This system turned my mobile phone into a touch cam for lower than $30

With the open highway changing into a good stranger place every day and the vacation journey season approaching, many shoppers need to report their drives, whether or not for proof within the occasion of an accident or to watch their very own driving habits. We right here at Pocket-lint love a good dashcam ourselves, however the actuality is that not all of them match into a decent price range. Moreover, in case you’re a first-time purchaser, you won’t need to bounce straight into the deep finish of the dashcam market.

All of that’s high quality and dandy. In any case, there is a product on the market for nearly all the pieces, and in order for you a price range sprint cam that doubles as a cellphone mount, I imagine I’ve discovered the one you are in search of: the Lounge-IT from Smart Additions. Most cellphone mounts solely couple up together with your A/C vents, however as we all know, not all vents are created equal. The Lounge-IT circumvents that downside by mounting onto your rearview mirror and, in flip, may double as a superb choice for many who use dashcam apps on their telephones.

The mount itself is extremely safe

Should you can stand a tiny magnet on the again of your cellphone, nothing beats this safety

One of many issues I actually like concerning the Lounge-IT is that it is extremely safe, due to a collection of magnets on each the mount itself and one which sticks to the again of your cellphone. I wasn’t positive what the cellphone magnet could be wish to reside with, but it surely hasn’t snagged in my pocket as soon as, exhibits no indicators of ever coming off until I actually strive, and would not stick out like a sore thumb. Granted, I’ve a black cellphone case that blends in fairly effectively, but it surely’s a lot smaller than any Pop-Socket I’ve ever seen, and that counts for one thing.

It is minimal sufficient to go unnoticed, however substantial sufficient to make sure your cellphone will not go wherever within the mount until you need it to. Within the occasion of any accident, that type of safety is exactly what you need. I genuinely have to almost pry it out of the mount every time I take it off, which, if you are going to be sure you do one thing exceptionally effectively with any cellphone mount, I would somewhat that be the sticking level, pun meant.

It doubles as a standard cellphone mount, too

With the ability to multitask is a should today

Whereas the rearview mount works nice, particularly in vehicles like mine with massive entrance windshields, having the ability to concurrently perform as a vent-based cellphone mount provides the Lounge-IT just a few additional props. Should you’re in a sedan or a hatchback with a smaller entrance windshield, this may be the higher choice for you.

The very best factor concerning the cellphone mount is that it is adjustable to any vent dimension or form. All it takes is screwing the mount’s base in or out to regulate its attain, then tightening it again down onto the vent for safety’s sake. All in all, my setup took a few minute, after which the Lounge-IT was road-ready.

In a world of wi-fi connectivity, cellphone mounts nonetheless make sense

I’ve used nearly each infotainment show in the marketplace, and none are excellent

The query of whether or not somebody wants a cellphone mount at the moment, when almost each car comes customary with wi-fi CarPlay or Android Auto, is an efficient one. Nonetheless, as somebody who religiously makes use of both platform and has spent an unlimited period of time dissecting automobile infotainment programs, a cellphone mount nonetheless makes the utmost sense in 2025.

No infotainment system is ideal, and in case you’re a consumer of both mainstream choice, the probabilities are you have skilled moments throughout your common commute when CarPlay or Android Auto simply randomly disconnects. Thus begins the scramble of reconnecting earlier than you miss your flip, which might get fairly harmful in case your cellphone is, say, in your pocket. A mount solves that situation whereas protecting you a lot safer. It is a no-brainer — cellphone mounts nonetheless work even in case you’ve gone wi-fi, and the Lounge IT is without doubt one of the most helpful I’ve reviewed when it comes to usability and practicality.

The Lounge-IT is at present on sale from Sensible Additions for $28, however even at its $30 full value, it is a fraction of what a price range sprint cam would price, and it solely requires about one-fifth of the setup.