Glossary
The terms, explained
Short answers to the words that come up when you choose a car phone mount. For longer reads, see the guides.
- 360° rotation
- 360° rotation means the head of a phone mount can turn all the way round, so the phone can sit upright for calls or sideways for maps, and be angled towards the driver.
- Air vent mount
- An air vent mount is a car phone holder that attaches to the blades of a dashboard air vent instead of the windscreen or dashboard surface, keeping the phone at eye level without blocking the view of the road.
- Car phone holder with wireless charger
- A car phone holder with a wireless charger holds the phone and charges it at the same time through the back of the phone, so there is no cable to plug in each time you get in the car. The charger itself still needs power from the car.
- Clip mount
- A clip mount is an air vent phone holder that clamps onto a vent blade from the front. It suits thin, rounded or vertical blades that a hook cannot get behind.
- Dashboard phone holder
- A dashboard phone holder fixes to the top of the dashboard, usually with an adhesive pad or a suction cup on a flat area, and holds the phone higher up than a vent mount.
- Hands-free (UK driving law)
- In UK law, hands-free means using a phone or device without holding it at any point while using it, for example in a dashboard or windscreen holder, by voice command, or through a Bluetooth headset. Holding and using a phone while driving carries 6 penalty points and a £200 fine.
- Hook mount
- A hook mount is an air vent phone holder with a hook that reaches behind a vent slat and pulls the mount against it, usually locked with a turning knob. It suits horizontal vent slats with space behind them.
- Magnetic car phone holder
- A magnetic car phone holder holds a phone with magnets instead of clamps or arms, so there is nothing to open or squeeze when you put the phone in or take it out. MagSafe iPhones attach directly; other phones need a metal ring or plate on the back.
- MagSafe
- MagSafe is Apple's system of magnets built into the back of the iPhone, used to snap on accessories and line up wireless chargers. According to Apple it is on the iPhone 12 and later models, including the iPhone 17e and iPhone Air, but not the iPhone 16e or the iPhone SE.
- MagSafe car mount
- A MagSafe car mount is a car phone holder made to attach to the MagSafe magnets in the back of an iPhone 12 or later, so the phone snaps on without a clamp. Some also charge the phone wirelessly.
- MagSafe-compatible case
- A MagSafe-compatible case is a phone case with its own ring of magnets built in, so a MagSafe iPhone still attaches to magnetic accessories and chargers through the case.
- Metal ring (magnetic plate)
- A metal ring, sometimes called a magnetic plate, is a thin adhesive metal ring stuck to the back of a phone or case so that a phone without MagSafe can attach to a magnetic mount.
- Optical image stabilisation (OIS)
- Optical image stabilisation (OIS) is a camera feature that moves the lens to counter small hand movements, giving sharper photos. Apple says strong magnets or metal near the iPhone's rear camera can interfere with it.
- Qi wireless charging
- Qi is the open wireless charging standard used by most phones that charge without a cable. Apple describes iPhones without MagSafe, such as the iPhone 16e, iPhone 11, iPhone X, XS, XR and iPhone 8 models, as Qi-compatible.
- Suction cup phone holder
- A suction cup phone holder sticks to the windscreen or a smooth dashboard surface with a suction cup, often on an adjustable arm. It fits most cars, but on the windscreen it needs placing with care so it does not block the view of the road.
- USB-C car adapter
- A USB-C car adapter plugs into a car's 12V power socket (the old cigarette lighter) and provides a USB-C port to power phones and chargers. Its output, shown as volts and amps such as 9V 2A, sets how much power it can supply.
- Windscreen phone holder
- A windscreen phone holder attaches to the inside of the windscreen, usually by suction cup. GOV.UK lists a windscreen mount as a hands-free option, as long as the device does not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.
- Wireless car charger
- A wireless car charger charges a phone without plugging in a cable, using a charging coil that sits against the back of the phone. A magnetic one also holds the phone in the right position on the mount.