Review: iottie Easy One Touch 5 Dash/Windshield Smartphone Mount

Consumer Tech Review: iottie Easy One Touch 5 Dash/Windshield Smartphone Mount Brad Moon Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Reviews and guidance for Apple gear, audio systems and consumer tech. Following New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

Got it! Oct 30, 2022, 01:53pm EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin If your ride lacks an in-dash navigation system, or support for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, it can be frustrating. Many areas have strict laws about operating a smartphone while driving, limiting your ability to use your mobile device’s capabilities like GPS-based navigation, streaming music (assuming your vehicle’s stereo system has Bluetooth or an Aux input), and taking voice calls. There are third party options (like the excellent Pioneer AVIC head unit I reviewed several years ago), but these are on the expensive side and require professional installation.

A more popular route is to use a dashboard or windshield mount that holds your phone in position for hands-free use. The problem is many of these are cheaply made, poorly designed, and deliver a subpar experience. The iottie Easy Touch One 5 smartphone mount aims to deliver a superior experience.

My wife’s daily driver comes from that generation of vehicles that came equipped with Bluetooth stereo integration and hands-free calling, but lacks a navigation system or a display. Close, but no cigar. Operating a phone in the car for navigation in the area where we live carries a distracted driving fine that starts at $615 and a three-day suspension — for a first offence.

However, drivers are permitted to have a smartphone mounted to their dashboard for this purpose. After reading many reviews about the various contraptions for sale, I ordered an iottie Easy One Touch 5 dash/windshield mount. Unboxing and Assembly The Easy One Touch 5 has three pieces for dash mounts, or two for windshields.

Brad Moon I have had some experience with these sort of things over the years, and they have never lived up to hopes. Most have been made of cheap plastic that’s bendy and full of rough edges. Design hasn’t been great either with what seems to be a two-week expected lifespan before springs break and joints get stripped.

I was impressed with the mount inside the iottie box. It appears to be made of heavy gauge plastic and there are no rough edges. Some components are secured with actual screws, not just glue.

The ball joint that connects the phone cradle to the mount feels solid. The spring-loaded, locking side arms release with a reassuring thunk. There was no fighting to accommodate an iPhone 13 Pro Max, even with the extra protection case I had installed.

There are several adjustments for optimal positioning (including a telescoping arm and the ability to rotate to landscape mode), but not so many that it feels rickety. It’s covered by a two year warranty, with free returns for 30 days. The adjustment options of the iotti Easy One Touch 5.

iottie MORE FOR YOU Meet The Unknown Immigrant Billionaire Betting Her Fortune To Take On Musk In Space Historical Insight: Mortgage Rate Moves Are Independent And Can Turn Quickly 3 New Non-Alcoholic Products To Try This October In short, the iottie Easy Touch One 5 passes the first impression test with flying colors. Installation The Easy Touch One 5 is a dash/windshield mount, which means you have options based on your preferences, vehicle, and local regulations. Whichever method you choose, a suction cup base provides the attachment.

In the case of windshield installation, the suction cup mounts directly to the glass; if you choose the dashboard mount there’s an adhesive disk that you mount to the dash then the suction cup adheres to that. Easy installation. Brad Moon The mount includes an integrated locking lever for the suction cup to ensure maximum grip.

I chose dashboard installation. This was a mater of assembling the mount (popping on the phone cradle), cleaning the dashboard to make sure there was no dust, picking the optimal position (ensuring nothing vital is obscured for the driver), peeling and sticking on the adhesive pad, then attaching the Easy Touch One 5 using its suction cup. This view gives a better idea of the mount’s adjustability.

Brad Moon It was pretty easy, with the biggest part of the project being making sure the dash area was clean. The company also includes a magnetic adhesive strip to attach to your charge cable (if you use one). There’s a matching pad at the back of the phone cradle so the cable snaps on, reducing clutter.

Hands-On The Easy Touch One 5 worked as advertised. It’s easy to mount your phone — the cradle’s pressure-sensitive backplate triggers the padded side arms as soon as a phone touches it and clamps the device securely in place. The phone is positioned perfectly for glancing at while checking directions, minimizing taking eyes off the road.

It can be adjusted for different drivers as needed. The whole setup is free of rattles while driving. It’s not quite an integrated touchscreen, but it’s a nice option for older vehicles.

Brad Moon To release your phone, simply squeeze the spring-loaded release bar. About the worst thing I can say about it is you’re going to have a bit of extra work to do when it comes to dusting the dashboard. .

. Recommendation If you are in the market for a windshield or dash-mount for your smartphone, the iottie Easy Touch One 5 is a great option. It’s smartly designed (the company has released several generations and perfected the design), well-built, adjustable, and makes it easy to secure and release your phone.

It gets the job done. Follow me on Twitter . Check out my website .

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