A Phone Holder That Finally Works!

If your car doesn't have an integrated navigation system with Bluetooth control, or if its navigation system sucks, then you'll need a decent car phone holder or mount. This valuable accessory can help you do things safely, such as making calls and using GPS to get directions. If you don't have it, you will end up fumbling to catch your phone, which can be very dangerous while driving. You can find car phone mounts everywhere these days, but sadly they didn't work for my car. I've tried most of them, and they failed, except for one, which I will present (or rave about) in this post. 

Keep in mind that not all car phone mounts are the same, as some of them were designed specifically for certain interior types. Here are the two main issues with most car phone holders: 

• Adhesive or Durability Fails: Most of them are not durable enough for the UAE's sizzling temperatures, especially those with adhesives. 
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• Falls: Since most of them fail due to the hot weather, Durability, or other reasons, they might end up falling off. If your phone is attached to one of them, it might get damaged. 

I've been searching for a durable mobile phone holder for a very long time, and I've tried most of them. This list is by no means exhaustive, and perhaps other people may have tried phone holders that have worked for them, but these are the ones that have failed in my car so far. My Nissan car's design is a phone holder deterrent. No matter what you try, your phone will always fall off because of the oval shapes and curves everywhere in the interior. Maybe the designers thought, "Hey, let's make sure the driver never mounts a phone in this car." I mean, even the vents are oval-shaped, which are not suitable for most mobile phone holders!

Here is the list of phone holders I've tried so far: 

• Vent-based holders: All of these have failed in my car except for one product (alligator type), which I will discuss in this post. These mounts are usually universal, but some don't work for oval or irregular-shaped vents. Some people have complained that these mounts damaged their ac vents due to the weight of their phones, but that didn't happen to mine. 
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• Adhesive-based holders: this type uses double-sided adhesives (or stickers), and they are the worst of the bunch, especially in a hot climate. Some can be attached to the windshield (terrible), while others can be attached to the dashboard (terrible as well). The adhesive fails in the summer, most of the time in about two weeks or months, give or take a few. The ones that attach to your windshield are perhaps worse than the ones that attach to your dashboard because they fall off. The suction can't be maintained for a long time, especially during the summer. You might end up with an expensive surprise once your phone falls on any hard plastic in your interior and the screen cracks.
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• Mirror-based holders: This type attaches underneath your rearview mirror. Due to the phone's weight, the mirror might unexpectedly jerk forward or sideways while driving. Another safety issue is that it can distract you from driving, which is very unsafe. I haven't tried these yet, but I have seen many reviews that don't recommend them. You might end up damaging your mirror as well. 
• Dashboard clamp-based holders: These have large clamps that can be clamped to your dashboard with a non-slip rubber pad. Although they claim a "secure grip," much to my dismay, I have tried them, and they've also failed in this weather. 
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• Cup-based holders: I haven't tried this type, but the problem is stability. The holder has a base with an "arm" that extends towards you, and the base can be adjusted with spacing clamps. Apart from the notorious wobbling you will experience during your ride, your cup holder will always be occupied. 
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• Others: You can also find other types such as headrest-based mounts, CD slot-based mounts, steering wheel-based mounts, and others.  

What finally worked for me

The car phone mount that finally worked for me was a vent-based, alligator clip style mobile phone holder made by a company called "Totudesign." Surprisingly, I found it by coincidence next to a cashier's counter at one of the Union Coop hypermarkets. I decided to give it a shot, not expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised in the end. I guess you always have to try new things. 

The mechanism is quite simple, but what's genius about it is its alligator clip style. I also love the feel and quality of this incredibly affordable product (35 AED). It has a ball and socket joint that enables you to rotate your phone however you want (landscape or portrait), but the secret lies in its incredibly durable clip that can be tightened. Remember that this worked for me, even though I had oval-shaped vents, but it might not work for you. The advantage that I got with these vents is that since they have a broader base, they are more durable than the traditional vents, which are more prone to being damaged by the phone. 

Make sure your AC vents are strong enough to support the weight of your phone. 

Click here to purchase the Totudesign car phone mount from Carrefour.