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Looking for Cell Phone Holder

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Zardoz, Aug 30, 2018.

  1. Zardoz

    Zardoz Member

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    I am looking for a cell phone holder that will straddle the hazard flasher push button and grip on its sides instead of the ac vent vanes. The last one I had attached to a vane broke one! Ouch!
     
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  2. cachevan

    cachevan Junior Member

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    I've been using the iOttie Easy One Touch 4 CD Slot Car Mount Holder Cradle . It inserts into the CD player slot. So far, it has been working great.
     
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  3. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    I'll be watching this thread. I bet there's an elegant solution somewhere that doesn't involve a suction cup mount, CD slot mount or vent mount. Maybe a sandbag mount or double-stick tape mount?

    I have a rubber spider type one that attaches to the vent vanes. I had it on my Accord, and it worked fine and was soft enough that it didn't break any vanes over 7 years of ownership, including cold winters and hot summers. It bounces around a bit, and the phone gets hot when the heat's on, and cold when the A/C is on.

    I don't like the CD slot ones, because I still listen to CDs. Love them. Many folks don't remember how clear they sound until switching back after years of listening to MP3s or worse, streaming music.

    It's a slow day at work, I'm going to browse a bit for one...
     
  4. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    After reading a bunch of reviews and considering all the factors, I wound up ordering this one for $12:


    I put it in this morning and I really like it. They make one with a much longer arm, which gets it up much closer to eye level, but the longer arm also amplifies the effects of road bumps, such that it will often be shaking while driving down the road.

    This one doesn't move at all, and it's a great fit. I'll try to remember to add a pic later.
     
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  5. RoadNoise

    RoadNoise Active Member

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    I don't see it :barefoot:?
     
  6. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    I see it...
     
  7. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    Go to Amazon and paste this into the search field: (without the quotes) "
    Macally Adjustable Automobile Cup Holder Phone Mount for iPhone X 8 8+ 7 7 Plus 6s Plus 6s SE Samsung Galaxy S9 S9+ S8 S7 Edge S6 S5 Note 5, iPod, Smartphones, MP3, GPS etc (MCUPMP)
    "
     
  8. RoadNoise

    RoadNoise Active Member

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    Thanks, I found it. And I like it, but I like my cup holder even more (need both when traveling with my wife). Considering ordering the CD slot mounted version. Decisions, decisions...
     
  9. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    You've got two cupholders, can you share a drink? :D
     
  10. mudworm

    mudworm Member

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    What I have is not what the OP was asking for, but I like my phone holder very much, so figured I should share in case others are interested.

    Pros:
    1. No installation required
    2. Does not block any vent, display, or view
    3. Portable -- can be moved around (e.g. driver's side or passenger's side)
    4. Cheap
    5. Sturdy (My daily commute is on windy mountain roads with tight turns and the phone never flew off side ways)

    I like it so much that I bought a second one for home use as sometimes, I like to have my phone perched up.

    Cons:
    1. It's not locked in. When car has a sudden jump (e.g. when hitting a speed bump at speed), the vertical jolt might jettison the phone out of the holder. In the two months I had this thing, it happened to me about 3 times in the beginning stage when I either didn't see the bump or forgot that this could happen. Now if I see a big bump or dip coming, I reach out and steady the phone for a 1 second and it has not fallen out again.
    2. If you live in a flatland, you probably don't need this. I go up and down hills alot, so it works better for me when I made a minor mod to it -- I cut off the backside of the holder and put the trimming under the front side just to prop up the front a little, so the phone's center of gravity moves back a tiny little bit, which works better when I climb a steep hill.

    I like it so much that I bought one for home.
    IMG_6044.JPG



    I like my view of the phone like this so I can see it without moving my eyes off the road.
    IMG_6046.JPG


    No installation is required. It just sits there. This also shows my minor modification.
    IMG_6047.JPG


    I put my old phone in the holder.
    IMG_6049.JPG
     
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  11. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    Very cool. Can you provide a link or at least the make and model of it please?
     
  12. mudworm

    mudworm Member

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  13. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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  14. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    Finally, I remembered to shoot a couple pix of the cupholder mount I've got and referenced above.

    One is the "driver's eye view", the other is a lower angle. 20180921_092108_HDR.jpeg 20180921_092118_HDR.jpeg
     
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  15. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    Just looking for any new, tested and trusted options/ideas for Gen4's. As so many Priuses are being used by Uber and Taxi drivers, I bet there are some solid recommendations.

    In my case, the holder must be able to take a charging cable - the wattage of Qi wireless charging for iphones can't keep up with the energy demands of the apps. I like the CD-holder option for a start, but don't want the holder or cell-phone blocking the radio screen.

    Can't be magnetic as I do use wireless charging at home. For the short-term, low-cost option, I ordered this Universal Cell Phone Car Holder CD Slot Mount - Smartphone, iPhone, Samsung, GPS | eBay

    (I can't imagine a worse option than a cup-holder mount; we already have enough clueless drivers taking their eyes too far off of the road to use a low-mounted cell-phone holder for anything.)
     
    #15 Mambo Dave, Nov 6, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019
  16. Itmaybejj

    Itmaybejj New Member

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    I've been really happy with the ProClip one that mounts around the vent. I ended up spinning my phone horizontal so it doesn't block the upper dash or multimedia screen. And then I canted it ever so slightly upwards, so that its backplate diverts the vent down towards my lap, which is where I usually aim it anyway.

    Cupholder mounts are too low for me; I want my nav higher in my peripheral vision. And yeah I have a vane-pinch mount in my other car, and I'm always worried I'll crack the vane or the pressure clip will let go of my phone when I got a bump.
     
  17. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    So mine is absolutely satisfying me ( Universal Cell Phone Car Holder CD Slot Mount - Smartphone, iPhone, Samsung, GPS | eBay ).

    With the mount coming out of the CD slot, and going up, the radio screen is not blocked at all save for one small area at the top by the twist-screw that expands the cd-slot grip.

    The cell phone is close to perfect (perfect being about eye-level, but within the direct forward view of the driver) for navigation via phone. I'm done shopping for a mount unless this one breaks. It may not be the super-high-tech phone gripping mechanism of some holders, and the holder-release is archaic, but it's working.
     
  18. blane

    blane Carmudgeon

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    I used an Mpow CD-Slot mounted cell phone holder for years in my 2011 Prius. I transferred it to my 2019 Prius XLE and it works perfectly.

    Mine is an older model, but it's similar to this one http://tinyurl.com/t9zpj6c

    Since I have hardly ever played a CD in any of my cars, the CD slot is a great stable location for me. I use it to hold my phone while navigating, so the landscape mode is perfect and doesn't obstruct the instruments or radio display.
     
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  19. Dngrsone

    Dngrsone Underwhelmed, to say the least

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    I had a suction cup Qi charger in my previous car, but the windshield is so far away in the '16 model 2 that it's unworkable.

    ...unless I attach it to the little triangle window in the door. But then cabling would even more of a nightmare.

    All the weird curves in the dash makes finding a place for a fixed mount with decent field of view just as difficult.

    I like Mudworm's stand, though; I might try to find one like that.
     
  20. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    Try a CD-player stand. It's handy, close to the driver, and just about the right level.