The holder definitely works. Holds my android phone beautifully and easy to put in/remove. The only issue that I have with it and it is a big one is the length of the arm when you plug it into cigarette lighter turns out to be the same height as most gear shifts. So every time I shift my hand is bumping into it. An arm just slight longer would have resolved this issue. To resolve problem I've leaned arm to far right, but sorta defeats purpose of it being easily visible.This phone dock is awesome ! It holds my iPhone snug and secure, it has never come out unless I wanted it to. And is easy to remove, one handed! And when the new iPhone comes out I don't have to buy a new cradle because the phone is bigger ,it still will fit!For the most part, it is a rather sturdy phone mount for your car. However, the X-Grip holder has some limitations. For one, it won't hold my Samsung Galaxy S3. Or at least, it won't hold it like the mount's instruction manual suggests to do.
The suggested use for the holder is to press a tab and slide the top tab up, place your phone in the bottom tabs (which are incidentally NON-ADJUSTABLE), and push the top tab down to lock it into place. That is a very clever and useful way to mount a phone in this holder, but the overall vertical length is too short. Sure, it might fit any iPhone up to the 4s model, but I doubt it will work well with the iPhone 5, much less any of the newer smartphones of substantial height.
If I take my Galaxy S3 out of it's protective aftermarket case, I could FORCE it under the top tab, but that defeats the purpose of the holder. First, I shouldn't be expected to have to remove my phone from its case, just to mount it in my car. I use a Ballistic brand "armor case" on my phone, and it only adds about 6mm to the height of the phone, yet my cased phone is almost an inch too tall for the mount when the mount is extended fully. Second, the holder's design allows for effortless clamping of a phone into place, there should not be a forceful bending of a clip just to fit the phone in the holder.I really like the holder, I just have two things that make me not give it 5 stars...for my vehicle it fits in the lighter plug, but just barely, it sometimes comes out just enough so that it doesn't charge. Also the bendable neck does not really bend and stay in positions as well as my old Brackerton window holder.
I do recommend the holder, with those exceptions to keep in mind.I first bought a Bracketron IPM-197-BL PowerDock Dual Auxiliary USB for my Nexus 4 "Google Phone" in an 05' MB C230. The 197 fit the phone and power socket tightly (it uses adjustable metal socket sidewall expansions) but could not clear the console gear shifter. I then bought this Bracketron IPM-423 Flex unit. It holds the phone very securely while clearing the shifter; however, because the socket uses a non-adjustable rubber sprocket style expansion flange, it does not stay securely in the socket. The painted metal coil flex arm does stay as you adjust it, but the weight of the phone slowly rotates the arm at the socket mounting, requiring frequent realignment. Overall, the 423 works well enough to be kept, holding my larger 4.7" phone 5-6 inches above the power socket.
Bracketron IPM-423-BX Universal 12V Power Flex Neck Dock with X-Grip Holder and USB Port - Retail Pa
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on Tuesday, December 31, 2013
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