This machine turned my mobile phone into a splash cam for lower than $30

With the open highway changing into a good stranger place every day and the vacation journey season approaching, many shoppers need to document 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 finances. Moreover, for those who’re a first-time purchaser, you won’t need to leap straight into the deep finish of the dashcam market.

All of that’s wonderful and dandy. In spite of everything, there is a product on the market for nearly every part, and if you would like a finances sprint cam that doubles as a cellphone mount, I imagine I’ve discovered the one you are on the lookout for: the Lounge-IT from Smart Additions. Most cellphone 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 drawback by mounting onto your rearview mirror and, in flip, may also double as a wonderful possibility for many who use dashcam apps on their telephones.

The mount itself is very safe

If you happen to 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 sequence 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 reside with, but it surely hasn’t snagged in my pocket as soon as, exhibits no indicators of ever coming off except I actually attempt, 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 except 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 you do one thing exceptionally nicely with any cellphone mount, I might reasonably that be the sticking level, pun supposed.

It doubles as a standard cellphone mount, too

Having the ability to multitask is a should as of late

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. If you happen to’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 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, cellphone mounts nonetheless make sense

I’ve used nearly each infotainment show in the marketplace, and none are excellent

The query of whether or not somebody wants a cellphone mount right now, when almost each automobile comes commonplace 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 enormous period of time dissecting automotive infotainment methods, a cellphone mount nonetheless makes the utmost sense in 2025.

No infotainment system is ideal, and for those who’re a person of both mainstream possibility, the possibilities are you’ve got 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 might get fairly harmful in case your cellphone is, say, in your pocket. A mount solves that problem whereas protecting you a lot safer. It is a no-brainer — cellphone mounts nonetheless work even for those who’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 worth, it is a fraction of what a finances sprint cam would price, and it solely requires about one-fifth of the setup.