AXLY Dashboard Kit
Best Phone Mounts for Using Your Phone as a Car Dashboard
The best phone mount for running your phone as a car dashboard is a rigid vent, suction, or MagSafe mount with a secure cradle that holds the phone at eye level without blocking your view — that lone accessory turns AXLY into a free dash cam, a live OBD2 gauge display, and a 0–60 / quarter-mile track timer.
AXLY already does the expensive part for free: drive-camera (dash cam) recording, a full-screen live gauge cluster, and OBD2-accurate acceleration timing. The one thing it can't do is hold your phone steady — that's what a good mount is for. Pick a mount that's rock-solid at highway speed, frames the road for camera mode, and sits where you can read gauges at a glance.
Our top pick · Best overall
iOttie Easy One Touch 6
Quick picks at a glance
- Best overall iOttie Easy One Touch 6 Check price →
- Best budget Beam Electronics Vent Mount Check price →
- Best for MagSafe iPhones ESR HaloLock MagSafe Vent Mount Check price →
- Best for dash-cam framing VANMASS Dashboard & Windshield Mount Check price →
What to look for
- Rigidity — a wobbly arm ruins dash-cam footage and makes gauges hard to read. Metal joints beat plastic ball-and-socket.
- Mount point — vent mounts sit high and central (great for camera framing); suction mounts grip the windshield or a dash disc; MagSafe is the fastest in/out if you have a compatible iPhone or case.
- Secure hold — auto-clamp or strong magnets so the phone never drops mid-run, especially on track days.
- View — keeps the phone at eye level without blocking your sightline or airbag path.
- Charging access — leaves the charge port open so you can keep the screen powered (see our charger guide).
iOttie Easy One Touch 6
A telescoping dash/windshield mount with a one-press auto-clamp that holds even large phones dead steady — ideal for stable dash-cam footage and readable gauges.
- One-hand auto-clamp cradle
- Telescoping arm for camera framing
- Sticky gel dash pad + suction base
Beam Electronics Vent Mount
An inexpensive air-vent clip that sits high and central — a great low-cost way to get the phone at eye level for AXLY gauges and drive mode.
- Sits high for a clean camera angle
- Spring-loaded grip
- Very low cost
ESR HaloLock MagSafe Vent Mount
Snap-on magnetic mount for MagSafe iPhones and cases — the fastest way to dock for a track run or drive and pull off when you park.
- Strong MagSafe magnets
- Instant one-hand docking
- Compact vent design
VANMASS Dashboard & Windshield Mount
A long, stiff arm and wide suction foot that plant the phone where it best frames the road — built for stable drive-camera recording.
- Industrial suction cup
- Long stiff arm for framing
- Holds large phones steady
Your phone + AXLY = a free dash cam, digital dash & track timer
Mount your phone and AXLY turns it into three tools you'd otherwise buy separately: a dash cam that records the road with your speed burned in, a full-screen digital dashboard of live OBD2 gauges, and a drag-strip track timer for 0–60 and quarter-mile runs. It's all free in the app — you just add a mount and a charger.
Frequently asked questions
What phone mount works best for using my phone as a car dashboard?
A rigid vent, suction, or MagSafe mount with a secure cradle that holds the phone steady at eye level. With the phone mounted, AXLY runs as a live OBD2 gauge cluster, a dash cam, and a track timer — so the mount is the only extra hardware you need.
Can I really use my phone as a dash cam with a mount and AXLY?
Yes. AXLY's drive-camera mode records the road with your speed and key data burned into the footage. Mount the phone so it frames the road clearly and keep it charged for longer drives.
Vent mount or windshield suction mount — which is better?
Vent mounts sit high and central, which frames camera footage well and keeps gauges in view. Windshield/dash suction mounts offer more positioning range and a stiffer hold for the steadiest footage. Both work; pick by how your dash is laid out.
Will a magnetic MagSafe mount hold my phone during a track run?
A strong MagSafe mount holds a bare or MagSafe-case iPhone securely for normal driving and most track use. For hard launches or autocross, an auto-clamp cradle gives the most positive hold.
More gear guides
Diagnose it first with AXLY.pro — free
AXLY.pro is a free iPhone app that pairs with any Bluetooth OBD2 adapter to read codes, watch live engine data, and time your runs — so you fix the right thing before you buy parts.
As an Amazon Associate, AXLY earns from qualifying purchases — at no additional cost to you. Product links on this page are affiliate links; we only recommend products that complement the app.
Top pick: iOttie Easy One Touch 6 Check price →