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

With the open highway turning into a fair stranger place every day and the vacation journey season approaching, many customers need to file their drives, whether or not for proof within the occasion of an accident or to observe their very own driving conduct. We right here at Pocket-lint love a good dashcam ourselves, however the actuality is that not all of them match into a good finances. Moreover, when you’re a first-time purchaser, you may not need to bounce straight into the deep finish of the dashcam market.

All of that’s advantageous and dandy. In any case, there is a product on the market for nearly every part, and in order for you a finances sprint cam that doubles as a telephone mount, I imagine I’ve discovered the one you are on the lookout for: the Lounge-IT from Smart Additions. Most telephone 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, can even double as a superb choice for many who use dashcam apps on their telephones.

The mount itself is very safe

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

One of many issues I actually like in regards to 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 telephone. I wasn’t certain what the telephone magnet can be prefer to reside with, nevertheless it hasn’t snagged in my pocket as soon as, exhibits no indicators of ever coming off except I actually strive, and would not stick out like a sore thumb. Granted, I’ve a black telephone case that blends in fairly nicely, nevertheless it’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 telephone will not go anyplace within the mount except you need it to. Within the occasion of any accident, that sort of safety is exactly what you need. I genuinely have to just about pry it out of the mount every time I take it off, which, if you are going to ensure you do one thing exceptionally nicely with any telephone mount, I would relatively that be the sticking level, pun supposed.

It doubles as a conventional telephone mount, too

With the ability to multitask is a should as of late

Whereas the rearview mount works nice, particularly in automobiles like mine with giant entrance windshields, with the ability to concurrently perform as a vent-based telephone mount offers the Lounge-IT just a few additional props. Should you’re in a sedan or a hatchback with a smaller entrance windshield, this is likely to be the higher choice for you.

The perfect factor in regards to the telephone mount is that it is adjustable to any vent measurement 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, telephone mounts nonetheless make sense

I’ve used nearly each infotainment show available on the market, and none are excellent

The query of whether or not somebody wants a telephone mount in the present day, when practically each car comes normal with wi-fi CarPlay or Android Auto, is an effective one. Nevertheless, as somebody who religiously makes use of both platform and has spent an unlimited period of time dissecting automotive infotainment programs, a telephone mount nonetheless makes the utmost sense in 2025.

No infotainment system is ideal, and when you’re a person 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 may get fairly harmful in case your telephone is, say, in your pocket. A mount solves that situation whereas protecting you a lot safer. It is a no-brainer — telephone mounts nonetheless work even when you’ve gone wi-fi, and the Lounge IT is without doubt one of the most helpful I’ve reviewed by way of 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 finances sprint cam would value, and it solely requires about one-fifth of the setup.