For cyclists, having a reliable Phone Holder For Bike is essential. Whether you’re navigating with GPS, tracking your fitness, or simply want your phone accessible, a secure bike phone mount is a must-have accessory. This review dives into a range of bike phone holders, evaluating their design, stability, ease of use, and overall performance to help you find the best option for your cycling needs. We’ve tested various types, from phone-specific cases to universal mounts, to give you a comprehensive guide.
Two-Part Mounts: Phone-Specific Cases and Universal Adapters
Two-part mounting systems often offer a secure and streamlined way to attach your phone to your bike. These typically involve a dedicated phone case or a universal adapter that connects to a handlebar mount.
The Thule Smartphone Bike Mount presents a unique approach with its robust base that clamps onto the handlebar’s center. Featuring a spring-loaded bracket and silicone straps, it accommodates various phone sizes. While its installation can be a bit cumbersome and it proved incompatible with our test mountain bike despite shims, it offered excellent phone security once mounted on a road bike.
Initially available only for iPhones, the German-engineered Morpheus M4s Bike Kit included a well-designed phone case. However, its screen protection lip fell short of Apple’s recommended minimum, and unfortunately, Morpheus products are no longer available in the US market as of Spring 2023.
The iOmounts Nomad Universal Bike Phone Mount introduced an intriguing magnetic system. A magnetic disc adhered to the phone or case, attaching to the handlebar-mounted base with a zip-tie-like mechanism. While the magnet provided good phone stability in initial tests, achieving a snug base fit and releasing/removing the mount proved challenging. Furthermore, the metal disc rendered it incompatible with Qi wireless charging. Klock Werks, who acquired iOmounts, now offers the similar Nomad Universal Phone Mount, which is likely to share the same wireless charging limitation.
We rigorously tested nearly the entire Rokform bike mounts lineup. This included the Rugged and Crystal cases for iPhone 8 Plus, the Universal Mount Adapter for Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, and the V4 Pro Series Phone Bike Mount. Despite a higher price point than the leading Quad Lock, none matched its overall performance. The V4 Pro Series appeared more robust than its predecessor, the Rokform Pro-Lite, but remains a costly option for a bicycle phone holder.
The SP Connect Bike Bundle offers greater adjustability compared to previous versions. It includes cases for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones (and other Android models) and a Universal Adapter for broader compatibility. However, switching between portrait and landscape modes still requires manually adjusting the case back with a small plastic “stand tool.” This tool, included with the mount but unlabeled and unmentioned in packaging, requires consulting the online user manual for the case to understand its purpose.
The Tigra Sport FitClic Neo line shares conceptual similarities with Quad Lock and Rokform but falls short in execution. The iPhone 8 Plus case interfered with side button operation. The locking/unlocking mechanism, using a thin plastic lever, isn’t particularly user-friendly. While the standard mount felt more stable than the out-front version, both allowed more phone rattling than desired.
The Topeak Ridecase for iPhone presents shortcomings with its inadequate protective lip and lack of wireless charging compatibility. Removing the phone from the Ridecase to switch cases also proved difficult.
User feedback and online reviews indicate that Fidlock Vacuum Phone cases are also incompatible with wireless charging.
Universal-Fit Silicone Strap and Plastic Brace Mounts
Universal-fit mounts using silicone straps or plastic braces offer broader phone compatibility and often at a lower price point.
The Delta Cycle X-Mount Pro, with its low-profile forged aluminum frame, uniquely mounts under a bike’s stem cap, offering no other attachment or angle adjustment options. Its sturdy silicone bands securely hold standard and extra-large phones, but only in portrait orientation.
The Vibrelli Universal Bike Phone Mount, using silicone corner straps and a spring-loaded plastic bracket, is simpler to install than the Thule mount. However, its base felt less robust, featuring a plastic ball-and-socket mount tightened with a plastic ring nut.
Resembling the Vibrelli with its spring-loaded bracket and plastic ball-and-socket mechanism, the Roam Universal Premium Bike Phone Mount differs in its handlebar mount. This mount is overly complex, difficult to attach, and excessively wide, consuming nearly 2 inches of handlebar space.
The Zéfal Universal Mobile Mount employs a similar plastic ball-and-socket mount to Vibrelli and Roam. Instead of simply pulling apart the plastic bracket arms, a button press is required to spread them. Once spread, they exhibited noticeable wiggliness even when locked. The mount includes small “feet” to support the phone’s bottom, but these obstructed the silicone corner straps when in use.
Both TrailKase products from Bikase tested exhibited phone rattling and shaking over bumps. The TrailKase with Q/R 360 Degree Bracket had a heavy metal mount base that protruded significantly, while the TrailKase Universal Phone Holder’s lower-profile plastic mount felt flimsy.
The Topeak Omni RideCase DX appeared sturdy. However, its wide silicone brackets obscured the home button on both the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S8 phones tested.
The Ram X-Grip Phone Mount utilizes four spring-loaded arms with rubber knobs to grip the phone. Positioning the arms to avoid activating the volume and power buttons proved challenging. The mount includes a small glue vial without instructions; further investigation revealed it’s intended for gluing rubber knobs onto metal arms – a detail users should know upfront.
The Gub G-85 Bicycle Phone Holder, an aluminum mount, is impressively solid for its price but complex to assemble. To prevent scratching or slippage from the metal prongs, tiny cushions (included) must be meticulously applied to the prongs – a task potentially requiring a jeweler’s loupe.
The Vup Universal Bike Cell Phone Holder, a popular, inexpensive silicone-bracket mount on Amazon, suffered from excessive phone rattling and bouncing during rides. The lower strap also interfered with the iPhone 8 Plus home button.
The Ailun Silicone Strap Phone Mount Holder, another low-cost Amazon bestseller, felt considerably flimsier than similar mounts, deterring on-bike testing. Its straps also posed potential home button obstruction.
The Team Obsidian Silicone Bike Mount‘s lower strap covered both test phones’ home buttons. Stretching the thick silicone straps onto the iPhone 8 Plus with a Speck Presidio case proved difficult.
The Delta Cycle Smartphone Holder XL and Hefty Holder were both challenging to use for phone insertion and removal, and their bulky, awkward designs are aesthetically unappealing.
The Nite Ize HandleBand felt durable and secure. However, its wide straps obscured a portion of the phone screen.
Waterproof Universal-Fit Phone Holders
For cyclists needing weather protection, waterproof phone holders for bikes are available, though they often come with usability trade-offs.
The Topeak Smartphone Drybag, tested in its 5-inch size, tightly fit the iPhone 8 Plus with a case. However, significant phone rattling and bobbing occurred with even minor pavement irregularities, regardless of handlebar or stem mounting.
The Bikase Handy Andy 6, attaching with Velcro straps, was easy to install and remove. Minimal phone movement was observed on road rides. However, the plastic window produced excessive glare, rendering the phone screen unreadable. It appears no updated versions are available for newer phones.
This article was edited by Christine Ryan.
