The usefulness of car-orientated magnetic phone holders can't really be questioned given we live in such a high-tech world nowadays. You'll most likely have Google Maps on standby, providing you with live updates on traffic jams, or you might want to have a screen displaying dashcam info if you have the compatible app.
Regardless of what your phone will be displaying, whether its radar detector info or otherwise, while on the move, a MagSafe or magnetic phone holder will be your best friend in keeping your smartphone in place while remaining distraction-free. Some of these devices have the ability to charge your device, which means extra bonus points as you don't have to worry about a low battery once you reach your destination.
These phone mounts can be fitted in a number of different ways. You can clip them into the air vent, for instance, or stick them on top of the dashboard. If, however, you don't wish to mark the trim on that panel, you can opt to place them on the windscreen if the attachments allow them to - almost like a budget dashcam, but simpler. With windscreen mounting, you do ideally want a long enough arm that won't lean into the slope of the windscreen itself - therefore keeping your phone straight. A Saab 99/900 will happily accommodate this with its near-vertical front windscreen, but a lot of modern cars sadly don't, so you have to check what your situation is before buying.
The best magnetic phone mounts tested 2025 at a glance:
There are a lot of different phone holders in both standard, MagSafe or other magnetic forms on the market. So, to help make your decision easier, we've managed to get our hands on a few of them. Below, you'll find individual reviews on what we thought of the devices and the specifications, as well as a few other recommended models which we believe might be a good fit for a car enthusiast's motoring life.
How we tested the phone mounts
Each of the phone mounts we got our hands on was treated to its own individual assessment to find out how well it suits a typical driving trip. With the units that required compatible phone cases, we made sure those were provided by the manufacturers to ensure a fair test and to replicate what a buyer would need to get the most out of them.
We tested each phone mount in a 2018 Volvo V60. We assessed each one based on usability, strength, quality, and how well they coped over rough roads/uneven surfaces. We also assessed each one of their phone charging capabilities, if they have it, as well as how neatly they fit into the vents and areas of the vehicle.
What we look for in MagSafe and other phone mounts
The most essential part of any phone mount is stability. When you're covering long distances, which may involve driving over rough or uneven road surfaces, it's nice to know your phone will stay in place no matter what kind of road trip you go on.
Most British roads are littered with potholes. So really, getting off the motorways provides a great opportunity to put the strength of these phone mounts to the ultimate test.
Next up is build quality. This loosely ties in with stability as the better built it is, the more likely it will stay in its place, holding your phone securely. If you go on a lot of driving trips across to Italy, Germany, or anywhere else with great driving roads, charging capability will also be important if you opt for a device that can recharge your smartphone on the move.
Value for money is also key. Rather than suggesting that a cheaper product is more favourable than a more premium example, what we want to judge is whether that product is worth the asking price based on the qualities outlined above.
The best magnetic phone holders for cars tested 2025
The best magnetic phone mount
Aaron Hussain: CARComing towards the top of our list is the Magnetic charging device from Mous. It boasts an impressive level of premium build quality as well as, with the correct phone case, more than ample magnetic holding capabilities. Over rough roads, it holds on more than well; it's fabulously sturdy despite not having any form of clamps.
The compatible Mous phone case does come in at around £30 for the Samsung S22 we tried it on. This is on top of the cost of the mount itself, which is around £60, so it does come at a premium. However, you do sense the premium feel once you get to grips with the device - and it's noticeable over a comparable product at a lower price point. The clean design and feel of the mount really won me over, and it is recommendable for most applications.
Because of the design of the rotating arm, I couldn't really place it vertically on the Volvo's windscreen. It was too sloped, so the phone was always at an awkward angle, which isn't ideal when you need to concentrate on maps on unfamiliar roads.
You can fix this by simply placing it on the dashboard, but with the risk of leaving marks, this won't be for everyone, especially if you have a sports car with trim made from Alcantara or other specialist materials. Happily, however, the arm is removable, and you can simply replace and/or interchange it with the brand's air vent clip, but that sadly isn't included in this set, rather the non-charging version.
