THE PARTS
As always in this situation I look to Brodit for a high quality phone mount. They, of course, have a product which offers the ideal solution. This is the 'Active holder with USB-cable and cig-plug adaptor for iPhone 14 Pro Max' (Item # 721277) (it also works with the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Plus). This was purchased via Brodit UK and retailed for £69.99.
Enclosed within the minimalistic packaging are:
- The Active Mount with attached USB lead (and USB cigarette lighter power adaptor)
- Instructions for fixing and using the mount
- A packet containing 4 self-tapping fixing screws
The Active Mount itself comprises two main components (which look to be made from ABS plastic); a front plate with embedded lightning connection, and a rear swivel universal jointed plate which fixes to the the Brodit Proclip**.
** = You can check out a review of the ProClip used on my Hyundai Tucson here.
FITTING
One thing I always do before looking to fit a mount is to do a 'dry fit' to see if the phone properly fits into it without any issues. As you can see, the iPhone 14 Pro Max fits snuggly into the slots moulded into the mount and the lightning connection locates properly without any issues.
As a side note - the design of the mount has been changed since the design I used for mounting the iPhone 12 Pro Max, in that there are now slots moulded into the side of the mount. These seem to allow the phone to be gripped more firmly by the mount but use significantly less gripping force.
Preparing to fix the mount in position the tools are assembled, a small length 'star' screwdriver and some black cable wrap.
When in the car, the screwdriver is used to separate the front plate from the universal joint back-plate.
The back-plate is then screwed into place on the ProClip using the 4 screws provided.
The front plate of the mount itself can then be screwed back onto the back-plate, tilting and twisting it into the desired position before fully tightening the screw.
Once the mount is secure the cable is then run through the existing cable management clips (#216270) to ensure it can't move about while the car is in motion.
Once that is done the final tidying up of the install can be completed - the 'spare' cabling is looped together and wrapped with the cable wrap. This gives a tidy appearence and allows the rest of the cubby to be used freely with no risk of cable entanglement.
As you can see everything is fully operational, the phone is charging with no problems, and CarPlay is fully operational.
CONCLUSION
I'm very happy to be using a Brodit Active Holder in my car. Brodit produce the best (IMHO) in car mounting systems out there and hold phones rock steady. There are no concerns about the phone leaving the mount when you go over a speed bump or pothole.
PROS & CONS
- Pro - A good solid mount for your phone
- Pro - Custom designed to for your car and phone
- Pro - No danger of your phone coming loose
- Pro - The phone is held securely and therefore the display can be clearly read whilst driving
- Pro - In the UK the phone can be used for navigation legally as it is solidly mounted
- Con - Not the cheapest phone mount on the market (but likely the best)
Would I recommend Brodit mounts? Yes with not a single hesitation, I've been using them for over 20 years. They are 100% reliable, and if you do have any issues the support is first class.
