A rear view mirror phone mount is one of the better alternatives to sticking a suction cup to the windshield or hanging a phone from an air vent. The phone stays high in the cabin, the dashboard remains clear, and you do not have to depend on adhesive sticking to textured or soft-touch trim.
There is a catch, though. Rear view mirror mounts vary enormously in design. Some clamp around the mirror housing itself, some grab the support behind the mirror, and premium radar detector mounts are often engineered around the exact shape and diameter of a particular mirror stem. Buying the wrong style can leave you with vibration, a mirror that will not stay adjusted, or a mount that simply cannot be installed.
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For most drivers, I would start with the JDHDL universal cradle mount if you want conventional spring-loaded phone retention, or the JDHDL magnetic mirror mount if you already use a MagSafe-compatible phone or case. The Quyee aluminum mount is the more interesting choice if you want additional metal construction and adjustment.
If none of these mounting locations work well with your particular dashboard and mirror design, also see our phone mounts by vehicle make and model. A vehicle-specific dash or console mount can be a better solution in cars with oversized mirror housings or sensor assemblies behind the mirror.
Best Rear View Mirror Mounts at a Glance
| Mount | Best For | Attachment |
|---|---|---|
| JDHDL Rear View Mirror Phone Holder | Best overall universal cradle | Mirror housing |
| JDHDL Magnetic Rear View Mirror Phone Holder | MagSafe and magnetic mounting | Mirror housing |
| Quyee Aluminum Rear View Mirror Phone Holder | More rigid adjustable construction | Mirror housing/support area |
| ILKCC Rearview Mirror Phone Holder | Budget choice | Mirror housing |
| SDSACZMU Aluminum Radar Detector Mount | Compatible Escort, Beltronics and Cobra detectors | Mirror stem |
1. JDHDL Rear View Mirror Phone Holder: Best Overall
The JDHDL Rear View Mirror Phone Holder is the option I would recommend first to drivers who want a conventional cradle rather than a magnetic mount.
It clamps around the rear view mirror and uses an articulated arm that can position the phone beneath or beside the mirror. The cradle is designed for phones roughly in the 4-to-7-inch range, so you are not locked into a particular phone ecosystem, magnetic case, or adhesive metal plate.
That universal compatibility is important. A MagSafe mount is convenient when your phone is already set up for it, but a mechanical cradle remains the easiest solution for households where several people use the same vehicle with different phones.
The JDHDL also has a much stronger track record than the random no-name mirror mounts that dominate this category. That matters because the weak point in inexpensive mirror mounts is usually not the phone cradle. It is the collection of pivots and sliding joints between the mirror and the phone.
Best for: Drivers who want a universal phone holder that works without MagSafe (Android peeps we’re looking at you).
Skip it if: Your mirror housing is extremely thick, unusually shaped, or surrounded by a large camera/sensor enclosure.
2. JDHDL Magnetic Rear View Mirror Phone Holder: Best for MagSafe
If you prefer dropping the phone onto a magnetic head instead of opening a cradle every time you get into the car, the JDHDL Magnetic Rear View Mirror Phone Holder is the better choice.
This is also the product that the previous version of this article linked to while incorrectly describing it as a universal cradle mount. It is a magnetic mount designed around MagSafe-style attachment.
For recent iPhones, that makes the mount exceptionally simple to use. Bring the phone toward the magnetic head and it locks into place. Other phones can be used with an appropriate magnetic case or ring.
The articulated mirror assembly lets you move the phone away from the centerline of the mirror rather than forcing it to hang directly underneath. That can be useful in cars where the windshield camera housing, rear-view mirror controls, or driver sightline makes the center position awkward.
The downside is the same one that applies to nearly every magnetic mount: the system is only as good as the magnetic interface between the phone and holder. A thick non-magnetic case defeats the purpose.
Best for: MagSafe iPhones (iPhone 12 and newer) and Android phones using a compatible magnetic case or ring.
Skip it if: You regularly switch between phones with bulky non-magnetic cases.
3. Quyee Aluminum Rear View Mirror Phone Holder: Best Heavy-Duty Choice
The Quyee Aluminum Rear View Mirror Phone Holder is the pick that stands out if you are tired of mirror mounts constructed almost entirely from thin plastic.
Quyee uses aluminum alloy through significant portions of the adjustable assembly while retaining protective material at the points where the mount contacts the vehicle and phone. The design provides several adjustment points so you can alter both reach and viewing angle.
That extra adjustability can be extremely useful because mirror placement varies dramatically between vehicles. In one car, the phone may need to sit only an inch below the mirror. In another, the mirror may be tucked so close to the headliner or sensor housing that you need to move the phone several inches sideways before dropping it down.
There is a trade-off. More joints mean more places that need to be tightened properly. Do not extend every joint to its maximum distance unless necessary. Keeping the phone closer to the mirror reduces leverage on both the mount and the mirror assembly.
Best for: Drivers who prioritize adjustability and more metal construction.
Skip it if: Your goal is the smallest, least noticeable mount possible.
4. ILKCC Rearview Mirror Phone Holder: Best Budget Option
The ILKCC Rearview Mirror Phone Holder fills the budget position without forcing us to recommend one of the poorly reviewed mounts that frequently appear in this category.
Its design uses four contact points around the phone and an adjustable, retractable arm. That makes it more accommodating of different phone sizes while still allowing portrait or landscape positioning.
I would choose the JDHDL or Quyee first for a vehicle you drive every day, especially if you expect the mount to remain installed for years. But the ILKCC makes sense for a second vehicle, rental-car-style use, or someone who wants to find out whether mirror mounting works for their driving position before spending more.
