A small, strong car phone mount

The road can be long and lonely. A smartphone is sometimes the best street companion there can be. It shouldn’t be a distraction, however, which is why finding the right car phone holder is important. A good holder needs to keep your phone close at hand and easily visible so that you can manage your music, navigation, and hands-free communications as quickly as possible. The Scosche MagicMount Dash promises this and more, and I’ve taken it with me on several road adventures lately. Is it the right co-pilot for you? Find out in this Scosche MagicMount Dash Review.

See also: The best phone holder for your car

What you need to know about the Scosche MagicMount Dash

• Scosche MagicMount Dash: $ 19.99 / £ 15.99 / € 19.99

The Scosche MagicMount Dash is a car phone holder designed to stick to your dashboard and keep your device in place. Instead of using the traditional physical restraint systems, magnets are used to hold your device in the desired location and orientation.

The box is supplied with the bracket and its adhesive surface. Also included are two metal plates to attach to your devices, plus an extra 3M double-sided tape to replace or in case you need to migrate your mount to another vehicle. There is also a protective film to keep your electronics free of any adhesive residue.

This accessory measures 19 x 13.5 x 30 cm and is only available in black. It’s available for $ 11.99 on Amazon (at the time of writing), although the actual MSRP is $ 19.99.

What is good?

Aesthetics are often an important consideration when choosing a vehicle accessory. Fortunately, this is one of the greatest advantages of Scosche MagicMount Dash. The black color adapts to most environments. It’s also so small that you won’t really notice it unless you really look for it.

The Scosche MagicMount Dash is so small that you won’t even notice it until you really look for it.

The back plate is made of rubber, which protects your expensive electronics. Adding the protective film between the plate and your smartphone is a nice touch too. This makes it easier to uninstall the metal plate when changing phones (or mounts).

The structure is very simple. There is a single ball head that can be used to adjust the angle. You also get a handy clip in the back plate for cable management. I also liked that the section that attaches to the surface of your car has grooves that give it some bend. Because of this, the Scosche MagicMount Dash conforms better to the surface it is attached to, even if it is a curved dashboard. Plus, it’s easy to mount the bracket anywhere other than your dashboard. This is an important consideration as improperly positioning a bracket in front of your windshield can be dangerous and in some cases illegal (check local laws).

I’ll be the first to say that once you’re magnetic you really can’t go back. Not only does the lack of mechanics make the mount look more discreet, but it is also much easier to use magnetic forces than traditional car phone mounts. I love being able to jump in and out of the car and just drop or pull my phone from the mount.

As for the strength of the magnet, I was surprised by the tiny ability of Scosche MagicMount Dash to pull the phone away from my hand. It also holds it in place as the rubber surface feels like it is almost sticking to your smartphone. I tested it with a Pixel 3 XL and a Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. I never once felt that they were moving or about to slide.

More: The best car apps for your Android phone

What’s not so good?

While Scosche’s design is very sturdy, practical, and functional, it doesn’t scream for quality. The plastic doesn’t feel good, and the manufacturer uses this type of rubber, which gets dirty easily when you use it. Thankfully, it’s a discreet mount, but when people notice it, it doesn’t exactly look like a premium addition to your vehicle.

While Scosche’s design is very sturdy, practical, and functional, it doesn’t scream for quality.

As simple as magnetic assembly is, it has a number of drawbacks. I’ve never been a fan of the semi-permanent attaching of metal plates to my cell phones to hold them magnetically. I also don’t particularly like using glue to attach things to my car. It just seems like too big a sacrifice to me, but the benefits can outweigh the disadvantages if you value the convenience of a product like this one.

Another important point is that it is known that magnetic disks of smartphones, depending on their placement, interfere with wireless charging. If your phone supports this feature, then you should do some research and determine the best disk location to avoid problems.

Scosche MagicMount Dash Review: Should I Buy It?

It’s hard not to recommend a product when there is so little to complain about. Our only main problem is that it doesn’t look and feel as good as some of its competitors. If you can handle adhesives and potential wireless charging glitches, this is a great mount.

The Scosche MagicMount Dash is a convenient and affordable option for those who need a simple mounting solution with a discreet appearance.

The magnetic strength could be Scosche’s greatest asset. It’s better than expected for such a small accessory, and it held all the smartphones we tested very firmly. It doesn’t wobble or move in normal terrain (roads) and is a very discreet looking mount. Although we’ve seen cheaper mounts in its category, $ 19.99 (or just $ 11.99 in sales) is still a pretty good price for what you get with the Scosche MagicMount Dash.