If you happen to drive a automobile or trip a motorbike, the possibilities are that you simply’ve significantly thought of getting a smartphone mount in some unspecified time in the future. A smartphone mount helps you retain your smartphone in a set spot with the display going through you, so to use it to regulate music playback or for navigation by way of apps akin to Google Maps.
Navigation might be the one most helpful driving associated characteristic in smartphones and we strongly advocate getting a mount for this goal. Nobody desires to threat an accident just because the smartphone was positioned in a spot that stops you from trying on the highway forward. That’s why you want a mount in your cellphone. Right here’s what you want to bear in mind earlier than shopping for a smartphone mount.
Shopping for a smartphone mount in your automobile
The very first thing you have to know when shopping for a smartphone mount in your automobile is the place you wish to place the mount.
Several types of automobile smartphone mounts
There are 4 forms of smartphone mounts for vehicles mostly obtainable out there:
- Dashboard mounts: These are connected to the dashboard.
- Windscreen mounts: Connected to the windscreen.
- Air vent mounts: A clip-on mount positioned on the AC vent.
- CD mounts: In case your automobile has a CD participant that you simply don’t use, this mount goes there as an alternative.
A magnet-based AC mount
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Dashboard and windscreen mounts have a tendency to depart marks which may be onerous to scrub, so maintain that in thoughts earlier than shopping for. We additionally really feel that each of those have a tendency to dam a small a part of the windscreen, thus obscuring your view of the highway somewhat, that are two issues you must be mindful earlier than shopping for considered one of these.
A windscreen and dashboard mount
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CD and air vent mounts don’t block your view in any respect and we choose these for that motive. So long as your automobile has a CD participant that sits flush with the dashboard, there ought to be no downside utilizing a CD mount. Some vehicles have in another way designed CD gamers which will make utilizing this mount somewhat troublesome. After all, in the event you nonetheless use the CD participant in your automobile, then CD mounts usually are not an choice in any respect. The air vent mounts have a tendency to dam part of the AC, however they don’t have another apparent downsides.
A CD mount with claw grip
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We choose the CD mount as a result of we don’t use the CD participant in our automobile anymore, and its placement ensures that our view of the highway isn’t obstructed. Nonetheless, your wants might differ, so decide a mount accordingly.
How the mount holds your smartphone
When you’re certain which kind of a mount you need, the following step is to see how the mount holds your smartphone. Some mounts use a magnet whereas others use a claw-like grip to bodily maintain your smartphone. Smartphone mounts with a magnet typically require you to stay a magnet to the again of your smartphone or to the case and there’s one other kind that requires you to position the magnet between the cellphone and the case. If you happen to don’t thoughts attaching this magnet to your cellphone, then the benefit is that usually you gained’t want to alter the smartphone mount whenever you change your cellphone.
A magnet-based smartphone holder
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The magnet works simply tremendous with most telephones, except it’s extraordinarily massive and housed in a very heavy case. The claw-grip mount bodily holds your smartphone and there’s no “one-size-fits-all” mannequin right here. In case your cellphone could be very massive or very small, you may need to purchase a brand new mount. If you happen to’re shopping for any such a mount, you’ll want to test whether or not the claws have some cushioning within the type of a comfortable padding materials. If not, then the onerous plastic might scratch your cellphone.
One other factor to be careful for is whether or not the claws set off the touchscreen in your smartphone, one thing house owners of telephones with an edge show (such because the Samsung Galaxy S8+) ought to fear about. Nonetheless, in the event you’re notably anxious concerning the smartphone falling off, then any such a mount gives you some peace of thoughts. That mentioned, in our expertise magnet-based mounts are typically very safe even when they don’t have claws gripping your cellphone from all sides.
A smartphone holder with claw grip
When you’ve figured this out and narrowed down your selections, test whether or not the smartphone mount has a plastic stem connecting the mount to the half that grips your automobile. If sure, then this stem shouldn’t be very lengthy. The longer the stem, the extra your smartphone shakes whenever you’re driving and meaning it’s more durable to get all the data you want at a look.
Shopping for a smartphone mount in your bike
A smartphone mount for bikes shouldn’t be a straightforward buy in any respect. You’ll have to position the cellphone in your bike’s handlebar or stem, which implies that there’s at all times the concern that an opportunistic thief might seize your cellphone and run. Notice that if you cannot mount it on the handlebar, numerous bike smartphone holders may be mounted on the stem, as you may see right here. Nonetheless, in the event you want your smartphone for navigation, then shopping for a mount is an absolute necessity.
Several types of bike smartphone mounts
There are many several types of bike mounts for smartphones however the 4 main ones we discovered are as follows.
- Ram mounts: These maintain your cellphone in an X-shaped grip.
- Mounts with a case: Because the title suggests, these mounts have a smartphone case connected.
- Body with a water-resistant bag: This mount comes with a waterproof cowl.
- Common bracket: This smartphone mount comes with two grips on the aspect, which accommodates bigger or smaller telephones simply.
If you happen to don’t have a water-resistant smartphone, you must get a clear waterproof cowl for the cellphone, which lets you use the touchscreen even when the cellphone is inside the duvet. The body bag with a water-resistant cowl takes care of this so this can be probably the most helpful throughout monsoons. Alternatively, you might get a water-resistant cellphone case and use it with any of the opposite forms of smartphone mounts.
Bike mount with waterproof bag
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The common bracket works with probably the most quantity of smartphones however it’s not probably the most safe mount. The mount with a case is nice in the event you don’t use a case together with your smartphone, however the draw back is that it might develop into ineffective in the event you change your cellphone.
Common bracket holder for bikes
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The ram mount is probably the most safe smartphone mount for bikes as its X-shaped grip retains the cellphone locked in a single place. If you happen to’re shopping for this one, you’ll want to test if the grip touches any a part of the display. Significantly with bezel-free telephones, there’s an opportunity that it might activate the touchscreen by itself. And naturally, you have to purchase a water-resistant case to maintain your cellphone secure.
Ram mount for bikes
Picture Credit score: Ram Rail/ Amazon
We hope this information helped you purchase a smartphone mount in your automobile or bike. In case you have any extra strategies, tell us by way of the feedback. For extra tutorials, go to our How To part.
