Review: iGrip Custom Fit Sturdy Swivel Mount for iPhone 3G

The iGrip Custom Fit Sturdy Swivel Mount for iPhone 3G is available in the TiPb Store for $19.95. This mount is an excellent alternative to having your iPhone float freely within the cabin of your car. In a day when more focus is being placed on distracted drivers, this mount allows you to affix your [...]

First Impressions

This is my second iGrip review of an iPhone mount and it is very different from the first. This mount comes with the detachable sled for the iPhone, a posable swivel neck mount and adhesive suction cup. I was a little concerned about the mounts overall height when I took it out of the box. My first thought was, “Where is the extender”, “This is it?”. However, there was no need to worry, this swivel mount does the job.

Daily Use

The first quandary I had with the iGrip was its size. Unlike the goose neck, this device was not very “long”, it is more on the “stubby” side. I decided to attach the mount to my Honda Element.

First I tried to to attach it to the windshield. I ran into an issue since the mount is so short I could not reach it from the drivers seat. So I had to look at other alternatives. I then affixed the suction cup to the mount and decided to place it on the dashboard directly above the instrument panel. This proved to be an excellent idea! The iPhone is now clearly positioned so I can view it easily if someone calls, or I am using GPS (yes, there GPS apps on non- jailbroken iPhones). So first up, the phone call test.

If someone is calling you, ya just can’t miss it, the screen is directly in front of you. The mount does not grip tightly to the iPhone. You can very easily grab the iPhone with one hand from the mount and answer your call. You could even answer it with speakerphone, but while driving it makes it difficult to hear the other person. Answering a call with a Bluetooth headset was simple as well.

Next was GPS and it was an absolute dream. I use G-Map for iPhone and it worked perfectly (the mount of course). The maps were at eye-level and were in the best possible position.

Using music on the mount was easy too. Click the iPod app and flick to the music I wanted… nice.

Because the iGrip Swivel is not a gooseneck-style mount, it does not bounce; there is no limp part or the ability to move accidentally.

Conclusion

I really liked this mount. It is tough to say which I like better; the swivel or gooseneck-style mounts. I think it really depends on the vehicle you have. I prefer the gooseneck on my Honda Accord and the swivel on the Honda Element. At the end of the day, this is a solid mount that does not bounce, holds its position and will not budge. One of the more important aspects to mention is that it is a breeze to remove the iPhone; simply lift it out of the sled. The iPhone does not snap into place, it is simply held securely by molded plastic.

Pros:

Rock-solid
No bounce
Can be tightened to a position you want
iPhone fits securely with out snapping into place, it can be lifted out easily

Cons:

No landscape orientation
No extra “adhesive sticker” if you use the base mount to adhere to a dash
Does not work well for windshield mounting, I found it worked best on the dashboard