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These days, families rely on entertainment options in their vehicles to keep children docile and amenable toward any sort of trip. That makes a tablet holder an important device for watching movies, playing video games, and more for parents just needing to go on a grocery run. If you need to keep your children entertained while you focus on the road, the best tablet holders for cars can help by securely holding an iPad or other type of tablet in the back seat.
Many of these products have accessories that make them even more desirable, such as cup holders, too. Whether your car trip is short or long, the best tablet holders for cars will make the trip more enjoyable for the backseat passengers regardless of how they choose to entertain themselves.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Macally Car Headrest Mount Holder
- Best Value: Tryone Tablet Headrest Holder
- Best for Kids: Luckybay Car Backseat Organizer
- Easiest to Install: TFY Universal Car Headrest Mount
- Best for Thick Tablet Cases: Hikig Car Headrest Mount Holder
- Most Adjustable: Klsniur Car Headrest Tablet Mount
- Best for Front Seats: APPS2Car Universal Car Mount
- Best for Trucks: Arkon Car/Truck Seat Rail or Floor Tablet Mount
- Best Organizer/Holder Combo: Novashion Back Seat Car Storage Holder
- Honorable Mention: EEEkit Car Headrest Mount Tablets Holder
Our Methodology
We took several factors into consideration when choosing the best tablet holders for cars. We concentrated a large number of our selections on products that are designed for back-seat entertainment for children and families. However, we also included some options that are designed to hold tablets for front-seat passengers. We made sure to select items that are durable and designed to last. We chose tablet holders that stay firmly in place even when exposed to bumpy road conditions. The products listed are available in a wide range of prices to accommodate various budgets. We also looked at user feedback to see how these products perform in real-life conditions. For more information on our methodology, go here.
Best Tablet Holders for Cars: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
Macally Car Headrest Mount Holder
Best Value
Tryone Tablet Headrest Holder
Best for Kids
Luckybay Car Backseat Organizer with 10-Inch Touch Screen Tablet Holder
Easiest To Install
TFY Universal Car Headrest Mount
Best for Thick Tablet Cases
Hikig Car Headrest Mount Holder
Most Adjustable
Klsniur Car Headrest Tablet Mount
Best for Front-Seat Viewing
APPS2Car Universal Car Mount
Best for Trucks
Arkon Car/Truck Seat Rail or Floor Tablet Mount
Best Organizer/Tablet Holder Combo
Novashion Back Seat Car Storage Holder with 10-Inch Tablet Holder
Honorable Mention
EEEkit Car Headrest Mount Tablets Holder
Our Verdict on the Best Tablet Holders for Cars
Our top overall pick is the Macally Car Headrest Mount Holder. It’s designed to hold tablets up to 10 inches wide as well as most smartphones. It won’t bounce and will stick firmly in place while the vehicle is in motion. For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Tryone Tablet Headrest Holder.
What to Consider When Buying a Tablet Holder for Car
There are two types of vehicle tablet holders. Before you shop for one, decide whether you want to use the tablet in the front seat or the back seat. Some holders are designed to stick to a windshield or on an air vent, while others are affixed to the back of a headrest. It can be tempting to buy a cheap tablet holder for your car, but there are other factors you should consider in addition to the price. First, you need to make sure it’s compatible with both your vehicle and your tablet. Also, it needs to be stable and easy to use, whether you’re the driver or backseat passenger.
Types of Tablet Holders for Cars
Leverage-Based Mount
A leverage-based mount is inserted into either your vehicle’s air vent slots, CD slot, or the stem of a headrest, which allows a person in the back seat to engage with the tablet. This is ideal for children and young passengers who seek digital entertainment during a car trip.
The nice thing about these mounts is you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to where you want to place the tablet. The downside is that the mount, in combination with the tablet, may be too heavy for a plastic air vent (and possibly cause it to break). Also, they are not particularly stable and can slide out of place due to bumps in the road or other vibrations.
Suction-Based Mount
The last mounting option for a tablet holder is one that relies on suction cups. These mounts are fairly secure when it comes to slippage, but they are not very versatile. There are not a lot of places in the front of your car in which you can stick the suction cup.