It isn't perfect, however; one major drawback I found was that because the V60's USB outlet lives under the centre armrest, the cable simply couldn't reach the outlet as it's merely just over a metre long. That being said, if you have a 12V socket/cigarette lighter, you can use an adapter, which makes the reach easier.
I also appreciate how subtle the Mous phone mount designs are. They don't stand out so much in a car's cabin, thanks to their compactness and colour. I would find this useful when doing trans-continental trips across Europe and was concerned about vehicle security at service stations.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Superb build quality and premium-feeling materials
- Strong magnetic field to secure the phone in place
- Easy to use, thanks to simplistic design - and very subtle
Cons
- Cable isn't long enough for every vehicle
- You do need a compatible phone case for it to work properly
| Type | Magnetic |
| Compatible case required | Yes |
| Power | 15W |
| Mount | Adhesive |
Editor's pick
Aaron Hussain: CARBy far my favourite phone mount to pick for a long trip to Spa Francorchamps and back would be the Belkin BoostCharge Pro. Like the Mous, it's a MagSafe compatible magnetic phone mount that can hold most newer iPhones as well as anything with a magnetic case attached.
Not only was I impressed with its Lexus-like feel and build quality, it also securely held my phone in place over rough and uneven roads like a champion. Furthermore, the design of the clamps are designed in such a way, that you can simply push and slide it in-between the air vent slot, making getting it on and off immensely easy.
What's more, the cable is also a bit longer than the others on this list, which makes it more usable as a charging station. It was able to reach the USB port of the Volvo V60 test vehicle with relative ease. But even if you've got a 240 with an old-fashioned cigarette lighter, you get an adaptor provided to connect the USB into, so you're not left out on the charging capability.
Overall, the quality and usability of the BoostCharge Pro makes it a standout for me as far as phone mounts go. It does require some expenditure for it and a compatible magnetic case, should you need it - and I would've preferred the design to be more subtle, so I'm not left anxious leaving it in motorway service station car parks. But it's a superb unit that any keen road-tripper should consider.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Amazing build quality and materials
- Longer cable than the others, which suits being able to reach power outlets
- Easy to install/un-install, thanks to simple slide-on clamp design
Cons
- The design and colours aren't the most subtle, which won't suit everyone
| Type | Magnetic |
| Compatible case required | Yes |
| Power | 15W |
| Mount | Air vent |
The best simple magnetic phone holder
Aaron Hussain: CARHappily, if you're concerned that a sticky mount might damage your car's dashboard, you can opt for this. This phone holder by Mous clips into your vehicle's air vents, which is a far less worrying place to stick such a thing. The immediate drawback on this version is the lack of charging capabilities, but you can opt for a version that does wire up and recharge your smartphone.
In terms of how well it holds over rough roads, it's just as good as the brand's charging mount. This is fairly obvious because they're exactly the same product, only in different equipment levels. Besides, one could argue that if you have your phone charging cable, you can just hook your phone up to that and plug it into the nearest socket.
It's a smartly designed, compact holder that, with the compatible phone case, will be a strong and dependable phone holder that'll fit in any air vent and cope with any road you might come across on a transcontinental trip.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Premium-grade build quality and materials
- Will securely hold a phone in place, thanks to strong magnetic field
- Compact and will fit neatly into almost any air vent
Cons
- No charging capabilites
- Compatible phone case needed for it to work properly
| Type | Magnetic |
| Compatible case required | Yes |
| Power | N/A |
| Mount | Air vent |
The best value phone mount charger
Aaron Hussain: CARThis device isn't magnetic as such. Instead, you place your smartphone in it via a couple of clamps. However, it does provide 15W charging as per the Mous device but comes in a little bit cheaper at a mere £25 for all equipment included.
There isn't a limit to how you want to place it, either. The kit comes with an air vent clip as well as a suction mount, which you can place on the windscreen, depending on your preferences.
You do feel a compromise with that price point, though. Chiefly because it does feel like it was made from cheaper materials and built down to a cost. While the clamps feel springy, and they're certainly sturdy enough to hold a phone in place, you can tell it's more of a budget item.
