6 Best Car Phone Holders, According to Our Testing
These phone mounts stay put over bumpy roads and in hot cars.
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“Always keep your eyes on the road!” We've all heard that advice when learning to drive. And, yet, it can be very handy to glance at our phones when navigating or choosing tunes when driving. Utilizing a car phone holder helps you place your phone within arm's reach and at a position that allows you to take action while still keeping your eyes facing forward. Some will even charge your phone so you get to your destination with better battery life.
Our tech experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested everything from portable chargers to snow tires. When we test car phone holders, we mount them in our Lab to test their durability and ease of use, and we also work with consumers to get additional feedback. The picks on this list will stand up to bumpy roads and steamy temperatures in your car.
Pros
- Strong suction cup with locking mechanism
- Comes with dash mount option
Cons
- Bulky base may be difficult to use with crowded dashboards
When it comes to stability, this Belkin car phone holder outperformed the competition. The suction cup, which you apply to your windshield, features a locking mechanism that allows the phone holder to handle more force before dislodging than any other suction cup mounts we tried.
Because windshield mounting is illegal in some states, this pick also comes with a base for attaching the holder directly to your dashboard — but note that its bulkier design may make it difficult to place on cluttered or tight dashboards.
The arm rotates 360 degrees, and the grip can tilt 90 degrees, allowing for easy repositioning of your phone. The pinching mechanism that holds the phone in place was also secure, passing our shake tests with both an iPhone 11 and 14.
| Compatible phone widths | 6.5 cm to 9.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Attachment type | Windshield, dashboard |
| MagSafe capability | No |
Pros
- Telescopic arm with ball-and-socket joint for easy positioning
- Can insert and remove phone with one hand
Cons
- Dashboard mounting disc doesn't work on curved dashboards
iOttie's Easy One Touch 5 offers more functionality than some of its higher-priced competitors. The phone holder can be applied to the windshield or dashboard and features a telescopic arm with a pivoting ball-and-socket joint, allowing for a wide array of viewing angles.
We like that it's designed with a one-touch system that allows you to insert and remove your phone with a single hand. More than 12,500 Amazon reviewers gave it five stars, with many reviewers pointing out that the powerful suction keeps the phone holder in place even on bumpy rides.
Some, however, reported that the dashboard mounting disc works only on perfectly flat surfaces, so if your dashboard has any kind of curve, it's best to choose a different holder.
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| Compatible phone widths | 7.8 cm to 10.9 cm (according to manufacturer) |
|---|---|
| Attachment type | Windshield, dashboard |
| MagSafe capability | No |
Belkin BoostCharge Pro Wireless Car Charger with MagSafe
Pros
- Charges via MagSafe technology
- Rotates for easy positioning
Cons
- Compatible only with iPhone 12, 13 and 14
This wireless car charger connects straight to your air vent to stay in place. It is easy to rotate, allowing you to place your phone in either portrait or landscape mode. We like that it uses MagSafe tech, so your phone will automatically start to charge as soon as you dock it, and we found the magnetic connection sturdy.
The charger itself connects via USB-c, so you will need that port (or an adapter) in order to connect to your car. There’s a rear cable holder to prevent the cord from swinging around when driving, which can help with the sense of clutter — but we did have some testers mention how the cord could get in the way of their dashboard depending on where their car vent was located.
Though we appreciate the innovative nature of this phone holder, it comes at the cost of universality. It's compatible only with iPhones 12, 13 and 14, so it's not suitable for owners of other phone makes and models.
| Compatible phone widths | iPhone 12 and up only |
|---|---|
| Attachment type | Vent clip |
| MagSafe capability | Yes |
Pros
- Simple design disappears into dashboard
- Works with a wide range of phone sizes
Cons
- Limited ability to angle phone once installed
The Airframe Pro offers pure simplicity for those wanting a quick, fuss-free car phone holder experience that blends seamlessly with the rest of the car. It clips directly into car vents, and the clip can rotate 90 degrees so you can use your phone in both portrait and landscape mode.
We found the grip of this product kept our test phones in place even when shaken vigorously, and we liked its cross-compatibility with different phone models, accommodating screen widths of 6.8 to 10.5 cm.
Although this phone holder features a ball and socket joint for angling the phone, it has limited mobility, so there may be fewer locations in your car where you can place it and still see the screen clearly.
| Compatible phone widths | 6.8 cm to 10.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Attachment type | Vent Clip |
| MagSafe capability | No |
Pros
- Extremely strong magnetic connection
- Charges phones quickly
Cons
- Some testers had issues attaching to the dashboard
This dashboard mount from Anker comes with everything you need to install and wirelessly charge your phone easily. Anker uses its own wireless charging technology, MagGo, which is compatible with all MagSafe tech. It has 15-watt charging capabilities, which is excellent: A typical fast-charging plug-in charger is around 15 to 20 watts.
