ease. They are often very small and easily slide into an air vent, great if you have a small car with limited space.
On the flip side, these holders do require you to attach a magnet to your phone if it is to stick, which you might not want to do for a number of reasons. It could leave a sticky residue and any phone you want to use with the holder will have to prepared beforehand.
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A few holders, especially those that are adjustable, will allow you to install your phone horizontally or vertically, depending on which you prefer or which works better with your phone.
With magnetic holders, you don't need to worry about this as you can have your phone at whichever angle you would like. Some apps are more effective when they're a certain orientation, so it is definitely worth taking this into account.
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rock 3-in-1 Car Phone Holder | ![]() | Great-Value Phone Holder That Can Be Mounted Anywhere | |
2 | Syncwire Car Phone Holder | ![]() | Soft Silicone Frame That Locks Smartphones in Place | |
3 | UNBREAKcable Gravity Phone Holder | ![]() | A Holder That Hooks Into the Air Vent for Better Stability | |
4 | Belkin Universal Car Mount | ![]() | Adaptable Car Holder for iPhones and Larger Smartphone Models | |
5 | Yosh Car Phone Mount | ![]() | Space Saving Universal Car Phone Mount | |
6 | Nulaxy Car Phone Holder | ![]() | Dashboard Phone Holder That Won’t Obscure Your View | |
7 | Syncwire Magnetic Car Phone Holder | ![]() | Strong Magnetic Phone Holder That Can Withstand Bumps and Potholes | |
8 | Tophot Car Phone Mount | ![]() | Car Phone Holder That Can Be Folded Down When Not in Use | |
9 | PopSockets Grip Car Vent Holder | ![]() | Car Phone Holder That Attaches to Your Pop Socket |
With three different possible places you can put this holder, it empowers you to do what is safest and most convenient for you. The suction cup fits just as well onto the dashboard as it does on the windscreen, but it doesn't stop there. The removable air vent clip means you can choose the best thing for your trip whenever you want it.
Considering it has all these options, it is very good value, and the flexible holder will offer a secure place for any smartphone. It is also easy to set up and requires no extra tools, all you have to do is secure it on and go.
Only one simple hand motion is needed to lock and release your phone from this holder. The soft silicone frame, which is easily manoeuvrable to fit all kinds of smartphones, means that there is no risk of scratching your precious phone screen.
It can be clipped onto both horizontal and vertical car vents or stuck on using an adhesive gel pad, so you have options. The gel pad, if used, doesn't stain or mark and is easy to take off.
The clever way that the clips on this holder can be changed and manoeuvred means that they are suitable for any phone, even one with a thick case around it, and you can be confident that it will stay in place.
The claw grip keeps the holder extra secure, with silicone cushion pads to keep the phone steady and avoid unwanted scratches and scrapes from mounting/dismounting your phone.
This car phone holder's main selling point is in the name – it's one of the most universal you'll find and is compatible with even the largest iPhones and smartphones on the market. Attached to the dashboard or windscreen, it can rotate 360 degrees to be viewed in portrait or landscape mode and at several angles.
Impressively, it also has built-in storage for a charging cable, preventing it from tangling up and getting in the way whilst driving. Like most windscreen and dashboard mounts, it uses a suction pad to attach, which doesn't leave any nasty sticky stuff behind.
Even by magnetic air vent phone holder standards, this one is small. Not only is it small, but the black matte finish also makes it extremely subtle and will blend in to look like part of your car's furniture.
The material this mount is made from is extra heat-resistant too, so if it's a warm day and it gets hot in your car (which happens a lot), this holder won't end up deformed and no longer functional. It is a cheap option that will do an excellent job.
Sitting neatly on your dashboard means that this holder doesn't have to get in your way at all. The attachment is positioned on the dashboard but your phone sits below, placing it in a similar place to an air vent holder but with more stability.
It is limited to the dashboard positioning, though, and some might find they want a holder that they can put in a few different places to test what's best for them.
The six magnetic cores found in this mount make sure your phone isn't going anywhere. When it connects with the magnet on the back of your phone – with two different shapes to choose from – it will stay in place no matter how bumpy the road, even if you have a thicker case on it.
The two-level lock system keeps the holder safely stuck to the car but it is easy to remove if you wish. Like with all magnets, you can't just pop in your car and put any phone on the holder, it needs to have been set with a magnet stuck on beforehand.
If you don't often find yourself needing your phone holder but still want to have one in you car at all times just in case, it is worth looking at a holder like this. When not in use, this phone holder folds down completely (something other dashboard and windscreen holders don't do as well) but is still always there when you need it.
Unfortunately it is quite bulky when it has a phone in it and, because it sits on your dashboard, it might slightly obscure your view. It also finds itself at the more expensive end of the spectrum, which might put some people off.
The phone holder is very easy to install and will stay in place thanks to the rubber grip. This grip is versatile, securing your phone on the dashboard, and will leave your car scratch- and mark-free.
As well as this, it allows you to view your screen from any angle, adjusting to horizontal and vertical positions as you like. You will need to buy and stick a PopSockets grip to the back of your phone if you don't already have one, however, which will be an added cost.
Written and researched by Emma Cramp
No. 1: Rock|3-in-1 Car Phone Holder
No. 2: Syncwire|Car Phone Holder
No. 3: UNBREAKcable|Gravity Phone Holder
No. 4: Belkin|Universal Car Mount
No. 5: Yosh |Car Phone Mount
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