[ad_1]
Just over two months after the release of the new iPhone 12, and we still only have a handful of third-party MagSafe accessories on the market. One such accessory, Belkin’s clunky-named MagSafe Car Vent Mount Pro, is now available. While a magnetic car holder seems like a natural fit for the MagSafe ecosystem, is Belkin’s new accessory worth it? Watch our how-to video for more details.
Car racks have become pretty much essential for car commuters. And while there are different options, they all have virtually the same design. Previously, magnetic media was one thing, but these required adding volume to your phone.
MagSafe’s clean design seems like a perfect fit for a magnetic car holder that doesn’t add unnecessary bulk, but is the MagSafe connection strong enough to withstand the turbulence you encounter while driving?
Video: Belkin Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe
Subscribe to 9to5mac on YouTube for more videos
As the name suggests, the Belkin accessory mounts directly to your car’s vent. I usually worry about the lack of grip on the frame, but the silicone tips do a really good job of securing.
The build quality isn’t that great, but it’s not that great either. The design appears to be aluminum, but it is coated plastic. Although lightweight, the holder is quite large due to the MagSafe design. The mount allows for small adjustments and can also maneuver in landscape mode.
Prior to owning this car holder, I had a thin plastic case from Amazon for my iPhone 12. Unfortunately, the MagSafe does not have its full magnetic force under a non-MagSafe case. Although it clicks into place, the magnet is too weak to hold a grip. I took a trip to the Apple Store to buy a MagSafe leather case for iPhone 12, and it worked like a charm. There are cheaper iPhone 12 compatible magnetic case alternatives that you can use, but Apple’s solution is the best.
My main issue with the Belkin accessory is with reference to its name. Belkin advertises this as a MagSafe Pro car fan mount with “ pro ” in all caps for emphasis. If MagSafe allows wireless charging in addition to the magnetic functionality, why isn’t it included? There’s a built-in cable management layout to secure a lightning cable for direct connection to your phone, but wireless charging straight from the holder would have been much better. So, Belkin’s magnetic mount doesn’t look very professional to me.
Final thoughts
If you’re someone like me who doesn’t have CarPlay for navigation, the Belkin Magsafe Car Vent Mount Pro does a good job holding your phone. It’s good that my phone doesn’t need anything more to have a magnetic car holder. It’s simple, elegant, and its design works as advertised.
Most of the credit goes to Apple for implementing MagSafe in the first place, but Belkin has done a decent job of implementing the technology into their carrier. I just wish the product had some extra features like wireless charging or a premium version because Belkin was so keen on adding “ pro ” to its name.
What do you think? Sound off below in the comments with your thoughts.
FTC: We use automatic income generating affiliate links. More.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more information on Apple:
[ad_2]
Source link