Phones can provide us with all the information we need at the touch of a screen. This includes maps and directions, which can be incredibly helpful if you're travelling somewhere new and need some guidance. However, looking at your phone if it's in an inconvenient position whilst driving can be extremely dangerous. This is where a car phone holder comes in handy!
No longer is there a need to have a pricey sat nav installed – once you have your map app of choice set up and ready to direct you, slip your phone into a holder just in your eye line (but not obscuring your vision) and you're good to go. To help you find your fit, we've looked at the best phone holders from brands like Belkin and PopSockets on Amazon, Argos and eBay.
Image | ![]() Rock | ![]() Syncwire | ![]() UNBREAKcable | ![]() Belkin | ![]() Yosh | ![]() Nulaxy | ![]() Syncwire | ![]() Tophot | ![]() PopSockets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Car Phone Holder | Car Phone Holder | Car Phone Holder | Universal Car Mount | Car Phone Mount | Car Phone Holder | Magnetic Car Phone Holder | Car Phone Mount | Multi-Surface Mount |
Features | Great-Value Phone Holder That Can Be Mounted Anywhere | Soft Silicone Frame That Locks Smartphones in Place | A Holder That Hooks Into the Air Vent for Better Stability | Adaptable Car Holder for iPhones and Larger Smartphone Models | Space Saving Universal Car Phone Mount | Dashboard Phone Holder That Won’t Obscure Your View | Strong Magnetic Phone Holder That Can Withstand Bumps and Potholes | Car Phone Holder That Can Be Folded Down When Not in Use | Car Phone Holder That Attaches to Your Pop Socket |
Price | £14.44 | £13.99 | £14.99 | £13.99 | £7.59 | £15.99 | £11.04 | £16.99 | £8.99 |
Car Mount | Vent, windscreen, dashboard | Vent, dashboard | Vent | Dashboard, windscreen | Vent | Dashboard | Vent | Dashboard | Vent |
Phone Attachment | Clip-in | Clip-in | Clip-in | Clip-in | Magnetic | Clip-in | Magnetic | Clip-in | Adhesive mount required |
Compatible Phone | Most smartphones | Most smartphones | Any | Any | Any | Most smartphones | Any | Most smartphones | Any |
Dimensions | 22 x 7 x 10.5 cm | 14 x 12.5 x 7.29 cm | Vertical, horizontal | 16.99 x 8 x 8.99 cm | 7.87 x 3.81 x 9.98 cm | 16.69 x 8.99 x 6.91 cm | 9.7 x 8.1 x 4.19 cm | 13 x 11.4 x 3.5 cm | 4.06 x 4.06 x 0.76 cm |
Phone Orientation | Vertical, horizontal | Horizontal | 14 x 14 x 6 cm | Vertical, horizontal | Vertical, horizontal | Vertical | Vertical, horizontal | Vertical, horizontal | Vertical, horizontal |
Best For | Versatile | Scratch free, wide compatibility, anti-slide | Stability, space for charging port, 360° viewing | Adjustable angles, large and small phones, dashboard adapter | Magnetic, 360° viewing, universal compatibility | Easy mount, no obstruction, strong suction | Supports most smartphones, stability, no scratches | 360° rotation, anti-slip, no damage to phone or dashboard, anti-reflective | PopSockets |
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The first way of attaching your phone holder is by sticking it on the windscreen. This involves gluing, sticking or using a suction pad to grip the holder in place. They are good as they don't take up any room on your dashboard and also sit at a height that is easy to see.
This style is most useful if you find it difficult to follow directions while the phone screen is out of view. Having the screen well placed can be the perfect solution to this issue, as long as you are confident that you can keep your eyes on the road while ensuring you're on the right track! It is important, though, that you stick it somewhere that doesn't obscure your view.
The next group is holders that can be attached to your dashboard. They often use similar mechanisms to those that attach to a windscreen. In fact, sometimes you have the option of doing either so you can play around and decide what fits best with your car.
Having it on your dashboard will keep your phone lower and, while it might make your phone a little harder to see, it won't block your view out your windscreen. With your screen as less of a distraction, you can even use it for hands-free calls or streaming music while it's resting on the dashboard.