Another problem with these mounts is that some vehicles have windows with a large sloping angle. If you put the mount on this type of surface, the ability to angle the tablet becomes limited. However, you can mount it on either the right or left side of your steering wheel, so it’s good for both right- and left-handed people.
Tablet Holder for Car Key Features
Compatibility
Some tablet holders are larger than others, so they can accommodate a larger range of tablets. Whether you have a smaller 7-inch tablet or a larger 12-inch iPad Pro, the holder needs to have a secure grip. Some devices are even designed with adapters to hold smaller electronic devices, such as smartphones.
You also need to consider the thickness of the tablet. Some holders have clips that work well with older tablets that aren’t as thin or streamlined as newer devices. Also, make sure the holder fits the vehicle. If you choose one for the headrest, for example, it needs to be stretchy enough to go around it. If you have seats without removable headrests, you want to make sure the holder will work correctly.
Stability
Tablets aren’t cheap, so you want to make sure they’re securely protected in the holder. If the mount isn’t stable, your tablet may vibrate, making it difficult to see what’s on it, or it may drop, which could potentially break it. That’s why a product’s stability is a top priority.
Also look at the arm extension and make sure it’s strong enough to keep your tablet from moving around. If you choose a headrest tablet mount, the elastic should be tight, so it keeps your iPad or other tablet firmly in place so it doesn’t wobble.
Ease of Use
If you use a tablet in your vehicle, it needs to be easily accessible so you aren’t distracted when you’re driving. If you choose a leverage-mounted holder, take a look at the ways it can be configured. Some tilt at more angles than others, and some can pivot 360 degrees, which allows both the driver and passengers to access the tablet.
CD mounts are easy to use, particularly if you’re the driver. It’s not hard, for example, to reach forward and set GPS coordinates. This may be more difficult with a different type of mount. Headrest mounts, on the other hand, tend to be less adjustable. They may only allow a horizontal mounting position and may or may not have a tilting feature.
Vehicle Compatibility
The holder you buy needs to work in your vehicle. You may find that a windshield mount doesn’t work with the slope and style of your windshield. Or perhaps the air vent mount doesn’t fit into your air vents. Confirm that your chosen mount can be installed in your vehicle.
Portability
Do you plan on traveling with your tablet holder? Maybe you have more than one vehicle. Or you plan on renting a vehicle for a trip. This will influence the type of holder you buy. You’ll want something easy and fast to install and take out. Plus, it needs to be compact for packing into a bag or luggage.
Durability
The conditions in your vehicle can be quite harsh. Summertime means extreme heat, and winter can bring extreme cold. The holder you choose needs to be durable enough to last throughout the seasons. Lower-quality suction cups will get hot and melt. Low-quality plastic could become brittle in the cold and crack or break.
Tablet Holder for Car Pricing
Car tablet holders are relatively inexpensive. Less-expensive options are generally made of plastic and are slightly adjustable. They are fairly basic when it comes to their features. Devices that cost more than $20 are usually more durably made with longer arms, more flexibility, and the ability to accommodate a larger range of devices.
Tips and Tricks
As with something you do for decades upon decades, you pick up a few tips and tricks along the way in terms of selecting the right product, and/or using it. That’s the case with us and tablet holders for cars. To help you bridge the information gap, here’s a selection of what we’ve learned along the way.
- Get the exact measurement of your tablet before you buy a holder. Devices with a screen are measured diagonally on the screen only.
- Consider the design of your vehicle when buying your holder. Some air vent mounts work only with certain types of vents. Others work only with headrest support bars that are a specific size and distance.
- Consider the total weight of the tablet and its case when buying your holder. The support arm needs to be able to hold the entire weight. Otherwise, it will begin to droop and put extra stress on the holder.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers!
A: In general, it’s not difficult to install a tablet holder in your car. Some stick in the air vent, CD slot, or cup holder, while others you strap to the headrest. Some brands use suction cups and you stick them on the window.
A: Clearly, based on the products above, you can. But you can both temporarily and permanently mount a tablet to your car. You’ll just need the right mounting hardware to do either.
A: The best way to hang a tablet in your car is by installing a tablet holder onto the back of your car’s seat. Some car organizers include tablet holders, which hang off the front seat.
