Review: Mountek nGroove universal CD slot car mount [VIDEO]
It’s been a long time coming, but after fumbling around for countless years with my phone between my legs, I finally decided it was time to pony-up and buy a car mount. What took me so long? Well, with so many car mounts available on the market, my issue had long been with car mounts either obstructing my view when driving (suction cup mounts), or taking my eyes way off from the road (DC charger mounts).
A few days ago, a friend of mine turned me onto a type of car mount I never knew existed — the Mountek nGroove universal CD slot mount. This mount utilizes the space left over from an ancient form of media past: your car’s CD player. Simply slide the mount into your dusty old CD player, tighten the screw, and you’re good to go. The nGroove keeps your phone right along side the rest of your car’s controls, the spot where it’s most convenient. Here’s my quick review.
Build Quality
Overall, the build quality is nice. Nothing too premium here, but I suppose it’s more about function over form. The plastic used to form the mount is rough and feels durable enough, attaching very firmly into the CD slot. When it comes to the arms of the mount, you wont want to get too rough with ’em (really, why would you?) and are lined with a cheap foam used to hug your device and hold it firmly in place. The more you squeeze, the more it locks into place. Overtime, I can see the foam becoming deflated, possibly losing some of its hold in the process, but then again, I’ve always been the paranoid type. The best part about quality of the mount is that nothing rattles — not a screw, hinge, arm, nothing — ensuring a quiet drive to wherever your travels take you.
Form Factor
Probably the biggest issue I had with the mount is it isn’t the prettiest way to mount your phone. A huge screw juts out from the top or bottom of the mount (depending on orientation) and it’s so big it can even slightly obstruct view from your radio or nav unit. Not to mention it’s just a huge screw staring at you in the face. It’s an eyesore for sure. I can’t help by wonder if there was some other way Mountek could have streamlined this a bit more, possibly even placing the screw hidden behind the rest of the mount (see pictures).
Execution
Of course, a mount is only as good as it can hold onto your device and the nGroove does a great job with that. Whether you have a case on your phone, a phablet, or a tiny-phone, the nGroove will keep it in place and easily accessible while driving. Once secured, you wont have to worry about the mount slipping out from the CD player, and it’s rather difficult to remove your device without first pressing on the release mechanism along the top of the mount.
I found that you could even mount your phone completely upside down, provided you lock the arms tight enough on you device. I wouldn’t recommend it, but it is possible (see pic below). The only real negative I could find was that there isn’t much tilt in the mount, meaning it’s pretty much going to be facing directly out from the CD player in your dash. While it is possible to rotate your device 180 degrees into landscape mode, heavier devices like the Note 2 will continue rotating with the forces of gravity if you ever come across a bumpy road.
Value
At $25, I was more than pleased with the nGroove universal CD slot mount. While it’s not exactly the prettiest (or cheapest) mount you’ll come across, it’s the wonderful combination of a unique, universal design, as well optimal placement that make this one a winner. Although certainly not for everyone, it’s definitely worth a buy for anyone who has been looking for a quality mount and no longer using their car’s CD player. Still, I feel like a $15 price point would have been a bit more fitting, but again, it’s hard to beat that CD slot design. Whether for yourself, or as a gift this holiday season, you can find the nGroove by Mountek via the link below.
Buy it on Amazon: Mountek nGroove CD slot car mount