Go hands-free with one of these fantastic car mounts
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It's now illegal in most places to hold your phone and use it while you drive. A quality car mount is vital if you want to use your iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus while you drive, whether it's to answer calls, play music, or get directions. These are the best car mounts for your iPhone.
Best Overall: Kenu Airframe+
The Kenu Airframe+ is one of our favorite car mounts. It's affordable, installs easily into your car's vent without blocking airflow, and can expand to hold even bigger sized devices. The sides clamp on to your iPhone XS, XR, 8, or 8 Plus to give it a secure fit, and you won't have to worry about your device falling while you're driving.
Pros:
- Secure
- Easy to install
- Expandable
Cons:
- Angle not adjustable
Best Overall
Kenu Airframe+
Simply works
There are no bells and whistles here, but this simple car mount does the job well.
Most Reliable: iOttie Easy One Touch 4
The One Touch 4 is probably the best mount for most people. It cradles your iPhone securely, has a strong suction cup, and the adhesive dashboard pad means you'll always have a smooth surface to mount on.
Pros:
- Secure cradle grip
- Adjustable arm
Cons:
- Needs smooth surface
Most Reliable
iOttie Easy One Touch 4
Every angle
The telescopic arm and three-point cradle mean your iPhone is held securely at any angle you like.
Most Classic: TechMatte MagGrip air vent mount
This is the mount most people are familiar with. The air vent MagGrip from TechMate fits easily on most vents and comes with a magnetic plate, which is best placed on your phone case. The magnet is strong and will hold your iPhone in place, even down the bumpiest roads.
Pros:
- Compact
- Reliable
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Need metal on back of iPhone
Most Classic
TechMatte MagGrip air vent mount
Simply classic
This dead-simple little car mount contains a powerful magnet; your metal-backed iPhone will stay in place until you remove it.
Most Perfect Fit: ProClip mounting solutions
ProClip offers custom mounting solutions that you build on its site. You enter your iPhone model and vehicle make, and ProClip's site points you to the specific mounts you need to mount your iPhone in your car correctly. They can get a little pricey, but it's worth it for the last mount you'll need (in this vehicle and with this phone, anyway).
Pros:
- Perfect fit
- Customized
Cons:
- May need to replace for new phone
Most Perfect Fit
ProClip mounting solutions
Custom fit
It's the best fit you can get for your current model phone, but keep in mind that it may not fit your future phones.
Most Heavy-Duty: Ram Mount Universal X-Grip
This well-built mount is made from aluminum composite and stainless steel, with a strong, adjustable arm that lets you orient your iPhone any way you like. If you like using a heavy-duty case on your iPhone, this mount can handle it just fine.
Pros:
- Built to last
- Adjustable arm
Cons:
- Pricey
Most Heavy-Duty
Ram Mount Universal X-Grip
Rugged
This super-tough heavy-duty car mount is built to handle whatever you throw its way.
Best Value: Logitech Drive one-touch mount
Logitech's Drive mount fits in your car's air vent, and all it takes is a twist to attach or remove. It has a strong magnet and will work with any iPhone model as long as you have a metal case or metal inserted into it.
Pros:
- Works with any model phone
- Powerful magnet
- Bargain price
Cons:
- Need metal on the back of your phone
Best Value
Logitech Drive one-touch mount
Great value
As long as you have metal on the back of your phone, this is an inexpensive and reliable way to mount any phone.
Sturdiest: Spigen Kuel TS36
The Kuel mount from Spigen is a lot like iOttie's One Touch mount, but it's a little less expensive, and some reviewers have noted that it's a little sturdier. Its telescopic arm adjusts to where you need it, and the head rotates so that you can view your iPhone in portrait or landscape.
Pros:
- Sturdy
- Telescopic arm
- Portrait or landscape mode
Cons:
- Need smooth surface to adhere to
Sturdiest
Spigen Kuel TS36
Sturdy and flexible
The telescopic arm holds your phone securely any which way you like.
Best Wireless Charging: Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge Vent Mount
Since the iPhone XS, XR, 8, and 8 Plus support wireless charging, the Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge Vent Mount is the perfect way to mount your iPhone and juice it up during your commute. Simply attach the mount to your car vent, lay your iPhone on the mount, and start charging your battery in a jiffy with help from this wireless, magnetic pad.
Pros:
- Charges iPhone wirelessly while mounted
- Works with any size phone
- Metal plate included
Cons:
- Must apply metal plate to phone
Best Wireless Charging
Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge Vent Mount
Juice up
You might as well charge your iPhone while you drive, and this car mount/wireless charger makes it easy.
Coolest Looking: Nite Ize Steelie
If you're looking for a magnetic mount with a small footprint, then the Steelie is the best. There are several configurations, but the basic one is a small magnetic ball and a little magnetic circle that adheres to your iPhone case. The magnet is powerful, and you can orient your iPhone in any way you like.
Pros:
- Aesthetically appealing
- Universal fit
- Orient phone any way you want
Cons:
- Must have metal on the back of your phone
Coolest Looking
Night Ize Steelie
Irresistible style
Your car is your pride and joy. When just any ordinary mount won't do, this chill sphere is sure to please.
Bottom line
These are the best mounts for your iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and more. They'll keep your phone out of your hands while you're driving (and hopefully a ticket off your record!), and they'll let you check directions and more on the go.
My personal favorite is the Kenu Airframe+, as I've been using it since my iPhone 6 Plus days, and it has never loosened up on the vent, and my iPhone XS is still as secure as it ever was. It adjusts from the size of an iPhone SE all the up to the XS Max. The vent clip rotates and adjusts to fit both standard and thick vent slats. Since it doesn't rely on a magnet, you don't need any special metal case or plate on your iPhone. You can even take it out of your car, stick a credit card into the vent clip, and Voila! You have a kickstand for watching videos. It only weighs an ounce so you can easily stick it in your bag or pocket. The Kenu Airframe+ has a lifetime warranty.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Christine Chan is a lover of coffee, food, video games, writing, and photography. She's been writing about Apple and video games for almost a decade.
Karen S. Freeman is a teacher, writer, social media person, and family woman. She loves to travel, play with tech stuff, drink coffee, discover amazing new restaurants, and experience new things.
Mick Symons is as frugal as they come, so he always does extensive research (much to the exhaustion of his wife) before making a purchase. If it's not worth the price, Mick ain't buying.