One of the problems the new iPhone 6 models present is where to put it when you’re in the car. You may not want to keep it in your pocket for obvious reasons, especially the iPhone 6 Plus, and the new models are larger and slipperier than ever. Keeping it in the seat next to you probably means it’ll end up on the floor. With the larger displays and new features introduced with iOS 8, using a car mount is more useful than ever. I’ve been trying out Kenu’s Airframe+, which supports even the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus (with a case too), and I’ve found using a car mount offers up a number of benefits.
I’ve used other car mounts before including ones that sit in the cup holder and ones that (try to) stick to the windshield. Airframe+, however, clips to the air vent on your dash. Kenu says the Airframe+ supports several different styles of air vents (see chart below), and I found both connecting and disconnecting it from the vent very easy.
There is a limiting factor to this style, though: you can’t use the mount and your car’s heater together. This downside rules out use in a cold climate, but I did find that clipping to the air vent is more reliable than windshield mounts or dashboard mounts.
Supported vent types
The Airframe+ mount is especially useful as it rotates in any orientation. You can quickly change between portrait orientation for the home screen to landscape orientation for navigation without having to remove and adjust the mount. The iPhone 6 Plus home screen even supports landscape orientation making your iPhone resemble in-dash car displays, although the touch targets are still rather small from a distance so I wouldn’t rely on anything but voice control.
Docking and removing your phone is also easy with the Airframe+. The mount features an adjusting arm, which is how it can support your iPhone 4 or your iPhone 6 Plus, and this makes adding and removing your phone painless. It also puts a tight grip on your iPhone so it doesn’t fall out when you’re driving on less-than-smooth roads. Although it grips your iPhone tightly, the mount is lined with soft material to protect against scratching your phone. I’ve used it without a case during my testing. If you do use a case, though, the Airframe+ has depth to support using a Mophie, Otterbox, or other thick iPhone case as well.
Features added to iOS 8 make both the new iPhones and previous models more useful during navigation. For example, Hey Siri, which allows you to activate Siri by just using your voice while your iPhone is charging, makes using your iPhone for navigation much safer. I’ve used Hey Siri with my iPhone 6 mounted in the Airframe to use voice controls like navigating to an address, playing music or podcasts, and setting Reminders all hands-free.
The size of the Airframe+ makes it portable too, especially since the adjusting arm defaults to being narrow. You can easily remove the Airmount+ from your vent and keep it in your pocket or bag for using as an iPhone stand out of the car. Kenu suggests using a card from your wallet for supporting the Airframe+ as a portable stand for watching movies or gaming out of the car.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9poX81iZ3nQ]
If you live in a climate where you never rely on using heat in your car, the Kenu Airframe+ is a light and reliable mount for your iPhone of any size. iPhone 6 Plus users will especially want to check out the Airframe+ which retails for $29.95. Kenu also makes a standard Airframe car mount which supports up to a 5-inch smartphone (iPhone 6 but not iPhone 6 Plus), but for now the only benefit is the option to have a white version. Both models are pocket-sized without a phone attached.
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I think the heater issue is easily mitigated by shutting off the vent that you have your phone mounted.
In many cars one must use the vent slats to shut the vent, so it’s a no go.
Not mine. :)
Nice mount but I absolutely HATE vent mounts.
Vent mouths are the WORST because in most cars the vents are made out of flimsy plastic with poor structural strength and are far too easily bent and broken by the kinds of stresses caused by these mounts and the pressure of fingers manipulating the phones. I would never ever buy one or use one.
In case of severe collision, you may want to stash your phone in a place where it won’t go flying out of reach.
In case of severe collision, you must first think how to survive and be alive rather than about your gadgets ! Make a note of it !
re-read his comment. He meant that you’ll need a phone to call emergency for help.
Your chances of being rescued MIGHT increase if you have a telephone.
many newer cars call for help with location information whenever airbags are deployed. also many newer cars have a SOS button within arms reach.
When I was involved in a pretty bad accident, my phone ended up under the rear window in the furthest point in the back. It was sitting in my lap.
No need to worry about how far it flies with Hey Siri…
You make a good point about where to put it. I have the Note 3 and after I got it I immediately ran into the problem of where to put it while driving. None of the various pockets and cubbies of the car will fit it. It’s fine when I’m alone, it goes on the passenger seat. When my wife is with me, it ends up on the floor as often as not.
What a great idea. NOT. Put your iPhone on the air vent and switch in the heating! Fry your iPhone!
Do you actually think before you review these?
I have the standard sized Kenu Airframe:
1. you can turn off the vent it’s inserted into
2. most people usually have heat coming in the floor and not the vents
If you thought about that before replying, you might not have been so insulting while making yourself look silly at the same time.
Did you actually read the article? He says not to use your heater on it…..
yeah.. why not. lets switch of the all the vents not just one. what’s the point using them anyway? I wonder why they put them on there if we only use the floor vents… what do car manufacturers know… right?
Put down the bottle of Jack, you’ve had entirely too much to drink today. Who said not to use your vents? He said dont buy the damn thing if you need to use your vents for heat. #whatsthisguysmoking
honestly, as a marketing man, I can not bring myself to purchase products with such corny, cheesy, promotional videos. I get this weird embarrassed feeling for the people in these videos. Like i’d be humiliated if I had to do that or have people watch it. It gives me anxiety lol.
I have an Airframe Plus, and I love it. I believe that you’d need to have a car with controls to shut off the vent though. In the summer, its fine to let cold air blow on your phone. In the winter, you could not do that with the heater.
So, this is an amazing mount, probably the best I’ve ever had, but its very much dependent on your car and its particular options for vent control.
iRAG makes a similar product, if not the same (cheaper too).
