Phone holders sorted by how they hold on
Every holder has two jobs: gripping the phone, and fixing itself to something. These pages sort the shop's mounts, holders and stands by the second job, because that is what decides where a holder can go. A holder comes onto a page when its own name or description says how it fixes: a clip or a vent, a clamp, an adhesive or sticky pad, or a strap or band. A holder that fixes more than one way appears on each page that fits.
The four ways a holder fixes
- Clip mounts push onto something thin: the slats of a car's air vent, or the edge of a desk or bed frame. Today they are mostly car holders for the vent, with a flexible clip-on holder for the bike, treadmill, bed and desk.
- Clamp mounts tighten round a bar or close their arms on the phone. Here that means gravity car holders whose arms close under the phone's weight, holders that clamp to a treadmill, exercise bike or pushchair, and a desk stand with a clamp for phones and tablets.
- Adhesive mounts stick down with a pad, on a dashboard, a wall or the back of the phone.
- Strap mounts hold on with a strap or band. Today they are magnetic grips with a finger strap that fold out into a stand, and a strap-on magnetic holder for pushchairs and treadmills.
How to choose a mounting type
Start with what the holder fixes to. A thin edge takes a clip, a round bar takes a clamp or a strap, and a smooth, flat surface takes a sticky pad or a suction cup. Then think about how much it will be shaken. The shop's guide to bike and motorbike mounts explains that clamps hold more firmly than straps and suit rougher riding. Last, check the fit: each holder states the phone sizes it takes, and a thick case adds to the width, so measure your phone in its case.
In a car, the place matters as much as the fixing. A phone in a holder you do not hold is hands-free, as long as it does not block your view of the road and traffic ahead and you stay in full control. The guide to car phone holders and the law goes through vents, dashboards and windscreens.
Questions people ask about mounting types
Why is the same holder on two pages?
Because it fixes two ways. Several car holders are sold with a choice of a vent clip or a suction cup, so they suit the vent, the dashboard and the windscreen.
Which is best on a bike?
A clamp made for handlebars, which holds the phone firmly over bumps. See bike and motorbike phone mounts.
Do magnetic grips need a magnetic phone?
Yes, or a magnetic case. iPhones from the iPhone 12 on, apart from the iPhone 16e, are designed for MagSafe-compatible accessories. Other phones need a magnetic case.
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