How to choose a cell phone mount.
While there are several types of cell phone mount on the
market today, taking a look at four will evaluate most of the mounts on the market.
Those four are:
Cup holder
Suction cup
Vent
VSM – Vehicle Specific Mounts
There are
pros and cons to each type, and how each fits to your vehicle and to your phone
are certainly considerations. Being able to charge the phone while in the mount
can also be an important factor. There is no doubt that having a
well-placed mount can help to balance function and distraction. Here are
some of the good and bad things to consider:
Cup holder mounts
Good
- Relatively inexpensive
- Within reach
- Most vehicles have a cup holder for the mount
Bad
- The loss of a cup holder for a cup
- Cup phone mounts take the driver’s eyes away from the road and cause distractions
- Cup holders that sit under the center console are not located conveniently and pose a challenge
- Phones mounted in a cup holder are often difficult to read because they are low, below the dash
- Reception is not as good in the low cup holder location
Suction cup mounts
Good
- Relatively inexpensive
- Good for travel
- Many to choose from
BAD
- Restricted or illegal in many states
- Can block the view out of the windshield
- They fall off with temperature and weather changes
- Vibration from the vehicle can make it difficult to read the phone
- Often bulky, and can be hard to find a good location for it
Vent mounts
Good
- Cheap up front
- Can be purchased almost anywhere
- Easy to install
Bad
- Floppy and unstable
- They don’t work well with vents that are tall and narrow (vertically oriented) or oddly shaped
- They break vent louvers making them overall more expensive
VSM – Vehicle
Specific Mounts
Good
- More secure hold for the device and vehicle
- Typically better location for viewing the device
- Specifically made for the vehicle so they fit well
- No damage to the vehicle
- Clip on mounts are easy to install
- Allow for many types of device holder to be attached onto
Bad
- More costly upfront
- Non-clip on style are much more difficult to install and might need a professional
GTM-KSP4LST