Aukey Magnetic Car Mount Is the Perfect Simple Phone Mount for Any Car
You don’t think a smartphone car dock will generate a strong opinion, but I am here to tell you that you are wrong. I was looking for a car dock that could hold my all big phones without being more annoying than it’s worth. The Aukey Magnetic Car Mount is perfect for this task.
The Aukey Magnetic Car Dock ($ 7) is deceptively simple. The dock itself is a small flat circle with four solid projections sticking out at the back. You can put it on the trims of any standard air conditioner vents. Then, on your phone, you can place the magnet inside the case, or if you’re not using a case , attach the magnet directly to the back of your phone. Just place your phone on the tablet and it stays in place. As a side note, while magnets are harmless to modern smartphones (how convenient is that?), Some phones use magnets to trigger features like turning off the screen in a case or activating car mode . Be sure to check the magnet placement in the case when installing any magnetic docking station!
I have used a variety of car docking stations over the years. I love it when my GPS is available at a glance and I use voice control during regular driving. I still use a 3.5mm cable to connect my phone to my stereo to listen to music, so some car docks just don’t work for me. I had docking stations with suction cups that only fit in the corner of my window, with cables wrapped around the steering wheel. I had clumsy docks that were falling apart. The Aukey dock is the first one to meet my needs without creating any new headaches.
Magnets create a seamless docking station
If you have an iPhone, or maybe a couple of specific Samsung phones, you can find accessories that are perfect for you. The rest of us have to deal with “universal” things. Universal docks typically use adjustable stands that can be extended to fit any size phone you may have. Allegedly. In my experience, they can never achieve this. Either it’s too tight and you have to wrestle with the dock to get your phone out, or it’s too loose and your phone falls out. To make matters worse, phones are getting bigger , so the dock that supports most phone sizes in 2014 may be too big by the time the 2016 models arrive.
With the Aukey dock, there are no setup or size issues. One size fits all because there is no size to start. The only limitation on the docking station is the strength of the magnet. You can’t stick a thin magnet to the back of a laptop and expect it to stick to the dashboard, but even decently large phones will stay in place. I used mine with the Nexus 6P, which comes dangerously close to the ugly phablet category, and it never looses.
It’s also discreetly easy to connect my phone to the docking station. With other docking stations, I have to gently slide the phone into the stand and usually adjust the flimsy dock levers. With the Aukey docking station, it’s as easy as putting your phone on the table. Even through my admittedly thin case, the magnet keeps my phone perfectly still on all of Atlanta’s bumpy and windy roads.
Installation is simple, but wear and tear can be a problem
Most people only need to install the docking station once. However, if you are like me, you sometimes need to use a car other than your own. With suction cup mounts that attach to the windshield, removing the dock to re-install it in another car is hardly worth the hassle. The Aukey Dock uses four sturdy rubber-coated pieces of metal and simply glides over the air conditioner vents. It installs so easily that I stuck it in my pocket when exchanging cars. Installation in a new vehicle takes just two seconds. When I needed to change the car, it is very convenient.
That being said, the Aukey doesn’t seem to be designed to work with frequently changing vehicles. I found that after about a month and a half, when I changed my car every other day, the rubber around the metal pins on the back began to flake off. This does not actually affect its installation ability, but it does mean that you are scratching the sturdy metal against the plastic of the ventilation grilles. This shouldn’t be a problem for most people if you install the Aukey once and leave it there, but if you are concerned about the condition of the little pieces of plastic on your dashboard and change cars frequently, this is something to keep in mind. …
Airflow alternative: Mountek Airsnap
The Aukey dock has another major flaw. It completely blocks the flow of air through one of your vents. Personally, it doesn’t bother me. However, this is a common complaint, so for your convenience, I have an alternative: Mountek Airsnap ($ 28). It works in much the same way as the Aukey dock. It holds your phone in place with a magnet and attaches to the air vent. Airsnap, however, extends the magnetic plate a couple of inches from the air vent so air can flow into the cockpit.
In my experience, this approach has not been without problems. First, the Airsnap requires two clips to attach to two separate vents to keep it stable. This can be a little awkward if your vents are not properly spaced. It is also much more difficult to attach and remove. The main clamp has a knob that needs to be hand tightened on the vent. The extensions also made the mount slightly less stable. On the road, the Airsnap shook harder than the Aukey, and the magnet seemed a little less strong.
However, all of these annoyances are minor, and they have one big advantage – clearing one of your vents. If it’s worth it, then I can safely recommend Airsnap just like the Aukey dock. But in any case, they sell me on magnetic car docks. Of all the options I’ve tried, these are probably the best.