Car and Motorcycle Mounts for the Moto Z Smartphone

The Moto Z was introduced in June of 2016 and has become fairly popular among Android fans.  Motorola has launched several variations of the Moto Z including the Moto Z Play and Moto Z Force.  The sizes of these models are similar and our mount recommendations will work on all three models.

Mount Analysis

With a large 5.5 inch diagonal screen, the Moto Z measures 6.04 x 2.96 x 0.20 in inches (153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2 mm) and weighs in at 4.8 ounces which is remarkably light.  These are the measurements to keep in mind when selecting a mount.  I’m not aware of any custom mounts for the Moto Z so we are going to recommend mounts with universal holders.

Because of the larger size of this phone, not all mounts are going to fit.  You will need a mount with a larger expandable cradle, especially if you are using a case or skin which is always recommended.    Be very aware of the size of the cradle, this large phone won’t fit into just any mount.  Be sure to measure your phone before selecting a new mount or cradle and remember, if you have a case or skin, the dimensions are larger.  I always recommend taking a ruler out and measuring it yourself.

This phone isn’t cheap.  Buy a case for it.  I have always been a big fan of the Otterbox Defender series.  The Otterbox Defender for the Moto Z Force is a great case.  Be sure to purchase the case for your specific model of Moto Z because unlike mounts, cases need to be exact.  A single drop on ceramic tile that results in a broken screen will cost a lot more than the case.

If you think insurance will cover you, think twice.  Insurance policies purchased from your carrier have a deductible and for newer more expensive phones that can be $169 on up.  So to add insult to injury, you will not only be paying the monthly insurance premium, but you will then pay the deductible.  You can read our article on phone insurance here.  Bottom line is buy a case.  I’ve dropped my phone on the driveway from six feet up and it didn’t receive any damage at all thanks to the case.

Mount Recommendations

Let’s look at a few good mounts.

Give the location of your mount some thought.  There are lots of places to mount your Moto Z.  The windshield is the most popular location to mount if you plan to use it as a GPS.  We have recommended the Arkon’s Slim Grip Ultra Travel Mount many times over the years and will continue to do so until I see anything more versatile for the price.  This mount features an expandable cradle which expands to 7 inches using a spring-loaded bottom.  The support arms move so that you can expose any ports or buttons.  This will fit your phone with or without a thick case (even the big thick Otterbox Defender).  The mount comes with an adhesive dash plate so that you can attach to the mount to your dash as well as your windshield.

Next, consider the iKross Car Cup Holder Phone Mount.  The cup holder base is expandable from 2.7 to 3.7 inches.  It will fit almost any vehicle’s cup holder.  There is a 12″ flexible stem that allows bending of the mount to the right angle for the driver or passenger.  The phone can rotate 360 degrees into portrait or landscape and is easy to insert and remove.  The expandable cradle opens to 8 inches so it will fit your phone with or without a case or skin..  My SUV has more cup holders than I could fill with drinks, so finding a spare cup holder should hopefully not present much of a challenge.

Another interesting location for your Moto Z is the car air vent.  The Andobil Car Air Vent Mount is a recent discovery for the vent.  The Square Jellyfish Jelly-Grip mount can be used to hold your device.  The expandable cradle will hold your phone from the sides and expands up to 3.75 inches.  This mount will work on almost any air vent.

For motorcycle use, it’s important that you select a mount that will hold your Moto Z tightly so that it stays secure in high vibration environments.  Consider the RAM X-Grip IV Handlebar Mount.  The RAM X-Grip line consists of well made cradles.  These are heavy-duty mounts that are mostly constructed of metal.  The mount has gone through some rigorous shake tests and holds up well on a motorcycle.  We wrote about X-Grip holders extensively on this site and you can view that article here.  These mounts feature the expandable X-Grip IV cradle which can open to 4.5 inches which is large enough for most cases or skins.  These mounts fit handlebars up to 1.25 inches diameter and come with a lifetime warranty.

When using a motorcycle mount, we always recommend tethering your device for added security.