Choosing a phone holder: which one suits your desk, car, or kitchen?
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
A phone holder for your desk requires something different than a holder for in the car. An overview of the types, where they attach, and what height works.
You prop your phone against a coffee mug when you're on a video call, and against the salt shaker when you're following a recipe. It works until it doesn't. A phone holder for a few euros solves that, but the choice is less obvious than it seems: a stand that works perfectly on your desk will tip over in the car at the first bend.
Below are the four types that matter in practice, with pros and cons for each type.
1. The foldable desk stand
This is the best-selling type and the right one for most people. A plastic or metal bracket that folds open into a triangle, with the phone resting in the crease. It folds flat and fits in a laptop bag.
What to look for: most foldable stands hold the phone about 10 to 15 centimeters above the tabletop. This is fine for reading. For video calls, it's a bit low, as the camera will be filming from below. Place a book underneath it if you're often on camera, or deliberately choose a taller holder.
Also pay attention to the cutout for the charging cable. A stand without a cutout forces you to remove the phone to charge it, and then you won't use it after a week.
A round or oval holder that you stick to the back of your phone or case. You slip two fingers behind it, allowing you to hold the phone with one hand without having to adjust your grip. Most models can be folded out into a small kickstand, allowing the phone to stand horizontally on a table.
The main benefit is one-handed use. For those who frequently drop their phone or have a large device, this makes more of a difference than a stand. The downside: the phone no longer lies flat, so wireless charging and some cases don't work as well with a grip.
Different requirements apply in the car. The holder must be able to withstand vibrations, be operable with one hand, and not obstruct the view of the road. Magnetic holders are popular here because you can place the phone on them with a single motion: you stick a thin metal plate to your device or under your case, and the magnet does the rest.
What to look for: do not place the holder in your direct line of sight or where an airbag would deploy. Do not operate your phone while driving, no matter what your holder can do. In the Netherlands, holding a mobile electronic device while driving is prohibited; the exact rules and fines can be found on the government's website and with the police.
If you work with a second screen or a laptop stand, your mouse often shifts to an awkward angle. A large mat solves this without having to rearrange your desk: the Battletron XXL Mouse Pad 80 x 30 cm costs € 19.95 and provides a single surface for both keyboard and mouse.
How to choose in thirty seconds
Does the phone stay in one place? Get a foldable stand.
Does it go everywhere with you and do you sometimes drop it? Get a grip.
Do you mainly use it in the car? Get a magnetic holder and stick the plate under your case.
Is your desk full? Get a holder that also does something else.
Do you make a lot of video calls? Choose or build higher than fifteen centimeters.
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