中文无码一区二区不卡 Car Phone Mounts That Hold Up

Driver distraction is an undeniable problem in our always-on society. Repeat after me: Keep your eyes on the road at all times.

But let’s get real. Most of us use our phones while driving, whether for maps, music, or hands-free calls. Good mounts keep your screen where you can see it and your hands on the wheel. Bad ones wobble, fall off mid-turn, or become dashboard projectiles. Even worse, they tempt you to reach or fumble while driving, precisely what you don’t want.

When considering how and where to mount your phone, know your local traffic laws first. Most states prohibit texting while driving. Many prohibit having a phone where it could obstruct the driver’s view of the road ahead. Some states also require mounts to be placed at dashboard height or lower. Check local traffic laws, and make sure you are safe and legal.

Text can be hard to read, even on max-sized phones. It’s usually better to sync your cell phone to your vehicle’s infotainment display. Most modern cars allow you to mirror apps on the dashboard display via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It’s often automatic after you connect using Bluetooth or a USB plug. At that point, you can make or take calls more safely, use navigation, or play music. You may need to grant permissions the first time. But after that, it should connect automatically.

This still leaves the challenge of where to mount the phone. Here are a few options.

Cup Holders

A popular choice is to use the closest, most prominent cup holder. Cupholder phone mounts are solid and stable. They don’t rely on suction cups or fussy clips, making them a solid option. But they come with trade-offs. If you need to see or handle the phone, its low position could pull your gaze away from the road. Also, they hijack your cup holder. This becomes an issue if you’re a daily coffee drinker or need two water bottles on a long trip. When shopping for a cup holder phone mount, ensure that it fits your specific make and model.

The CupFone from WeatherTech (above) indicates it will fit “virtually all known current mobile phones.” It has a series of stacking cups to choose from to fit the size of your cup holder. It comes with a lifetime warranty and sells for about $45.

Suction-Cup Dash Mounts

Mounting your phone to the dashboard or windshield lets you quickly glance at the phone while keeping your head up and eyes forward. But putting one eye on traffic and the other on the phone is not the same as 100-percent attention on the road. Moreover, this setup can make cord management a challenge. Dangling a charging or USB cable from the phone pulls on the device. That increases the likelihood that an abrupt stop or turn will send your phone flying. Suction cups are notoriously unreliable.

If you are still stuck on using a suction-mounted holder, this popular model offers an adjustable arm. The suction base is larger than other models and has a sticky gel for better mounting. The arms lock the phone in place. A button allows for quick release as you exit the car. It retails for $10.99.

Rearview Mirror

Another option is a phone holder that connects to your rearview mirror. As with dashboard mounts, the space below your RVM allows you to keep your head up. But you have the same problems with managing cords and creating a distraction. Be aware that some states prohibit anything attached to or obstructing the mirror. The smart cord-management solution is to use Bluetooth and make sure your phone is charged.

This affordable rotating version mounts behind the mirror to limit obstructing the view. It swivels to allow for greater visibility, and the mounting arm is adjustable to fit your needs. It retails for $7.99.

Car Air Vents

One of the most effective designs slides onto a dashboard vent. The phone connects either via an adjustable clip or with a MagSafe magnet. This approach keeps the phone in a relatively high and viewable position, but below the windshield, where it can distract. That location is also often easy to reach.

Quality especially matters with this design. Heavy phones can cause the air vent to tilt down, making it easier for the phone to slide off. It can also block air from flowing out of that vent. Some mounts include a secondary brace to rest against the dash. Look for that if your phone is heavy.

This universal holder has a metal hook to securely attach to the air vent and a silicone cushion on the rear to limit vibration. The holder has an opening on the bottom to allow easy access to the charging port and claims to hold up to 10 kg (22 pounds) without failing. It sells for $9.98.

Power Port

If you have a circular 12-volt power port (also known as a cigarette lighter) in the center console, consider an all-in-one holder. The holder plugs into the power port and uses a flexible extension to hold the phone. A mag charger or a short cord incorporated into the holder transmits power to the phone. This allows you to charge the phone while driving. Just be sure the arm isn’t too floppy or short to keep your phone in a useful position.

This charger mount comes with two USB two-amp charging ports to charge multiple items. It comes with a micro USB charging cord, and the gooseneck arm allows infinite adjustments. All this for $21.
(insert lighter plug holder)

Cell phone holders range between $10 and $75, depending on the quality of the materials and if they incorporate a phone charging mechanism. We suggest investing in the best possible quality. It’s a matter of safety.

If you ride a motorcycle, we have solid advice about phone mounts.