MagSafe was one of the main features of the iPhone 12 line this year. While there are many own and third-party options for charging at home, the only MagSafe-compatible car mount does not keep your iPhone charged. Last month, I used the ESR HaloLock car vent holder to keep my iPhone 12 mini charged in the car, while giving me a clear view of turn-by-turn directions.
Belkin MagSafe car ventilation
The only MagSafe-certified car mount is Belkin’s MagSafe vent, which Apple announced during the iPhone 12 announcement. We recently reviewed here at 9to5Mac, and we found it to be good, but not great. The main problem is that it doesn’t keep the iPhone charged, but, on the other hand, it worked very well. For long journeys, keeping the iPhone charged is crucial, so it’s not surprising that other manufacturers are filling the gap.
Watch the video below to find out what we think about the Belkin model and check out the full review.
ESR HaloLock: compatible with MagSafe vs certified
The ESR HaloLock was announced shortly after the iPhone 12, and I pre-ordered it immediately. But first the most important things. It is compatible with MagSafe, but is not certified by MagSafe. Does it matter in practice? In my experience, no, it is not. I’ve been using the product for weeks. It didn’t fall once, even when passing over more rugged roads. ESR says it is only compatible with the official Apple case and its ESR HaloLock cases.
I was using a third-party case that originally claimed MagSafe compatibility, and while it worked, it was not as safe as using the official Apple iPhone 12 mini case. Since the move to the official case, the magnetic connection is powerful. I would recommend using an official case if you plan on using the ESR HaloLock.
Installation process
HaloLock is installed in less than five minutes. All you need to do is attach the ventilation bracket to the charging block and then place it in a free car holder. If you prefer to have a MagSafe-compatible car holder that connects to the dashboard, ESR sells a similar model for that purpose, but I personally like to have it in the vent to make it easier to look at directions.
ESR HaloLock loading
The ESR HaloLock charges over the included USB-A cable. My truck has a dedicated USB charging port, so I put the cable under my steering wheel to hide it, so now, when I put my iPhone 12 mini in the HaloLock, it clicks into place and starts charging immediately. It supports 7.5 watt charging if the USB port you are connecting to supports this output. A charging pad is not included with the product, so if your car does not have a USB charger, you will need a car adapter. I have been using the standard USB adapter in the car and have had no problems keeping my iPhone charged while using GPS or allowing my kids to use my LTE access point.
General thoughts
The product is quite simple to explain. It fits into the car’s air outlet and connects to the USB to allow charging. When you place your iPhone 12 in the HaloLock, it will click into place and start charging. Supports vertical or horizontal orientation, so you can use one for city trips and one for long trips. By using MagSafe technology on your iPhone 12, there is no need to connect a second charger. You will put your phone on it while driving and pick it up when you park.
If you want an easy to use car vent holder that is MagSafe compatible and charge your iPhone, take a look at ESR HaloLock. If you want a panel support, take a look at this model.
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