![Evaluation: Ventilation support for Belkin MagSafe Pro cars [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/01/Belkin-MagSafe-Car-Vent-Mount-Pro-07.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1 "Evaluation: Ventilation support for Belkin MagSafe Pro cars [Video]")
Just over two months after the launch of the new iPhone 12, we still have only a few third-party MagSafe accessories on the market. One of these accessories, the oddly named BelSa MagSafe Car Vent Mount Pro, is now available. While a magnetic car holder seems like a natural fit for the MagSafe ecosystem, is Belkin’s new accessory worth it? Watch our practical video for details.
Car holders have become essential for car users. And while there are several options out there, they all have pretty much the same design. Previously, magnetic mounts were one thing, but they required adding volume to your phone.
The simplified design of the MagSafe looks like a perfect fit for a magnetic car mount that doesn’t add unnecessary bulk, but is the MagSafe connection strong enough to withstand the turbulence you encounter when driving?
Video: Belkin Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe
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As the name suggests, the Belkin accessory is mounted directly to the car’s ventilation. I usually worry about the lack of adhesion in the assembly, but the silicone tips do a good job of fixing.
The build quality is not terrible, but neither is it fantastic. The design appears to be made of aluminum, but it is plastic coated. Although lightweight, the assembly is very large due to the MagSafe design. The assembly allows small adjustments and can also maneuver to landscape mode.
Before buying this car holder, I had a thin plastic case from Amazon for my iPhone 12. Unfortunately, MagSafe does not have its full magnetic strength in a case other than MagSafe. Although it snaps into place, the magnet is too weak to support any retention. I took a trip to the Apple Store to buy a MagSafe leather case for iPhone 12 and it worked perfectly. There are cheaper alternatives to the iPhone 12 compatible magnetic case that you can use, but Apple’s solution is the best.
My main problem with the Belkin accessory is the reference to its name. Belkin announces this as a MagSafe Car Vent Mount Pro with ‘pro’ on all covers for emphasis. If MagSafe allows wireless charging in addition to magnetic functionality, why is it not included? There is a built-in cable management provision to protect a lighting cable for direct connection to your phone, but wireless charging directly from the mount would have been much better. So, Belkin’s magnetic mount doesn’t look very professional to me.
Final thoughts
If you’re someone like me, who doesn’t have CarPlay for navigation, the Belkin Magsafe car vent holder does a good job holding your phone. It’s good that my phone doesn’t need anything extra to have a magnetic car holder. It is simple, elegant and has a design that works as advertised.
Most of the credit can go to Apple for implementing MagSafe in the first place, but Belkin did a decent job of implementing the technology in its support. I just wanted the product to have additional features, like wireless charging or a premium build, as Belkin was very interested in adding ‘pro’ to its name.
What do you think? Speak below in the comments with your ideas.
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