Do I mind about all this? Not necessarily; it handles any smartphone well over rough or uneven surfaces and is an easy-to-use, universal phone charger mount that's ready for any journey.
Unfortunately, it does still suffer from a short charging cable that only extends to a metre in length. This meant for our Volvo test vehicle, it wasn't long enough to stretch from the windscreen.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Holds a smartphone in very securely
- Recharging speed is perfectly acceptable
- Easy to use and comes with many methods of attaching
Cons
- Some materials feel quite low-end
- Cable is very short, which can be a struggle in some vehicles
| Type | Clamps |
| Compatible case required | No |
| Power | 15W |
| Mount | Suction mount and air vent |
The best budget phone mount
Aaron Hussain: CARGroov-e's other car mount comes in the form of this smaller, even more value-orientated device. It also charges at a pace of 15W just like the others we have on test, and it holds smartphones in place via a couple of clamps to secure it in place.
If you're looking for a simple phone holder that charges it simultaneously, this is the device to opt for. For the cash, it can't really be argued with, although it also suffers from an ever-so-slightly low-rent feel of its materials throughout the device.
Over rough and uneven road surfaces, it copes very well with keeping your smartphone in place - no matter whether it does or doesn't have a case on it. The rubber clamps on both this and the other Groov-e option we tested are impressive at their tasks. In terms of charging, the same issue as highlighted before persists - the cable simply isn't long enough to reach our Volvo's USB outlet. But as ever, the story will be different for every vehicle.
For absolute simplicity and affordability, this is the phone mount for you. It also provides charge to your phone in a fairly speedy manner. It comes with both an air vent clip and a suction mount, which both work nicely and are easy to install and take off again. Personally, I'm keeping this device purely as a phone holder to keep in my car as it's that approachable.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Great value for money, considering how much kit you get
- Has 15W recharging capabilities, if the cable can reach your USB outlet
- Able to hold almost any smartphone in place securely
Cons
- Does have a low-rent feel in some areas
- Cable is only a metre long, which isn't brilliant
| Type | Clamps |
| Compatible case required | No |
| Power | 15W |
| Mount | Suction mount, air vent |
FAQs and other things to consider with MagSafe and other phone mounts
What is MagSafe?
MagSafe is an Apple-specific technology. It's a magnetic design built within iPhones that's designed to fit onto accessories while providing wireless charging to your devices, such as phone mounts and other things.
However, given that compatible phone cases are available to ensure that Android phones can stick onto MagSafe phone mounts, it's not entirely limited to Apple.
Are MagSafe phone holders safe?
The simple answer is yes. MagSafe phone holders are designed to carry both iPhones and other phones with MagSafe-compatible cases. When secured in place, they will cope perfectly with bumps in the road and keep your phone secured for prolonged periods of time.
What is the best phone mount?
In our experience, your best bet will be the Belkin BoostCharge Pro, closely followed by the Mous options. These are fabulous phone mounts if you're looking for a magnetic/MagSafe option that'll happily charge your device at a decent rate while on the move. It largely depends on preferences, and for road trips, subtlety may be an important aspect to some buyers.
So if, for example, you're on a trip to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa and you're driving long hours and need your device charged, any of these will be your best friend on such a pilgrimage.
Are MagSafe phone cases good?
In our experience, MagSafe phone cases are excellent. Not only does it mean that a phone can stick firmly to the phone mount in question, but the Mous ones that we were provided with were very durable-feeling and happened to be quite stylish as a bonus.
Does MagSafe work with phone cases?
In short, yes, they do. When it comes to MagSafe phone mount chargers, you can get MagSafe-compatible phone cases if you're using an Android device.
From what we found during testing, when paired with the Mous MagSafe compatible phone mounts, the charging speed was decent. On the road, we experienced a good charging speed between roughly 30-80%, so it's safe to say if you're on the way down to Goodwood Festival of Speed, your phone battery will be looked after - and you have a great mount for keeping an eye on the sat nav.