Our Lab tests showed that this had some of the best magnetic holding capabilities, but if you do not have the proper case, you must remove yours in order to connect your phone.
One tester said it was initially difficult to get the Anker device to stay on their dashboard. You must clean the surface properly, and if it’s not a perfectly flat surface, the holder may not stay secure. It does come with a dashboard pad, so if there are issues installing, make sure to use it.
It is also important to note that this model is compatible only with iPhone 12 and newer that have MagSafe capabilities.
| Compatible phone widths | iPhone 12 and up only |
|---|---|
| Attachment types | Dashboard |
| MagSafe capability | Yes |
Pros
- Expandable phone grips make it compatible with all phones
- Articulated arm is easy to adjust
Cons
- Larger than other models on our list
Suuson's mount was easy to assemble, and it can be used on the dashboard, windshield or vent. We were impressed by how wide the grips could extend: It can hold any size phone within its clamps, and the grip was strong and sturdy. This flexibility does mean it is a bigger car phone holder than others on this list, but we like that it's compatible with all types of phones.
It’s also articulated, so it's easy to adjust the angle of the holder, helping you keep your phone out of the way while still able to view the screen.
Take note that there are no charging components involved. So if you want to charge your phone in your car, you need to bring your own cables and connections.
| Compatible phone widths | 4" to 7" |
|---|---|
| Attachment types | Dashboard, windshield, vent |
| MagSafe capability | No |
How we test car phone holders
We test car phone holders in the Good Housekeeping Institute Media & Tech Lab and in testers' cars. In the Lab, we measure the grip size of the holders and compare the dimensions to manufacturer claims about compatible phone widths.
Windshield-mounting phone holders were attached to a large window in direct sunlight for six hours to assess the stability of the suction cup under the stress of heat. We then applied force to the arm of the holder and noted how much force was necessary to detach each one.
To simulate bumpy driving conditions, we tested the gripping strength by inserting an iPhone 11 and iPhone 14 Pro and vigorously shaking each holder to see how well it held the phone in place.
Finally, we asked testers to install a phone holder in their car and test any additional functionality, like adjustability and charging capabilities.
What to look for when purchasing a car phone holder
✔️ Placement type: The placement of a car phone holder is a matter of legality, convenience and personal preference.
- Windshield-mounted options are appealing in terms of clear visibility while driving, but many states have laws forbidding this placement, so be sure to check your local legislation.
- Dashboard mounting is similar to windshield mounting, just in a lower position in the field of view. It may be a good option if your state forbids windshield placement.
- Vent clips tend to offer less mobility in terms of angling the phone toward the driver, but they're an easy option to transfer between vehicles.
- Cup holder mounts are a great option for those with a busy dashboard or limited vent space.
✔️ Compatibility: Before purchasing, always verify what types of phones the holder can accommodate. For some MagSafe holders, only certain iPhones can be used (and they have to have the proper case!). Some cradle phone holders accept only certain sizes of phones, so while you can use a Samsung, Google or iPhone, you’d still need to make sure the phone's dimensions would fit the cradle itself.
✔️ Connectivity: There are a few different configurations of car phone holders you can utilize.
- With a wireless MagSafe holder, the holder — not the phone — is connected to the car. The MagSafe holder then connects to your phone to charge it.
- With a wired MagSafe holder, the phone is connected to a cord (which is connected to the car) and then held magnetically by the holder.
- A wired cradle holder simply holds the phone between two arms that you can adjust, and you connect the phone to the car via a cord.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Data Engineer Nikolas Greenwald spent several months testing and researching different car accessories for the Good Housekeeping Institute. For this story, he also oversaw real-world consumer testing. As an engineer, he evaluates product design based on utility, intended use and performance to find the most intuitive, effective picks.
Test Engineer Alec Scherma completed additional testing for this story. He has tested car vacuums and car covers and uses his background in mechanical engineering to help determine which products stand out.
Alec Scherma (he/him) is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s test engineer, where he helps to create and implement new product testing methodology across home, cooking and cleaning appliances, wellness, tech products and more. He graduated from Drexel University’s College of Engineering with a B.A. in mechanical engineering.
As a data engineer in the Good Housekeeping Institute, Nik (he/him) works with all of our Labs to develop testing protocols and manage data collection and analysis. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Nik worked in the labs of MIT and Regeneron, working on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to the development of bioassays. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University.
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