This system turned my cellphone into a splash cam for lower than $30

With the open street turning into a fair stranger place every day and the vacation journey season approaching, many shoppers wish to file their drives, whether or not for proof within the occasion of an accident or to watch 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 decent funds. Moreover, should you’re a first-time purchaser, you may not wish to soar straight into the deep finish of the dashcam market.

All of that’s high quality and dandy. In spite of everything, there is a product on the market for nearly every little thing, and if you’d like a funds sprint cam that doubles as a telephone mount, I imagine I’ve discovered the one you are searching 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 wonderful possibility for many who use dashcam apps on their telephones.

The mount itself is very safe

In the event 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, because of a sequence 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 could be wish to stay with, nevertheless it hasn’t snagged in my pocket as soon as, reveals no indicators of ever coming off until I actually strive, and would not stick out like a sore thumb. Granted, I’ve a black telephone case that blends in fairly properly, 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 until 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 be sure to do one thing exceptionally properly with any telephone mount, I might quite that be the sticking level, pun meant.

It doubles as a conventional telephone mount, too

Having the ability to multitask is a should lately

Whereas the rearview mount works nice, particularly in automobiles like mine with massive entrance windshields, having the ability to concurrently operate as a vent-based telephone mount provides the Lounge-IT a couple of additional props. In the event you’re in a sedan or a hatchback with a smaller entrance windshield, this is likely to be the higher possibility for you.

One of the best factor in regards to the telephone mount is that it is adjustable to any vent dimension 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 as we speak, when practically each car comes customary with wi-fi CarPlay or Android Auto, is an efficient one. Nonetheless, as somebody who religiously makes use of both platform and has spent an unlimited period of time dissecting automobile infotainment programs, a telephone mount nonetheless makes the utmost sense in 2025.

No infotainment system is ideal, and should you’re a consumer of both mainstream possibility, the possibilities 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 subject whereas preserving you a lot safer. It is a no-brainer — telephone mounts nonetheless work even should you’ve gone wi-fi, and the Lounge IT is without doubt one of the most helpful I’ve reviewed when it comes to usability and practicality.

The Lounge-IT is at the moment on sale from Good Additions for $28, however even at its $30 full worth, it is a fraction of what a funds sprint cam would value, and it solely requires about one-fifth of the setup.