The best iPhone car mounts in 2023: top 10 best ones you can buy | Digital Trends (2024)

Although support for CarPlay and Android Auto is coming to more vehicles every year, lots of older cars are still on the road. Fortunately, you don't need the latest bells and whistles to use your smartphone on the road; there are still plenty of options available to keep your phone visible and accessible on your dashboard so you can use it to navigate to your destination or simply keep your favorite road-trip playlists at your fingertips. That's where the best iPhone car mounts come in handy.

With so many car mounts to choose from, it can be tough to find the right one. They're not all created equal, plus you have to decide whether it's best to mount your phone atop your dashboard, hang it off one of your vents, or mount it some other way. Your options will vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as personal preferences, but our list will help guide you in the right direction to get you started. There's something for just about everyone here — from sophisticated magnetic charging docks to simple gooseneck mounts that you can drop into your cup holder.

Please note: Different U.S. states and countries have different rules pertaining to phone use while driving. While some options below will be perfectly suitable for some areas, other territories may require a screen-based navigational aid (e.g. Google Maps) to be placed on a windscreen rather than a vent or cup holder. Make sure you do your research before purchasing to be sure you're fully aware of the laws within the area you live and anywhere you might travel.

Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge5

The best iPhone car mount overall

The Charge5 is Scosche's latest entry in its popular MagicMount Pro series. It's designed to not only hold everything from an iPhone 12 mini to an iPhone 14 Pro Max securely with Apple's MagSafe technology — but also keep you powered up on the road at the same time. A set of powerful Neodymium magnets align with the MagSafe ring in a compatible iPhone to securely hold your device in place while driving, and it's strong enough to handle the largest and heaviest iPhone models.

The Charge5 is also fully MagSafe-certified, meaning it will fast-charge a MagSafe-compatible iPhone at full 15W speeds. Plus, there's an extra 20W USB-C charging port on the included car connector, so you can power up a second device simultaneously.

You can also use the Charge5 even if you aren't toting an iPhone with a MagSafe attachment yet. Like Scosche's previous MagicMount Pro accessories, the included MagicPlate can be attached to any iPhone to securely anchor it to the mount. Non-MagSafe iPhones can also still charge wirelessly, although you'll be limited to standard 7.5W Qi charging rather than Apple's faster MagSafe speeds. The MagicPlate also comes in handy if you prefer to use a non-MagSafe case with a MagSafe-equipped iPhone, as the MagSafe attachment may not be strong enough to keep your iPhone secure when passing through a case.

Belkin Car Vent Mount PRO with MagSafe

The best vent iPhone car mount

Belkin's Vent Mount Pro was one of the first MagSafe car accessories to arrive after Apple debuted the new technology with the iPhone 12 in 2020 — and it's the first MagSafe accessory we found recommendable.

The Vent Mount Pro won't charge your iPhone; instead, it uses the MagSafe connector solely to anchor your iPhone 12 or newer to your dashboard with a minimum of fuss. The iPhone snaps on magnetically and stays securely in place, so there are no brackets or arms to fuss with. It's an elegant solution that just works.

Just keep in mind that, like most MagSafe docks and mounts, you won't be able to use this with a non-MagSafe case — the magnetic attachment isn't strong enough to avoid the risk of your iPhone falling off while driving. However, it works great with an uncased iPhone or any Apple or third-party case that includes the MagSafe ring.

Spigen MagFit Car Mount

The best iPhone car mount on a budget

If you own a MagSafe-equipped iPhone, such as the iPhone 14, Spigen's MagFit Car Mount is a convenient way to keep your iPhone mounted in your car while taking up as little space as possible. The vent mount design offers versatility when placing it in your car, and since it relies on MagSafe technology, you can pop your iPhone on and off quickly and with minimal fuss.

However, there's a catch here: the MagFit is just a holder for Apple's MagSafe Charger, which you'll need to supply yourself. While this means that it will charge your iPhone whenever it's docked — assuming you also supply a USB-C car adapter —this makes the holder much pricier than it appears at first glance, but it's a great budget pick if you already have these extra accessories on hand.

ZeeHoo 15W Wireless Charging Mount

The best charging iPhone car mount

If you own an iPhone 8 or later, your device is compatible with wireless charging. To combat the battery drainage that usually comes with running intensive location-tracking apps like Waze and Apple Maps, the ZeeHoo wireless charging mount can keep your device running without any cables. It also supports 15W Qi Fast Charging, but since it doesn't use Apple's MagSafe technology, even the latest iPhone models will only be able to draw 7.5W from it.

Unlike most wireless charging mounts, the ZeeHoo mount also has a more modern USB-C port. The car-powered mount also features a fan to help keep your phone cool while it charges. With all the components that make up the mount, the base suction cup is surprisingly strong enough to hang onto most surfaces like windshields and dashboards.

