The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.The car mount market is divided into two styles: suction mounts and vent mounts.Suction mounts are generally attached to a car's dashboard via a suction cup, while vent mounts clip onto one of thecar's air vents.I've always used the former, but Belkin sent me one of their new vent mounts to try, and now I completely understand their appeal.The first thing I noticed about Belkin'soptionis its size. It'ssignificantly smaller than the suction cup mount I use regularly, and it's even a little easier to set up. I chose the vent that made sense to use, pushed the mount in, and was done.Although this mount supports bigger phones (up to 5.5 inches), I was unsure how well it would workwith my iPhone 7 Plus. It hasno locking mechanism, sothe only things holding myphone in place were two side grips. Luckily there was nothing to worry about; my phone didn't slide down or fall during the handful of hours I spent driving around.Belkin anticipates most people who keep their phone in a car mountwill also want to charge it. To account for that, the company built two notches into the back of their option,so you can neatly thread a charging cable through it.This was a smart design choice, and it makes this mount more user-friendly;I'd like to see this become a standard feature across both suction cup and vent mounts.I would seriously consider using this as my car mount going forward, but I experienced two deal-breaking problems that had nothing to do with the mount itself. The first is the position of my gear shift, which partially obstructs my view of my mounted phone's screen when it's in drive. I could ' and did ' try a few different vents in my car, which fixed the problem, but put my phone in a less convenient place.The second problem has to do with the way I drive. Depending on the season, or time of day, I either have the air conditioningor heat on in my car at full blast. During my testing, the heater ended up triggering my iPhone's temperature sensor, and I had to wait a couple of minutes before it cooled down.These personal deal breakers bother me, because in many ways I prefer this smartphone mount to the one I use normally. Its size and design are better, and after learning to trust that it wouldn't drop my phone, it became second nature to glance over for directions when I needed them.I won't be able to use this mount with my current car, but when I buy my next one a few years down the line I'll try using itagain. If you don't keep your smartphone docked while driving, there's a good chance you're putting yourself and other drivers at risk. Instead of keeping your phone in your cup holder, give Belkin's vent mount a chance.Belkin Universal Car Vent Mount, $24.99, available at AmazonDON'T MISS:I never drive without making sure these 2 tech accessories are in my carSEE ALSO:7 car gadgets that'll make driving so much easierJoin the conversation about this story
Click here to read full news..
