The Best Car Phone Mounts and Chargers

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Getting ready for a drive? Whether you use your phone for navigation, music, or podcasts—or are just bringing it along for the ride—the right accessories can make it the perfect passenger. A good car mount will keep it within easy reach and in view, so you don't need to dangerously fumble for your handset and take your eyes off the road. You’ll also want to keep your device charged. Add a dashcam to document your trip. We have tested a range of mounts, chargers, dashcams, and other accessories that might be useful for your daily commute.

Looking for more? Drivers should also consider putting together a Car Emergency Kit and checking out our Best Travel Mugs guide to round out the driving experience.

Updated April 2024: We added mounts and chargers from iOttie, Nomad, and ESR, and updated prices.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

A good dashcam provides an irrefutable record of any unexpected event that might occur when you’re driving. Video evidence can be helpful in an accident, and dashcams may even reduce your insurance premiums. After testing several dashcams, the NextBase 622GW stands out as the best, with crystal clear video, a parking mode that activates the camera if your car is bumped when parked, and a companion app that makes it easy to review video on your phone. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive options. It costs even more if you add the rear camera, but I recommend it if you’re worried about accidents, as rear-end crashes are the most common.

The adhesive works well but is tough to remove if you ever get rid of this dashcam. The cam slots into a magnetic mount, so it’s easy to clip in and out. A fitting tool pushes cables into the seams of your car’s interior panels. The video goes up to 4K at 30 frames per second, but I found 1440p HD at 60 fps got the best results (1080p at 120 fps is also an option). The footage is clear enough to read license plates, even in low light or bad weather, though I couldn't always see details at night, particularly when it was wet. Still, the night vision and image stabilization elevate this above other dashcams I tested. It has built-in GPS tracking with what3words support. The optional SOS function alerts emergency services if you crash but requires a subscription. I had no trouble connecting my iPhone and Pixel via Wi-Fi and using the NextBase app to review videos, though user reviews suggest some folks ran into issues here. It also boasts Alexa support for voice commands.

What I like best about this phone mount is that you can use it one-handed. Adjust the bottom feet, and when you place your phone against the trigger button, the arms automatically close around it. To remove it, simply press the release bars. The telescopic arm allows you to tweak the placement, and the ball joint makes it easy to set an ideal angle. This thoughtful design carries over to your charging cable as well—there's a rubber clamp on the back to hold it in place (so you don’t have to fish around for it).

In my testing, the base with the locking suction cup was very secure, even on bumpy terrain. The downside? Removing the adhesive pad from my dashboard was tricky. This replaces the One Touch 5 (which is also great). Aside from the redesigned cable clamp (which was magnetic on the 5), the only other notable change is that iOttie removed the adjustment knobs (pull it forward to extend the arm now, and pull the feet down to adjust them).

This is the mount in my car now, and it maintains everything that’s good about iOttie’s previous mount but adds wireless charging support. You can get it with the suction cup for the dashboard or opt for a CD slot or air vent mount. It closes automatically around your phone and has adjustable feet, a rotating ball joint to angle your phone, and a quick-release bar that pokes out on both sides. The Qi wireless charging can deliver 10 watts to an Android phone or 7.5 watts to an iPhone, and your phone automatically charges when you place it in the mount and start the car. You'll want to make sure your smartphone supports wireless charging in the first place.

All you'll need to do is plug the supplied cable into your car’s power socket, and the other end goes into a MicroUSB port on the bottom of the mount. The car-socket end handily includes a second USB-A port you can use to charge another device.

It may be small and unobtrusive, but this magnetic vent mount from iOttie packs plenty of power and supports the very latest Qi2 wireless charging standard. It’s compatible with all MagSafe iPhones and can charge the iPhone 13 and later at 15 watts (7.5 watts for the iPhone 12). It is black, with a soft silicone coating and a clamp that slots into your vent. My only concern is that the stiff ball joint, which allows for minimal angle adjustment, might loosen over time. The permanently attached USB-C cable is 5 feet long, and you get a 20-watt car socket charger in the box.

With a compact design and support for 15-watt wireless charging, Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro is our favorite MagSafe vent mount. The prongs cling to your vent securely, and a powerful array of magnets ensure MagSafe-enabled iPhones don't budge an inch, even on bumpy roads. (It works with the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 range.) Your mileage may vary with non-MagSafe iPhone cases. There’s also a ball joint, so you can slightly angle your phone for a better view. It's a shame the USB-C cable is permanently attached, as it’s long. There is a plug-in charger for folks without USB-C ports in their car, but I recommend snagging a separate dual or triple charger like the ones below to gain extra ports.

★ Another alternative: WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu really likes the Peak Design Car Vent Mount ($100). It stays super secure on the vent—there's no wobbling—and his phone stays secure to the magnetic charging pad. It works well with iPhones with MagSafe support, but you can also pair it with a Pixel or Samsung phone if you use Peak Design's Everyday Case.

If you recoil at the thought of a chunky cradle, you may prefer this sleek solution from Belkin. It’s a svelte, classy-looking silver and black vent mount that grips your phone surprisingly securely. You can rotate it to switch between portrait and landscape, and there’s a handy rubber clip on the back to hold your charging cable in place. It doesn’t work so well with larger phones, but smaller is better because this has no feet to support the bottom of the phone.

★ For larger phones: The Kenu Airframe Pro ($30) has a similar design but can accommodate larger phones and thick cases. It has a ball-and-socket joint that lets you rotate the device 360 degrees and slightly angle your phone for a better view.

Classy and understated, this durable magnetic vent mount from Nomad is my current favorite. This black glass square has rounded corners with a circular, rubbery magnetic pad in the middle. The vent attachment on the back is pretty versatile, and the ball and socket enable you to adjust to your preferred angle and tighten. While the Nomad Charge Mount ($80) adds wireless charging to the same design, it charges MagSafe iPhones at just 7.5 watts. (It can go up to 15 watts for other Qi phones, but they will need a magnetic case.)

If you prefer a mount on your dash or windshield, this classy MagSafe mount from iOttie is a smart pick for folks with an iPhone 12 or later. It attaches to a dashboard pad or windshield with a suction cup that proved secure in my testing. The telescopic arm combines with a ball joint to give you a wide range of movement to find the ideal position. Sadly, it maxes out at 7.5 watts for charging, but I like that the USB-C charging cable is removable, so you can detach and stow it when your iPhone is topped up. There is also a built-in fan to help keep the temperature down when the sun is out.

If you are keen to get a magnetic mount but don’t have a MagSafe iPhone, try this system from Scosche. It comes with a metal plate you can stick to the back of any phone or slip inside your case, allowing it to magnetically stick to the mount. (It does also work with MagSafe iPhones.) However, the magnets are not especially strong, so if you have a thick case or a large phone, do not pick this mount.

The dash mount itself sticks securely and is adjustable. The charger that goes into your car socket has a spare USB-C port, which is handy, and there are two stick-on cable management clips in the box. I'm just not a huge fan of the permanently attached cable, which uses a proprietary cable instead of USB-C.

There are two things that elevate this above your average car socket charger. First, it has a clever small fabric tab that makes it easy to pull out and allows it to sit flush in the socket. Second, it doesn’t only support the Power Delivery (PD) standard, but it also supports Programmable Power Supply (PPS), which means it can charge all the latest phones from Samsung or Apple at top speed. The USB-C port can deliver up to 30 watts, so you can even charge a MacBook Air. If you need a cable, check our Best USB-C Cables guide for ideas.