If you have watched Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference keynote last June, you might be intrigued by that mount on the MacBook Pro holding the iPhone when macOS Ventura’s Continuity Camera feature was showcased. Yes, it is that Belkin mount that I am talking about. (In case you are wondering, macOS Ventura allows you to use your iPhone as a webcam, which is called Continuity Camera.)
Officially known as Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks, it is actually an iPhone magnetic ring grip and Continuity Camera mount rolled into one.
- Price: S$44, get it at Shopee and Lazada (available on Feb 22)
- Compatibility: iPhone 12, iPhone mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max and later; MacBook Air (M2, 2022), MacBook Air (M1, 2020), MacBook Air (Retina, 13‑inch, 2020), MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018–2019), MacBook Pro (13‑inch, M2, 2022), MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020), MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020), MacBook Pro (14‑inch, 2023), MacBook Pro (14‑inch, 2021), MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2023), MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2021), MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
As its name implies, it uses Apple’s MagSafe technology to magnetically attach to compatible iPhone’s rear and works on certain Apple laptops (seen above).
Available in black and white (version reviewed), this circular mount is said to be made of hard plastic, steel and aluminium. Apart from the metallic ring grip, the rest of the mount feels silicone-like. And in Singapore’s humid climate, anything rubbery runs the risk of peeling off or getting “mushy”. That said, the build of this mount feels great and sturdy.
| PROS | CONS |
| Good sturdy build | A tad expensive |
| Great for those constantly on the road | Does not work with wireless chargers when attached |
| Doubles as grip ring and kickstand |
On one side of the mount is the MagSafe magnet, while you can find the ring grip and on the other side. Do note that MagSafe only exists in iPhone 12 series and later. So if you have an iPhone 11 series phone, you can’t use this mount. For this review, I used the mount with my iPhone 13 Pro Max.
On the non-magnetic side, you will find a flippable ring grip and a flippable tiny laptop stand. Both take quite some effort to flip them out. I guess that’s why they feel sturdy in the first place. Once you snap this mount onto your iPhone, the MagSafe connection is pretty strong. You can even easily rotate the mount on the iPhone. It takes a bit of effort to pry it away.
The ring grip also doubles up as a kickstand for you to put your iPhone on the table for you to enjoy your TikTok videos or Viu K-dramas. Since it is easily rotatable, you can watch your videos in either portrait or landscape mode.
As such, when you use it as a Continuity Camera mount, you can also easily rotate between portrait and landscape mode as well. And with macOS Ventura, you can fully utilise the superb camera of your iPhone as web camera.
Placing the stand on top of the laptop display is a no-brainer. But the trickier part is to make sure your laptop screen is in the right angle, so the display does not tip over due to the weight of the iPhone.
Belkin even includes a graphic on the mount’s box to teach you the optimal angle of the laptop display. I suggest you strictly adhere to it. Even then, if you are using your laptop on your lap, the mount can be a tad unstable. So, I highly recommend using the mount with your laptop on a table.
Overall, I think this mount is ideal for professionals who are on the go. They can use the mount as a ring grip talking to clients before quickly switching it to a Continuity Camera mount on their laptop.
However, with the mount attached, you will not be able to charge your iPhone wirelessly. Plus, since Belkin did not include a pouch to store the mount, there is a possibility of misplacing it. Not to mention, at $44, this mount is not exactly cheap for something that is pretty much non-essential.
VERDICT: Despite its price, the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks is certainly a good-to-have, especially for those constantly on the move who needs a good webcam using their iPhone. Not to mention, it doubles up as a ring grip and a kickstand for the iPhone. So, it really depends on your usage if you need one.
Belkin said stocks for this mount will only be available from 22 Feb onwards. Apart from this mount, Belkin also sells an iPhone mount for Mac Desktops. So if you have an iMac instead of a MacBook Pro, that might be the one for you to consider.