Wirecutter

You don’t have to put a metal plate on your phone with a tension-arm model, but it’s not as easy to put the phone in or take it off. Kenu’s is the best of this style, with the strongest grip and a design you can operate one-handed.

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bazaarvoice

The iOttie Auto Sense is nearly identical to our top pick, but this dash- or windshield-mounted holder has a pair of tension arms that automatically open and close around your phone, gripping it firmly as you drive.

TechGearLab

The Scosche MagicMount Pro Dash Mount is an adhesive mount that sticks to your dash. It requires a magnetic plate on your phone or case, which we know will deter some folks, but this was our top choice for a car phone mount. This model is simple to use and the most secure of all the magnetic car phone mounts. The integrated cable management is straightforward and a nice feature if you want it. If you don't, it can disappear. You have some flexibility in deciding where to mount this model. The adhesive section's footprint is fairly small, at just 2.1 inches long and 1.2 inches wide, and provides many mounting options. This is the least bulky car phone mount we tested, and those who prefer something sleek and unassuming &#40;and don't mind a semi-permanent mount&#41; will love this option. 
As with any semi-permanent mount, it isn't easy to move it around or swap it between cars. And, when you want to remove it, you will need to track down some new adhesive. Overall, though, this is a great semi-permanent mount.

The Scosche MagicMount Pro Universal is an adhesive mount that sticks to your dash. It requires a magnetic plate on your phone or case, which we know will deter some folks, but this was our top choice for a car phone mount. This model is simple to use and the most secure of all the magnetic car phone mounts. The integrated cable management is straightforward and a nice feature if you want it. If you don't, it can disappear. You have some flexibility in deciding where to mount this model. The adhesive section's footprint is fairly small, at just 2.1 inches long and 1.2 inches wide, and provides many mounting options. This is the least bulky car phone mount we tested, and those who prefer something sleek and unassuming &#40;and don't mind a semi-permanent mount&#41; will love this option. 
As with any semi-permanent mount, it isn't easy to move this model around or swap it between cars. And, when you want to remove it, you will need to track down some new adhesive. Overall, though, the Scosche MagicMount is a great semi-permanent mount.

expert-review

Shopping-advice A39814943

Whether it’s on a dashboard or windshield, this model is easy to set up, grips securely, and has a strong magnetic mount that supports most phones in any position.

Whether on a dashboard or windshield, it’s easy to set up, grips securely, and has a strong magnetic mount that supports most phones in any position.

iOttie iTap Magnetic 2 Air Vent Mount | Pack Hacker

The Maxboost Magnetic Air-vent gives you two vent mounts at an incredible price. It held its own in all metrics among the products we tested with similar designs. Setup is quick and straightforward &mdash; just slip the mount onto the vent, and you're good to go. The beautiful part of having multiple mounts included is that it's easy to transition from car to car if you are part of a multi-car family. If you're not, you can slip the other mount into your carry-on and be ready when you get to a rental car.
The main downside with this mount &#40;and all mounts of similar design&#41; is that phones can spin upside down on the magnet or even fall off. This is largely dependent on how big your phone is and where you place the magnet. If the magnet isn't centered on the case, there is a decent chance the phone will spin on bumpy terrain. The mount also tends to slide out from the vent when removing the phone, though this can be mitigated by sliding the phone off the mount rather than pulling it straight out. We should note that we encountered both of these issues with every car vent phone mount with a similar design. 

The Maxboost Car Mount gives you two vent mounts at an incredible price. It held its own in all metrics among the products we tested with similar designs. Setup is quick and straightforward &mdash; just slip the mount onto the vent, and you're good to go. The beautiful part of having multiple mounts included is that it's easy to transition from car to car if you are part of a multi-car family. If you're not, you can slip the other mount into your carry-on and be ready when you get to a rental car.
The primary drawback with this mount &#40;and all mounts of similar design&#41; is that phones can spin upside down on the magnet or even fall off. This is largely dependent on how big your phone is and where you place the magnet. If the magnet isn't centered on the case, there is a decent chance the phone will spin on bumpy terrain. The mount also tends to slide out from the vent when removing the phone. However, you can mitigate this issue by sliding the phone off the mount rather than pulling it straight out. We should note that we encountered both of these issues with every car vent phone mount with a similar design. Overall, the Maxboost is a good option given the price. 

Car Mount Comparison