Best for: Occasional use and shoppers who want to keep the cost down.
Skip it if: Maximum rigidity is more important than price.
What About True Mirror-Stem Mounts?
This is an important distinction that many buying guides miss.
Most inexpensive rear view mirror phone holders do not clamp to the round stem that attaches the mirror to the windshield. They attach to the mirror housing itself or wrap around the area immediately behind it.
A true mirror-stem mount clamps directly to the structural stem. When the fit is correct, this can provide considerably more rigidity because the phone is not applying force directly to the mirror housing.
The problem is compatibility. Newer vehicles increasingly place cameras, rain sensors, wiring covers, auto-dimming electronics, and driver-assistance hardware around the mirror. Some mirrors have very little exposed cylindrical stem remaining.
These are very model dependent and is the reason you will not see a recommendation for them.
Best Rear View Mirror Mount for a Radar Detector: SDSACZMU Aluminum Mirror Mount
Radar detectors are a different category from phone mounts, and a dedicated mirror-stem bracket is usually the cleaner solution. The SDSACZMU Aluminum Rearview Mirror Radar Detector Mount clamps around the rear view mirror stem and positions the detector just below the mirror.
Unlike generic suction-cup brackets, this style keeps the detector off the windshield and gives the installation a much cleaner appearance. The aluminum mounting assembly also provides a more rigid platform than the lightweight plastic arms used on many inexpensive detector mounts.
This version uses an EZ Magnet-style connection and is designed for several Escort, Beltronics and Cobra radar detectors, including models in the MAX 360c, MAX 3, IX/IXc and Redline EX families.
Best for: Drivers using a compatible Escort, Beltronics or Cobra detector who want a solid mirror-mounted installation.
Skip it if: Your rear view mirror has little or no exposed stem, or your radar detector uses a different mounting interface.
For more detector mounting options, see our radar detector mounts guide and our dedicated guide to mounting an Escort radar detector to a rear view mirror.
Rear View Mirror Mount vs. Windshield Mount
A mirror mount is not automatically better than a windshield mount. It solves a different set of problems.
A good suction mount gives you tremendous freedom in where the phone sits. You can place it far left, close to the dashboard, or in a lower corner of the windshield. Our best suction cup phone mounts guide covers those options in detail.
The mirror mount wins when you want to eliminate the suction cup entirely and keep the phone near the center of the vehicle. It also works well on dashboards where adhesives will not stick or where you do not want to attach anything to delicate trim.
The downside is that your rear view mirror becomes part of the mounting system. If the mirror joint is already loose, hanging a phone from it can make the problem worse.
Will a Mirror Phone Mount Block Your View?
It can, which is why positioning matters more here than with most other car mounts.
The phone should normally sit immediately below or slightly beside the rear view mirror rather than several inches down into the windshield area. The farther you extend an articulated arm, the more windshield area the phone can cover and the more leverage it applies to the mount.
Before driving, sit in your normal position and check the entire forward view. Make sure the phone does not conceal pedestrians, traffic signals, vehicles, or a significant part of the roadway.
Local laws also vary, so a mirror-mounted device should never be treated as an automatic workaround for laws regulating windshield obstructions.
Common Rear View Mirror Mounting Problems
Mirror Moves When You Hit a Bump
This usually means the mirror’s own ball joint is not stiff enough to support the additional weight. Shortening the mount arm may help, but a badly worn mirror joint is a poor mounting point.
Mount Does Not Fit Around the Mirror
Oversized auto-dimming mirrors and digital rear view mirrors can be substantially thicker than traditional glass mirrors. Measure before ordering.
Sensor Housing Blocks the Mount
Modern driver-assistance cameras often sit directly behind the rear view mirror. Never force a clamp against the camera housing, wiring cover, or sensor assembly.
Phone Vibrates
Reduce extension length first. Every extra inch between the attachment point and phone increases leverage. Also verify that each pivot is fully tightened.
Mirror Controls Are Covered
HomeLink buttons, auto-dimming controls, microphones and digital-mirror switches can all be located along the mirror housing. Check their location before positioning the clamp.
How to Install a Rear View Mirror Phone Mount
- Inspect the mirror. Identify whether the mount will clamp to the mirror housing or its supporting stem.
- Check for sensors and wiring. Do not clamp onto plastic ADAS camera covers or wiring channels.
- Install the clamp lightly. Get the mount positioned before tightening it fully.
- Keep the arm short. Start with the phone as close to the mirror as practical.
- Set the viewing angle. Position the phone just below or beside the mirror without obstructing your forward view.
- Tighten the joints. Secure each pivot after the final position has been chosen.
- Test the mirror. Adjust the rear view mirror normally and confirm it stays in position.
- Test on the road. Watch for vibration or gradual mirror movement before relying on the mount during a long trip.
Are Rear View Mirror Phone Mounts Worth It?
Yes, for the right vehicle.
Rear view mirror mounts make the most sense when you want your phone high in your field of vision but do not want a suction cup on the windshield, adhesive on the dashboard, or weight hanging from an air vent.
For most people, the JDHDL universal cradle is the best place to start. It accommodates a broad range of phones and does not require a magnetic case. If you already use MagSafe, the JDHDL magnetic mirror mount gives you a cleaner attachment system. For more substantial construction and adjustment, I prefer the Quyee aluminum mount.
Radar detector users should approach the category differently. Rather than buying a generic phone-style mirror bracket and adapting it, use a detector-specific system such as SDSACZMU and verify the mirror fit before ordering.
If your mirror is surrounded by cameras or electronics and none of these options make sense, don’t force it. Check our car dashboard mount guide or browse our complete phone mount guides for a better mounting location.
