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

With the open street changing into an excellent stranger place every day and the vacation journey season approaching, many shoppers need to report 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 decent price range. Moreover, should you’re a first-time purchaser, you won’t need to bounce straight into the deep finish of the dashcam market.

All of that’s effective and dandy. In spite of everything, there is a product on the market for almost the whole lot, and if you need a price range sprint cam that doubles as a cellphone mount, I consider I’ve discovered the one you are searching for: the Lounge-IT from Smart Additions. Most cellphone mounts solely couple up along 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, may double as a wonderful possibility for individuals who use dashcam apps on their telephones.

The mount itself is very safe

In case you can stand a tiny magnet on the again of your cellphone, nothing beats this safety

One of many issues I actually like concerning the Lounge-IT is that it is extremely safe, because of a collection of magnets on each the mount itself and one which sticks to the again of your cellphone. I wasn’t positive what the cellphone magnet could be wish to dwell with, but it surely 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 cellphone case that blends in fairly nicely, but it surely’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 cellphone will not go wherever within the mount until you need it to. Within the occasion of any accident, that form 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 nicely with any cellphone mount, I would reasonably that be the sticking level, pun supposed.

It doubles as a conventional cellphone mount, too

Having the ability to multitask is a should today

Whereas the rearview mount works nice, particularly in vehicles like mine with massive entrance windshields, with the ability to concurrently operate as a vent-based cellphone mount offers the Lounge-IT a number of further props. In case you’re in a sedan or a hatchback with a smaller entrance windshield, this is likely to be the higher possibility for you.

The perfect factor concerning the cellphone 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 couple of minute, after which the Lounge-IT was road-ready.

In a world of wi-fi connectivity, cellphone 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 cellphone mount right this moment, when almost each car comes normal with wi-fi CarPlay or Android Auto, is an effective one. Nonetheless, as somebody who religiously makes use of both platform and has spent an enormous period of time dissecting automobile infotainment techniques, a cellphone mount nonetheless makes the utmost sense in 2025.

No infotainment system is ideal, and should you’re a consumer of both mainstream possibility, 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 cellphone is, say, in your pocket. A mount solves that difficulty whereas protecting you a lot safer. It is a no-brainer — cellphone mounts nonetheless work even should you’ve gone wi-fi, and the Lounge IT is among the most helpful I’ve reviewed by way of 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 price range sprint cam would value, and it solely requires about one-fifth of the setup.