Quest for a strong iPhone holder for the vehicle proves fruitful
I used to love those iPhone car mounts that you stick in your car’s CD player slot. I stopped listening to CDs after subscribing to Apple Music; they were a nearperfect solution to the dilemma of where to put your iPhone, turning a useless hole in my dashboard into an adjustable and secure iPhone holder.
Then I got a different car, and unfortunately, its CD slot sits right above the touchscreen controls for just about everything. I tried several different CD mounts, but every one blocked the screen.
So for the past year I’ve been driving around with my iPhone in the cup holder. I do not recommend this, but I thought it was the best I could do.
Then I heard about the appropriately named iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless Fast Charging Air Vent Mount (once again on my favorite geeky podcast, MacGeekGab). I’d tried air-vent mounts before, but they always felt less stable to me than CD-slot mounts. I was a little leery, but I ordered one last week and couldn’t be more pleased.
There’s much to like about this $49.95 gadget.
The first thing is its super-solid clamp, which grabs the air vent and feels as solid as those CD-slot mounts.
The second thing is the one-touch mounting system: When you place your phone in the cradle, the side arms automatically close and secure your precious device. I’ve had many car mounts over the years and this is one of the easiest to insert or remove your phone with one hand.
The third thing I liked — a lot — is the built-in Qi charger. Just plug in the included 12V adapter and, as long as your phone supports wireless charging, it will begin charging as soon as you insert it in the cradle.
While “Wireless Fast Charging,” is the product’s middle name, don’t get your hopes up. It provides a faster charge (up to 40 percent faster) on Fast Charge Enabled Devices. Sadly, none of the current iPhones are Fast Charge Enabled. I was disappointed initially, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me. It still charges just as fast as my desktop and nightstand Qi chargers.
I did discover one additional unadvertised feature a few days after I got it: My vent is positioned in just the right spot to shoot video through the windshield (or the driver or passenger, with the frontfacing camera).
I’m not sure of the safety or legality of doing it, but it can be easily done.
If you have a currentgeneration iPhone, this is the holder and charger you’re looking for.
One more thing: While I didn’t test them, the same device is also available with a CD or dashboard mount instead of the vent mount.