Dashboard Magnetic Car Phone Holder Mount

Why we shortlisted it. More than 100,000 orders at a 4.90 marketplace rating and a price under four dollars. Dashboard mounts are the format we would steer most people toward in this climate, for reasons covered below.

What it is

A low-profile magnetic pad that adheres to the dash – usually with 3M-style tape rather than suction – and holds the phone against a steel plate on the case. Because there is no arm and no cradle, it sits close to the dash surface and stays out of your sightline. The trade-off is that it is essentially permanent once stuck.

What to check before you buy

• Adhesive versus suction. This style typically uses adhesive tape, which is the more reliable choice in cold weather but leaves residue and is awkward to reposition. Decide where it goes before you peel the backing.
• Dash texture. Heavily grained or soft-touch rubberised dashboards are poor adhesive surfaces. Clean with isopropyl alcohol first and press for a full minute.
• Magnet strength versus phone weight. A large phone in a heavy case on a washboard gravel road will shake loose from a weak magnet.
• Wireless charging again. The steel plate blocks Qi. If you charge wirelessly in the car, this format fights you.

Where to buy one in Brandon today

Canadian Tire on 18th Street is the broadest local selection, and the phone kiosks in Shoppers Mall – WIRELESSWAVE, Rogers/Fido, Bell MTS, Telus and Mobile Care – carry mounts fitted to current handsets. Best Buy at Corral Centre has the MagSafe-native options if you have a recent iPhone and want to skip the stick-on plate. Walmart and Dollarama both carry budget versions.

The Manitoba case for a dash mount

Adhesive dash mounts hold in cold that makes suction cups quit. If your car lives outside through a Brandon winter, this is the format that will still be attached in February. Two cautions: press the adhesive down when the dash is warm, not at -25, and check your sightlines – Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act restricts obstructing your view through the windshield, so keep the phone low on the dash rather than up on the glass.