Smartphone in the car – an age-old topic of debate. A necessary helper or a distracting, dangerous necessary evil? If you are a proponent of using navigation, maps, or simply playing music in the car, then you are certainly looking for a good, reliable phone holder. What to choose? What to consider and what to pay attention to? We will try to shed some light on this issue today.
The most important thing is that the holder does not obstruct visibility and that having it does not create a hazard on the road. When choosing, we should be guided by several key parameters. The first of these is the quality of workmanship. The better it is, the safer the device is, and the longer the holder’s lifespan. Often, quality goes hand in hand with price, so the cheap ones can be almost disposable. Plastics quickly bend, and foams wear out, which can cause our device to slip out of the holder while driving. As we know, the first, unconditional reflex will be to try to catch the falling phone, which results in diverting our attention from where it should be focused – the road. At Home Screen, we strive to introduce holders to the market that are solidly made and do not pose a danger to the driver and their passengers.
The second thing to absolutely pay attention to is the dimensions of the holder. It is important that the smartphone fits in it, but the overriding issue is that it should not be so large as to significantly limit visibility. This is especially important for variants mounted on the windshield or dashboard.
It is also worth familiarizing yourself with the flexibility of the jaw spacing. This is especially important when more than one person drives the car, as they will also be able to easily install their smartphone in the holder.
The most popular types of holders available on the market:
- holders mounted on the windshield,
- holders mounted to the air vent,
- holders mounted on the dashboard.
Windshield Holder
The most popular among them are undoubtedly the holders mounted on the windshield. They have many advantages, but unfortunately, like everything, they also have drawbacks. An undeniable plus is that the device is close to the windshield, allowing us to easily glance at the screen, which is especially important when driving with navigation on. The easy installation and versatility of the holder also speak in favor of this type of holder.
The downside of these holders is that the suction cups are unfortunately unreliable. An improperly mounted holder can cause it to “detach” from the windshield while driving. Many other factors can also influence this, including a greasy windshield or high temperature. A major downside is also that this type of holder limits the driver’s field of vision, significantly affecting driving comfort and safety.
Examples of this type of holder:
Air Vent Holder
Holders mounted to the air vent, despite many advantages, are not free from flaws. The holder does not obstruct visibility and allows easy access to the device. On the other hand, it causes impaired ventilation in the cabin because it covers part of the vent opening. There is also a possibility of the smartphone overheating, especially in winter when hot air is blowing from the vent, causing the device to potentially refuse to cooperate.
Examples of this type of holder:
- Benks Super Cool Car Mount
- Baseus Robot Air Vent
- Ringke Power Clip Air Vent
Dashboard Holder
Holders mounted on the dashboard are one of the most commonly used solutions. It is an attractive option, especially because such a holder can be placed anywhere on the dashboard. However, they are most often mounted with a suction cup or adhesive, which allows for a solid installation on both the dashboard and the windshield. The fact is, we will have easy access to the device, but such a solution can also cause a limitation of the driver’s visibility.
Examples of this type of holder:
New – Intelligent Auto Lock Holders
In addition to the categories of mounting types, we also have new intelligent holders. The built-in infrared proximity sensor detects the presence of a smartphone and automatically clamps the jaws if necessary, securing the smartphone. The release of the jaws is done by a touch button on the right side of the housing. This type of holder requires power to perform its function, which is also needed to activate the inductive charger implemented in them. A very comfortable solution that has the advantage of a magnetic holder and a wireless charger.
Examples of this type of holder:
So which one to choose? It depends on the smartphone model and the car model you are using. The choice of holder should also be influenced by what you will be using your smartphone for. However, it is worth bearing in mind that safety is paramount, and it should be the main criterion for choosing a holder!
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