[Nexus 4 Accessories] PermaBanned:
Hi folks! Noob here (have been lurking around since 2004 though). I just wanted to share my experience on which Nexus 4 friction mounts work the best for me. Personally, I'm not a big fan of suction mounts because they suck really bad (no pun intended), i.e a small variation in weather and your device will take off like superman while you are driving. Anyway, the following listing has been arranged in order of my preference:

#1- iTrek BeanBag with 17mm ball mount + slimy crocodile grip

Pros:

- 17mm ball mount can be used interchangeably with that Qi charger from Owlpad.

- The grip locks into the friction mount, contrary to other friction mounts where a suction cup is used.

- Freakin inexpensive; given that it's a Garmin-style friction mount.

- Friction mount stays in it's place even during running a lap where drifting is involved!

- That slimy croc grip is pretty nifty and can hold anything from a dashcam to you-name-it.

Cons:

- The croc grip wont fit too snugly on that ball mount. Viewing angle can be disturbed by a moderate amount of jerk (result obtained after a 10 mile run.)

#2- SPFM Mini Desktop Friction Mount

Pros:

- No suction mount between holder and the friction mount.

- Holder snugly holds your Nexus 4 in place.

- Nexus 4 can be placed at an angle where it can be used as a dashcam.

- Friction mount has a very very small foot print.

- Friction mount wont budge unless your are engaged in a drift race.

- Cheap + good bang for the buck!

Cons:

- No 17mm ball mount.

- Foam on both sides of the holder wont exactly engage the Nexus 4 but it still gets the job done.

#3 - USA Gear Portable Vehicle Friction Mount

Pros:

- The grip locks into the friction mount, contrary to other friction mounts where a suction cup is used.

- Friction mount stays in it's place even during running a lap where drifting is involved!

- Can hold almost any cell phone!

- Firm viewing angle. (re-confirmed after a 10 mile run)

- Low profile. It only takes as much space as necessary.

- Cheap.

Cons:

- Can't use your cell phone as a dashcam (at least wont cut it for Nexus 4.)

- Absence of a 17mm ball mount.

- Cell phone holder is pretty useless. It has minimal friction and it's fairly easy to dislodge your expensive equipment during hard braking or tight cornering. Though, in my test not a single female driver was able to dislodge the test phone :)

#4- Arkon Weighted Smartphone Mount

- Almost any cell phone fits snugly in that holder!

- Friction mount has a somewhat smaller foot print and looks neat.

- Nexus 4 can be fitted at an angle where it can function as a dashcam.

- Cell phone sits somewhat closer to the driver, and depending on your car, you can also fiddle with the phone without taking your hands off the wheel!

Cons:

- No locking mechanism between the friction mount and the holder; just a suction mount! It didn't work for me very well here in VA. It just hates cold

weather.

- Friction mount can slide around during tight cornering. Even a female driver was able to replicate this anomaly.

- If you drive a Jeep or any car that has a stiff suspension, you will notice some vibrations on that long neck shaft, making info on your Nexus 4 harder to read.

- Less value for the money.

Disclaimer:

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- Friction mount might work differently in your car, depending on the material used for the construction of your dash.

- When I say female drivers, I mean gentle drivers :)

- Yes, the search function didn't yield a positive hit.