A bad car mount could mean trouble. One of the most popular options you can find there is the Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Mount. Is it the right co-pilot for your road adventures? We took it with us on a couple of trips around town and we're ready to tell you all about it in this Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Mount review.
See also: The best phone holder for your car
What You Need To Know About Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Bracket
Recognition: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
- Mpow Car Phone Vent Bracket (CA086B): $ 14.99 / £ 12.99 / € 12.99
The Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Mount is a full size phone mount that attaches to your air vents. It can be attached to the thin clips and should secure your handset for easy access and quick viewing. This item has an MSRP of $ 14.99 but is often available at a cheaper price on Amazon. It is only available in black and measures 108 x 102 x 70 mm.
Ventilation mounts are usually a good option for people with limited space in their vehicles. Such brackets are attached to parts of the car that are not really crowded. In addition, it seldom interacts with air vents, so the mount and phone are unlikely to get in the way.
What is good?
Recognition: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
First, let's mention that this is a very affordable accessory in a market where Mpow is recognized. And while it's not perfect (more on that in the next section), it has a lot going for its price.
Positioning the phone the way you want is pretty easy. It uses a ball joint that allows you to move the device with a reasonable amount of force. The arms also extend outward to just under 9 cm, which means any device of this width will fit.
The Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Mount has a lot going for its price.
You can build fairly large devices into the fan mount on the Mpow car phone. I was able to easily mount a Google Pixel 3 XL, and that device has a 6.3-inch screen with a large frame. I also used a wallet case which made it noticeably wider and thicker. The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus also fits in without any problems.
Recognition: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
One advantage of the Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Mount's release button is that it is easy to assemble and disassemble. Even if the mechanism feels a little fragile, it's a quick and easy way to grab the phone and jump out of the car.
There is a floor support and the middle section remains open for charging. This can be a problem if your charging port isn't exactly in the center of the bottom of the device. So check this first. Of course, you get strategically placed padding to protect your device and hold the clamp in place.
More: The best car apps for Android
What's not so good?
Recognition: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
The Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Mount is nowhere near as solid as most of its competitors. Its plastic feels cheap. Adding multiple moving parts doesn't help either. This makes it a very versatile phone mount, but it also raises concerns about long term durability.
There is a lot of jiggling with bumps, bumps, and potholes.
Another problem isn't exactly Mpow's fault, but it affects the experience. Ventilation blades aren't tough enough to hold a heavy, large phone and mount combination in place. The good news is that the tilt of the Mpow Car Phone Mount can be easily adjusted. This means you can tilt the phone up even if the vent blades fall down due to the weight of the mount / phone.
Recognition: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
However, the lower build quality of the device shows up once you start driving. There is a lot of jiggling with bumps, bumps, and potholes. Even if you drive the phone on the freeway, it will shake. It's not that the phone is crashing (or at least it never happened to me), but it's annoying and doesn't create a lot of confidence.
Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Mount Review: Should I Buy It?
Recognition: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
The Mpow Car Phone Air Vent Mount is not the best on the market, but it is a very affordable product. You could definitely do a lot worse at this price point. Especially when you consider that you can often find it on Amazon on Special.
Remember that a lower price often comes with sacrifice and there are many here. While the product is functional, the experience is not always optimal. The build quality could be better, some parts feel cheap, and the mount (along with the phone) wobbles significantly when you're on the go.
If you overcome these drawbacks, you will find that the Mpow car phone mount is great value for money and has enough features to keep budget-conscious drivers happy. That means, if you are looking for real quality, you should look elsewhere.