I’ve been using the Airframe for a year and I love it. It worked great with my iPhone 5. Yes, I used it in cold climates (Toronto with -20 weather)… just shut off that one vent so you don’t fry the phone (as the article indicates). I’ve also been using it in California… and when the A/C is on, make sure the vent is open so it keeps cooling your iPhone while the GPS is running since that usually tends to warm the phone up.
The regular Airframe still works fine with the iPhone 6, but you need the Airframe+ for iPhone 6 Plus. So far we’ve only seen 1 car where the mount doesn’t work. It’s worked everywhere else just fine (at least 5 or 6 different rental cars). All my friends use it except for one (because of it doesn’t fit the weird vent).
Love my Kenu – have the old version which does fit the regular 6 model. Works great, and like others have said, I just close the vent so the heat doesn’t blow on it. Understandably it’s not for everyone if you can’t shut the heat vent with a dial like I can.
Loved mine…for 6 months then it looses the tension and can’t hold tight to your vent. It still works but isn’t rock solid like it was when I got it. The original holds an iPhone 6 just fine.
I wouldn’t clip anything to my vents.
I have one of those rubber mats that goes on the dashboard. It works extremely well, although you can’t see the screen – which you shouldn’t be looking at anyway. I use voice controls/commands while driving so it’s not an issue.
One caution about putting an iPhone on the dash, regardless of the mount:
Keep it out of the direct sun! Twice my iphone shut off due to overheating.
Haven’t had that problem with the S5,. That could be due to the cooler weather during ownership.
(Insert joke about plastic melting)
I’ve used the original for over a year and it’s a great product. Okay, I’m in California and basically never have to use the heater but I’ve tried literally a dozen different mounts for the car and this is the least bothersome and easiest to use.
I’m better with iOttie One Touch 2. It’s bigger, yes, but it’s adjustable, has a telescopic arm, the grip is a lot better and you’re not risking it flying all over the car. Vent holders are trash.
Wouldn’t you have the heat coming from the floor vents? Why would that be an issue? I’m thinking that even with the heat coming from the vent it wouldn’t be hot enough to affect the phone, but many cars have vent controls that can shut off an individual vent but leave the grates open.
How’s everyones vent guides after a few months of use? I bet those are now lose/broken from having to bear the weight of this mount and your phone. If not it will be soon, vent mounts suck.
Out of all the car mounts I have used for a phone, this has been proven to the best.
The product is simple and solid. Does one thing and does it very well.
I have a iphone 6+ coming so I will need to upgrade.
For my own car I’ve had a ProClip since iPhone 5. It’s $100, but I feel the best option for mounting your phone because it’s super sturdy and specific to each model of car. I use the Kenu when I’m driving a rental car. It’s really nice to have your phone mounted in view instead of trying to listen to turn-by-turn directions. If you want to have the best car experience (until CarPlay is built in), buy a ProClip.
I have used ProClip as well for several cars in the past fortunately once you have the base in the car its not much to buy the specific phone adapter portion compared to a whole new kit each time. This would be good for rentals or when you borrow a friends car.
Saw this post and actually was looking for a mount like this. I picked it up, it’s great. With the new “Hey Siri” command, paired with a .5m iPhone car charger, it really avoids having to look at your phone while driving.
Thanks for the article!
Nice concept and design, but way overpriced for what it is and what it does. More like $20 and NOT $30.
My car has two vent slats that don’t actually move. (more and more cars have this, mine’s 5 years old). The Kenu mounts on these top two slats, the phone is held at the bottom. This way it’s not really affected by the heat or cooking use of the vent.
cooling, not cooking!
I have a 2014 Mits lancer and the original airframe with my iphone 5s and it works great. No issues with the heat vent as I just slide that one off. I’m looking at getting the iphone 6 plus and was really pleased to see Kenu has made a mount to fit it!
I’m sorry, but this is really a waste of money. Car mount has to be reliable and universal. The only thing that goes on a vent in our car is airfreshner lol!!! Why would you want to hang a big/heavy phone in a case on a flimsy clip that will loosen up in a matter of months, and not even universal for all the cars? I wouldn’t use anything without a good suction cup on windshield or a dashboard. As a matter of fact, as soon as I saw this kenu commercial, I couldn’t believe how much it looks like our favorite Arkon Mobile Grip 2 mount (saw the review on xda http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2732573) except Mobile Grip 2 is so much more flexible and that suction cup sticks like a cement glue to anything!
iMagnet works great with the 6 Plus
…with a plan #11.00 Spigen case from Amazon.
Funny how all the negative comments on this page are from people who have not used this, and all the positive comments are from people who have! LOL! I’m totally getting this for my iPhone 6 Plus. Living in Queensland, Australia, it’s actually a major plus to be able to mount the phone directly on top of a vent when running the A/C! Totally brilliant :-)
The Breffo Spiderpodium is a cheaper alternative to this, I wouldn’t be without mine! http://www.breffo.com/pages/spiderpodium
I’ve used the original model on my iPnone 5, and now my 6 for half a year. I was against vent mounts, but never found anything else that worked for me, (at least without spending a hundred dollars). I wanted something that was easy, sturdy, and could keep the phone reasonable close.
The air conditioning keeps the phone cool in the summer, (I have had it overheat in previous mounts), and even with the temperature in the 30’s and the heat on, I’ve had no problems with the phone getting hot. (Now most of my car’s heat comes out the floor vents, the by-level position give cool/luke-warm air out of the dash vents.)
And you can carry it with you to use in other cars and as a table stand.
You don’t use the dash vents for heat.. the heat comes out of the floor vents in order to be effective. I am guessing the author has never lived in a colder climate.