I don’t think an article was ever published on this site for a Microsoft phone. Today we have our first which will discuss car and motorcycle mounts for the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL. I have a friend that has one of these and if you are a hardcore Microsoft fan, this is a great phone. It’s nothing like an Android or IOS based phone and requires a learning curve even for those already familiar with Windows operating systems.
The specs of the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL are up there with the best phones. The phone sports an octa-core, 2.0 GHz processor with 32GB of storage. Scratch resistant Gorilla Glass on a 5.7″ diagonal display is a nice feature to avoid having to buy a screen protector. An impressive 20 megapixel camera with continuous auto-focus and optical image stabilization should get a fix on almost any photograph. Add to that the ability to shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second and this is a full feature phone.
Looking at the all important dimensions, this phone is large coming in at 5.98 x 3.09 x 0.32 inches (151.9 x 78.4 x 8.1 mm) and weighing just under 6 ounces. These are important measurements to determine if a mount has a cradle large enough to fit your phone. Since these are large dimensions, not every phone mount is going to fit.
This isn’t a cheap phone, so shop around for a good case as the cost will be recouped many times over by avoiding a broken display after dropping the phone a few times. I always like to recommend a good one from the likes of Otterbox, LifeProof or Spigen but they do not seem to make one for this model phone. Shop around and as they exist from other manufacturers. Be sure to get one that has a multi-layer protection. As mentioned earlier, a screen protector may not be a requirement since the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL has scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass.
Let’s take a look at some mounts.
Using your Microsoft Lumia 950 XL as a GPS is a great idea. We have written many articles about Waze and if you haven’t downloaded it yet, do it now. When using your Microsoft Lumia 950 XL as a GPS, you will want it at eye level. The most popular mount for this purpose is one that will attach to your windshield using a suction cup. The Arkon Slim Grip Ultra Travel Mount is an excellent inexpensive entry. The cradle opens to over seven-inches which is easily large enough to hold your phone with or without a case. This mount includes a cradle with a spring-loaded feature and legs which can be moved from side to side to leave any port on your phone exposed to run cables. It include a mount that can be adjusted at the base and the cradle. The phone can swivel 360 degrees. A really nice feature is that an adhesive dash disk is included to turn your windshield mount into a dash mount. This is nice for states that may not permit mounting to a windshield. We wrote a detailed article on this topic which can be read here.
Most vehicles have more cup holders than you could place drinks into. 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.
Another great place for your Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is the air vent. Consider the Square Jellyfish Jelly-Grip Car Air Vent Mount. The Square Jellyfish Jelly-Grip mount can be used to hold most phone models with or without a case or skin. It has a ball and socket so the cradle so has the capability to be oriented downwards towards the driver versus the roof. This mount will work on flat vent slats that are 3/8 to 1 inch deep. The included cradle opens to 3 5/8 inches which is large enough for this phone.
For motorcycle use, it’s important that you select a mount that has a well constructed cradle that is going to hold your Microsoft Lumia 950 XL very tightly so that it stays put through the vibration of a ride. We continue to be big fans of the RAM X-Grip line. 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-Grips extensively on this site and you can view that article here. Most motorcycles can use the RAM X-Grip Handlebar Mount. Both of these mounts feature the expandable X-Grip IV cradle which can open to 4.5 inches which is large enough for most cases. We always recommend tethering your device for added security.