If you’ve ever shopped for a smartphone car mount you likely understand just how many options are available. And while a wide variety sounds like good news, it can also make it somewhat difficult to finalize a purchase. This was my situation about six-months ago. I was looking for a car mount, but I was afraid to commit in fear of having it end up in the trash bin. But one day I was playing around on Google+ and saw a mount mentioned so I decided to take a chance.
The mount was under $20 and available as a Prime item from Amazon. Basically, the price was right and the shipping was quick. The model I purchased is listed as the “Satechi Universal Smartphone CD Slot Mount” and it sells for $16.99. Anyway, I purchased the mount, put it in my car and just began using it without much thought.
Now six months later I realize I should share details of what I have been using in an effort to help others make a purchase decision. As the name suggests, this particular mount fits in the CD slot of your car stereo. The obvious drawback is that if you are still listening to CDs in the car this may not be the best option for you. But if you are like me and rely on a Bluetooth (USB or Aux) connection with content coming from your smartphone — this Satechi mount is a solid option.
Installation, if you can call it that, was quick and easy. You just slide the end into your CD tray, and adjust the arm so you have a good view of the display. The product listing mentions it being compatible with CD slots from 4mm to 6mm, and the mount does ship with some rubber pads to help secure a better fit. I have used the mount in a stock (2007) Jetta CD player, and in an aftermarket Kenwood CD player. You really just want to make sure the mount fits securely as you wouldn’t want it slipping out while driving.
Overall the Satechi mount has proven to be a good buy. The mount was easy to install, and as I have been using it daily for about six months without issue I would describe the build quality as very good. Another positive point is the adjustability. The arm allows you to adjust up and down, and also rotate 360 degrees. Or in other words, it’ll allow you to have your smartphone sitting in portrait or landscape.
The one drawback may be with the phone you are using. So far I’ve used this mount with a Moto X (2013) and a OnePlus One. There wasn’t any issues with the Moto X, but that was a relatively small phone. The OnePlus One, given the larger size, has not been quite as perfect. The mount securely holds the OnePlus One without any case, however with a case, even a slim case, it sometimes slipped out on bumpy roads.
Bottom line, this is one item I do not hesitate to recommend to others. And in fact, I’ve recently purchased a second one for my wife to use in her Jeep. You can purchase the Satechi Universal Smartphone CD Slot Mount from Amazon for $16.99.