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This type is probably the easiest to install and requires the least amount of extra preparation. These attachments simply use the air vents of your car as a place to clip on, and can vary in their compatibility with horizontal, vertical or angled vents, or sometimes all three.
They are discreet and out of the way, but you can't pick exactly where you want to put these types of holder as you are bound to the location of the air vents in your car. They are also not the best option if you often find yourself reaching for the AC, as the variations in temperature could cause damage to your phone and the holder.
The majority of holders use a 'clip in' mechanism. These can range from holder to holder. For example, on some you slide your phone in whereas with others use a pincer grip to grab hold of your phone. You may need to check the size specifications before buying, but you'll find most clip-in holders will be compatible with various sized smartphones.
These are the best option if you're safety conscious, as clip holders are much more secure than other styles, and can help prevent drops and distractions on the road. They also don't require you to add anything extra to your phone, although they can be more bulky than other options.
What you don't want to do is to buy a phone holder only to find that your phone doesn't actually fit in it. Due to the fact that all that's required with these types of holders is two strong magnets, they will fit any size phone with ease. They are often very small and easily slide into an air vent, great if you have a small car with limited space.
On the flip side, these holders do require you to attach a magnet to your phone if it is to stick, which you might not want to do for a number of reasons. It could leave a sticky residue and any phone you want to use with the holder will have to prepared beforehand.
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A few holders, especially those that are adjustable, will allow you to install your phone horizontally or vertically, depending on which you prefer or which works better with your phone.
With magnetic holders, you don't need to worry about this as you can have your phone at whichever angle you would like. Some apps are more effective when they're a certain orientation, so it is definitely worth taking this into account.
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This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£14.44
Car Mount | Vent, windscreen, dashboard |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Clip-in |
Compatible Phone | Most smartphones |
Dimensions | 22 x 7 x 10.5 cm |
Phone Orientation | Vertical, horizontal |
Best For | Versatile |
£13.99
Car Mount | Vent, dashboard |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Clip-in |
Compatible Phone | Most smartphones |
Dimensions | 14 x 12.5 x 7.29 cm |
Phone Orientation | Horizontal |
Best For | Scratch free, wide compatibility, anti-slide |
£14.99
Car Mount | Vent |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Clip-in |
Compatible Phone | Any |
Dimensions | Vertical, horizontal |
Phone Orientation | 14 x 14 x 6 cm |
Best For | Stability, space for charging port, 360° viewing |
£13.99
Car Mount | Dashboard, windscreen |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Clip-in |
Compatible Phone | Any |
Dimensions | 16.99 x 8 x 8.99 cm |
Phone Orientation | Vertical, horizontal |
Best For | Adjustable angles, large and small phones, dashboard adapter |
£7.59
Car Mount | Vent |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Magnetic |
Compatible Phone | Any |
Dimensions | 7.87 x 3.81 x 9.98 cm |
Phone Orientation | Vertical, horizontal |
Best For | Magnetic, 360° viewing, universal compatibility |
£15.99
Car Mount | Dashboard |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Clip-in |
Compatible Phone | Most smartphones |
Dimensions | 16.69 x 8.99 x 6.91 cm |
Phone Orientation | Vertical |
Best For | Easy mount, no obstruction, strong suction |
£11.04
Car Mount | Vent |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Magnetic |
Compatible Phone | Any |
Dimensions | 9.7 x 8.1 x 4.19 cm |
Phone Orientation | Vertical, horizontal |
Best For | Supports most smartphones, stability, no scratches |
£16.99
Car Mount | Dashboard |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Clip-in |
Compatible Phone | Most smartphones |
Dimensions | 13 x 11.4 x 3.5 cm |
Phone Orientation | Vertical, horizontal |
Best For | 360° rotation, anti-slip, no damage to phone or dashboard, anti-reflective |
£8.99
Car Mount | Vent |
---|---|
Phone Attachment | Adhesive mount required |
Compatible Phone | Any |
Dimensions | 4.06 x 4.06 x 0.76 cm |
Phone Orientation | Vertical, horizontal |
Best For | PopSockets |
Written and researched by Emma Cramp
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