Thread: Mobile Phone Holders

In my car I use the Magnetic Logitech mobile phone holder. It is suction capped to the windscreen and uses a strong magnet to hold the phone - metal plates are either stuck to the back of the phone or placed between the phone and its case. It worked well with my old Samsung S4 with the only issue being the holder would fall off the windscreen from time to time and the magnets would pick up magnetic material and scratch the back of the phone.

Now I have upgraded to a Google Pixel 2 XL and it is a much heavier phone - the old Samsung is 165gm and the new Google is 245gm so a lot heavier. The Logitech holder can still hold the phone - just, but hit a bump and the magnets are not strong enough and the phone falls away.

So time for a new holder - one suitable for a heavy phone and provides access to the buttons on the right hand side, the finger print scanner on the back and the charging port at the bottom.

I have used "normal type" suction cap holders before but they have not been very good with difficulty accessing controls, falling off the windscreen and excessive vibration with long arms.

So I am looking for recommendations for mobile phone holder that might suit my needs.

Thanks

Garry

I used to run(still have it tho) a BFC magnetic Qi charging mount.
The magnet is the best thing about it(it's size and ring shape). Make an OK gesture with your hand, and the ring your index finger and thumb make is an idea of how large the magnetic hold is on the phone.
I also run a large phone 6.5" LG, weight unknown, 150-ish Gr I reckon.
Phone simply doesn't budge no matter the terrain, or speed. It almost feels like it has rare earth magnets ripping it out of your hands when you get it close.
Problem tho.
I modded it to use it with my RAM mount. RAM mounts are about as good as you get in terms of vibration resistance in the mount itself.
Mine are old tho, and the suction cup occasionally let go, dropping the entire mount to the floor. The actual problem is tho, that with the (micro US cable still attached, it's damaged the micro USB port connection on the BFC magnetic Qi plate.
So, invariably after many falls with the cable attached, it's charging was touchy. I need to pull it apart one day to resolder the micro USB port again.
The only caveat is that a silicon cover is required on the phone so it doesn't slip down the holding plate. I used to have a 'rugged' plastic cover, but it's smooth surface allowed it to slide down.
The only issue with the phone sliding down, is that the Qi coil isn't lined up and of course it then doesn't charge.

The other day in at JB, I found one that wasn't excessively expensive, whereas I got the BFC on the Bay.
The one from JB is either Scosche, or Magic Mount.
power connection threw me first in that its not micro USB, just the normal two pole barrel connectors seen on many devices. Power up(ie. charges) perfectly, but the magnetic holding design is less than ideal.
Magnet is strong, feels very positive, but the design is that you mount the metal plate at the bottom of the phone's back, so that it keeps the Qi coil totally free. Holds ok, has yet to fall(eg. over bad railway tracks), but because the magnet is at the lower vertical edge of the phone, it's always tilting the phone(ie. pivoting sideways at the top).

Can't use my BFG magnet in any way to help.
So while I'm happy with the new holder/charger, not as happy had I just repaired the BFC holder.

BFC cost me $60 something on ebay(actually have two, as I use one at home too). and I have yet to see other coil magnet type holders. I reckon that's the key, or much stronger magnets.
Brother has an ebay magnet holder( no charging) with used a small magnet attachment, and it holds his phone, but I don't like them .. and the cheapo flimsy arm it has is useless.

Had a quick peek and found that the Pixel 2 XL doesn't have Qi/wireless charging.
1/. I can highly recommend looking into it.
2/. can be a bit frustrating if you don't have access to a Qi charger.
eg. at work I used to easily unlcip my BFC holder, and take it with me in the trucks to charge phone. plug BFC into usb port in truck, and lay BFC in the dash console area, phone on BFC. easy. Can't do this now with the new mount/charger, so the home BFC has to come to work with me.
Annoying for a while until I fix the broken BFC.
Either charger still charges my phone tho. I used to worry about the quality of the cheapo aftermarket ebay Qi charge coils, but they're good. About a $ or so. Add to the rear of the phone, and under a cover and good to go.

I've broken two coil pads though, but that was due to being rough with them when I've had to disconnect them from the phone. Current one about a year + old now.