If you’ve ever had your iPhone slide into the crack between your front seats while driving, the appeal of a dedicated car mount is obvious. While we usually take the “throw it in the cupholder” approach, that’s not always the best move when you want to actually hear your phone ringing. Kensington’s latest iPhone car mount attempts to not only keep your phone handy, but also pumps up the volume enough so that you might actually hear it ringing.

Be thankful for the lever to release the suction cup because that sucker is strong.

The absurdly literally named Windshield/Vent Car Mount With Sound Amplified Cradle For iPhone comes as a three-piece kit. The cradle itself can be used with either of the separate windshield or AC-vent mounts, and it basically acts as a passive amplifier to eke a bit more volume out of the speaker on your iPhone. Kensington claims it’s twice as loud, but we didn’t detect nearly that much of a difference. You won’t be able to listen to tunes from your iPhone with it while driving, but it did make our ringer noticeably louder.

For the actual mounting, you stick the cradle with the gooseneck suction cup to your windshield or snap on the vent mount to suspend it from your car’s AC ducts. The gooseneck is surprisingly strong, allowing you to position the phone just so. The handy release lever on the suction cup was critical in removing the device from our windshield after we got a particularly good seal. The equally useful vent mount is adjustable, and it easily popped into and out of several different vehicles.

Kensington's latest car mount securely holds your iPhone either to your windshield or an air vent. The volume boost isn't huge, but it's good enough.

Windshield/Vent Car Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle for iPhone
COMPANY: Kensington
CONTACT: www.us.kensington.com
PRICE: $39.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPhone
Suction-cup gooseneck is very strong. Vent mount adds flexibility.
Makes your iPhone louder... but not that much louder.