ESR HaloLock Car Mount

The best iPhone car mount for hot climates

If you're looking for an affordable MagSafe car mount that offers wireless charging for your iPhone while keeping it cool, this ESR model is worth a look. It's a dashboard mount made to stay put with an elongated neck that's ideal for keeping your iPhone accessible in larger vehicles. Best of all, though, is ESR's CryoBoost technology which allows the charger to operate at faster charging speeds without generating excessive heat. That's important if you're traveling in warmer climates where things can get pretty hot inside your vehicle.

Unfortunately, while this ESR mount does a good job of preventing overheating, some of that may be due to its slower charging speeds — it's not officially MagSafe certified by Apple, so you'll be limited to 7.5W charging. Nevertheless, it still manages to generate less heat than most comparable Qi wireless chargers. While it’s primarily designed with dashboard use in mind, the suction cup can be attached to the windshield as well, so you can experiment with different positions. The arm is managed via an adjustable ball joint, so you’ll be able to angle this mount in just about any direction once it’s in place.

Kenu Airframe+ Vent Mount

The best portable iPhone car mount

Not a fan of mounting sticky pads to your dashboard or suction cups to your windscreen? A vent mounting system could be what you're looking for. Built to fit most vent slats, Kenu's Airframe+ slides into your chosen vent and expands to accommodate your iPhone.

It's large enough to accommodate even the most super-sized iPhones, including the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and the clip rotates to fit both thin and thick vent slats. It's lightweight and compact enough to fit in your pocket, and when combined with a credit card, it doubles as a handy kickstand for your phone. These features make it the perfect car mount for anyone who travels and uses rental cars — just be careful not to leave it behind.

iOttie Easy One Touch 5

The best versatile iPhone car mount

iOttie's Easy One Touch 4 was excellent, so it makes sense we'd jump right onto the Easy One Touch 5 when it was available. The headline feature is the excellent one-touch mechanism that allows you to close the mount and open it one-handed, making it perfect for quickly slipping in your phone as you're getting ready to set off. Your iPhone is held securely by the arms, and there are feet at the bottom, so it can't fall. More importantly, you can adjust the height of the feet, and there's a telescopic arm that can extend and pivot.

This level of adjustability allows the iOttie mount to accommodate any iPhone model with any case on, and you can always find the ideal angle. It's a secure, solid mount at an affordable price, but iOttie also offers the same basic design with built-in Qi wireless charging for around $50. And if you're a big fan of Alexa, check out the iOttie Easy One Touch Connect Pro, which allows you to use Alexa on your iPhone in the car hands-free. You can buy this mount to fit into an air vent or CD slot or to be mounted on the dashboard or windshield.

IPOW Car Phone Mount

The best adjustable iPhone car mount

Reasonably priced and very effective, the IPOW Car Phone Mount has a strong suction cup on the base to hold firm to your dashboard or windshield. It's designed to be fully adjustable, so the cradle for your iPhone is connected via a ball socket that allows for any angle. The clamp and arm can be adjusted separately and then tightened when you find your preferred position.

The cradle has feet on the bottom with soft rubber padding to keep your phone safe and two arms with a spring mechanism that's enough to hold your iPhone securely but still allows for quick and effortless removal. There's also a lever on the back for releasing the suction cup, and you can wash it to renew its effectiveness.

This mount will fit most phones, and it's perfect for iPhones of almost any size, from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. There's no built-in charging here, but you'll find room between the feet to connect a cable for car chargers.

WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Car Mount

The best simple iPhone car mount

WizGear's car phone holder is the one to go for if you want to save space and money. It will save you time placing your iPhone on the mount since there's no fiddling with arms, and you won't have to remove your iPhone's protective case.

This mount doesn't stick to the dash or come with a holder for the phone, but instead clips onto your air vent. It holds your iPhone in place magnetically without harming or interfering with any aspect of the phone. You can affix your iPhone to the mount by placing the included metal plate in your case — between the back of your phone and the case — or by placing the round magnetic plate on the back of your phone. You can then hold it in front of the mount and feel the magnetism pull it securely in. Once attached, the phone and mount can be rotated or tilted to whatever angle you prefer.

Topgo Gooseneck Cup Holder Mount

The best iPhone car mount for cupholders

Every good car has a cupholder, but you don't need a drink to make use of yours. This car mount from Topgo makes use of a previously empty cup holder by using it to hold your phone. The adjustable base can change to fit almost any cupholder, while the 8-inch gooseneck attached to the main cradle allows you to position your phone wherever you need it.

The cradle itself is secure and can expand more than 3.5 inches — making it big enough to accommodate any iPhone on the market today. While it may lack the snazzy brand name of other holders, this cradle is a no-nonsense alternative, and if you need a version without the flexible gooseneck, Topgo has a cupholder mount for that need too.

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