The OnePlus 3 SmartPhone is the successor to the very successful OnePlus 2. What’s different? A lot. A faster processor, 16MP camera, slightly larger in size and a new operating system. This is normally sold as an unlocked phone which means this will work with multiple carriers.
While the OnePlus 3 is a large phone featuring a diagonal screen at 5.5 inches, this phone is 6.01 x 2.94 x 0.29 inches (152.7 x 74.7 x 7.4 mm). These are the measurements needed when selecting a mount. I haven’t seen any OnePlus 3 custom cradles so we are going to discuss universal mounts. The OnePlus 3 is a large phone so care needs to be taken to ensure the mount opens wide enough to fit properly. If you already have a car mount for your old smartphone, you may need to upgrade the cradle to a larger one. Be sure to measure your phone before cradle shopping and remember, if you have a case or skin, the dimensions are even larger.
As I often suggest for expensive smartphones like the OnePlus 3, buy a case for it. I have always liked the Otterbox Defender series which we reviewed here, but I don’t think they make cases for this model. Select a good case that has a two-piece construction for maximum protection. A single drop on ceramic tile that results in a broken lens will cost way more than the case. If you think insurance will cover you, think again. 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. Get a case.
So let’s move on to the mount discussion.
For the car, give the location of your mount some thought. There are lots of places to mount your OnePlus 3. The windshield is the most popular location to mount especially if you plan to use it as a GPS. I love Waze for this purpose and it will work real well on the big OnePlus 3 screen. A well made expandable mount is the Arkon Slim Grip Ultra Travel Mount. This mount features an expandable cradle which expands to over 7 inches using a spring-loaded top and 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. The mount comes with an adhesive dash plate so that you can attach the mount to your dash as well as your windshield. The phone can swivel into landscape or portrait mode although I find that I typically use this mount in landscape 90% of the time. A 2-year warranty comes with this mount.
You can’t possibly use all the cup holders in today’s vehicles, so use one as a mount point. 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. This mount comes with a one-year warranty.
The vent mount is a good choice for a OnePlus 3. The center vents are usually the best location. The Square Jellyfish Jelly-Grip Car Air Vent Mount is in the photo that accompanies this article. The Square Jellyfish Jelly-Grip mount can be used to hold a OnePlus 3 with or without a case or skin. It has a ball and socket so the cradle swivels into any orientation. 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.
For motorcycle use, it’s important that you select a mount that includes a well made cradle that will hold your OnePlus 3 tightly. The phone must remain secure in high vibration environments like a motorcycle. We like the RAM X-Grip line a lot. 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. Most motorcycles can use the RAM X-Grip IV Handlebar Mount. These mounts feature the expandable X-Grip IV cradle which can open to 4.5 inches which is large enough for most cases. RAM now includes a safety tether with these mounts which is an excellent added touch.