Clip-Case Suction Cup Windshield Dashboard Car Mount Kit (Universal with Any Tablet, Smartphone, or GPS) - iPhone iPad iPod Galaxy Droid Kindle Nook

The media could not be loaded.  This Smart-Mount dashboard kit comes with one dashboard suction base, one mount, and one clip.INSTALLATIONThe clip adheres to a cellphone or tablet with an adhesive patch. The manufacturer recommends, and I concur, that you attach it to a cheap case of your choosing - one that can be quickly and easily put on and stripped off. I put it on a cheap TPU case for my iPhone.Attach the mount to the suction base and the suction base to a window or beanbag mount. I always use a beanbag mount.There are three knobs for adjustments and the clip rotates 90 degrees, making it possible to orient the phone in just about every position imaginable. I do recommend making all the adjustments prior to driving, because it takes two hands to fiddle with the knobs.PERFORMANCEThe suction is incredibly good. I haven't had it fall off yet. It probably would, after awhile. They all seem to eventually, but this one is exceptional. I didn't have to use any water to make it stick, and it's a strong suction.The Smart-Mount dashboard kit is big for a dashboard mount. I try to collapse it down so that it's lower to the dash. If I left it at full height, it would obstruct my view.MORE USESThe great thing about this piece is the mount can be screwed onto almost any tripod. That's right. It's the same mount that comes with the Smart-Mount Tripod Kit. You just have to supply your own tripod. I've always wanted a tripod mount for my iPhone, and now I have it.PROS:+ very strong suction mount+ adjustable to any orientation+ can be used to mount phone onto a tripodCONS:- need two hands to adjust orientation- large profile- adheres via semi-permanent adhesive (recommend mounting on a cheap case)WHAT I THINKI prefer cell phone dashboard mounts that are smaller and don't require any use of adhesive, but I've never seen any that are as adjustable as this one. If I had a tripod at home and needed a Smart-Mount for it, this is the one I'd buy. That way, I'd get a dashboard mount as a little bonus.This product was provided for review by Smart-Mount.

Disclosure: I was contacted by Smart-Mount and given this kit specifically for the purpose of reviewing it.Test devices:HTC EVO LTE 4GSamsung Galaxy Nexus 4GSamsing Galaxy S IIKindle Fire HD 7"Google Nexus 7ASUS Transformer (TF101)When the inventor of the Clip-Case contacted me to check out his invention, I was interested in seeing what he had come up with. Shortly after, a kit with the tripod, dash mount, and the clip arrived. (Note: The clip itself is the invention, the tripod and dash mount are generic off the shelf items.) After some use and toying with all the parts, I'm going to be upfront and say that of all the ways I can think of to told a smartphone or tablet to a device to a tripod, this isn't the way I would go.Broken down, the Clip-Case is a belt clip with an adhesive back and an accompanying receiver that it threaded to fit standard camera mounts. You stick the clip to your device and the snap it into the retainer. The first issue I have with the design is that you have to use adhesive tape (included, as well as a spare) to attach the clip to your device. This is why Smart-Mount highly recommends that you pick up a "cheap plastic or TPU case" that you can get your device in and out of easily, the assumption being that you don't want semi-permanently adhere the clip to your device. A good assumption, as I can't imagine most people would want to disfigure their device, nor carry it around with a clip protruding from it all the time. Also worth mentioning is that phone and tablet cases are generally made to *not* come off easily. What good is a protective/decorative case if it keeps coming off the device unwanted?Ok, letting that go, I discovered some issues with the clip and receiver themselves. The kit is supposed to be universal, meaning it will fit anything. This is not strictly true. Devices with a curved rear surface will not get full contact with the adhesive strip on the clip, which will leave a gap and lessen the bond between device and clip. My Transformer is one of those devices. Moving further along, there is a noticeable amount of play when the clip and receiver are together. There is a full 3/8" from where point at which the clip snaps onto the receiver and where it can rest. The point leading up to and just after the clip snaps onto the receiver another problem lays, one which can scuff up your device/case. The retaining nut that the receiver sits on can graze/gouge your device/case with each mating/unmating. (Photo added.) Unless you've test fitted the clip, receiver, and dash mount to your device before actually using the adhesive, you won't notice this until the first time you put it all together. One can avoid this though by test fitting first or installing the clip off center so that the retaining nut is always below the lip of the device, but this too has some issues. And finally, once the clip is attached to your device, detaching it requires you to press against it to release the jaws. This action puts a point of pressure, a fair amount of pressure, against the device's back, which may and may not be good for the device.Still with me? If you're still reading, you might be interested in hearing about the adhesive. From the specifications that Smart-Mount provided me, it looks to be some pretty hefty stuff from 3M that works across a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels. And it should too, as no one wanted to have their expensive device hit the floor because of some second rate adhesive. To test it out a little, I attached the clip to the glass face of an average weight 10" tablet that had been well cleaned (don't worry, it was a dead tablet), attached the clip to the dash mount, and stuck it in a temperature/humidity chamber. This suspected the tablet horizontally and vertically in second test. At 50C and 100% humidity for 24 hours, the adhesive kept the tablet from falling. That being said, it only took one small twist on the clip to pop the adhesive strip from the glass.In comparison to, say, the  Joby JM1-01WW GripTight Mount (Black)  or  TaoTronics TT-SH02 Car Windshield & Dashboard Mount Cradle , I feel the Clip-Case can't compete in terms of ease of use with any smartphone, and there are similar products available for tablets. True, cost may be more, assuming the cost of a case for your device isn't being counted or is minuscule, but if it's something one is likely to use very often, difference in ease of use will pay off in spades.