The Final Tally: iPhone 17 Car Mounts and Essential Stocking Stuffers
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Sometimes the best gift isn’t the most expensive one — it’s the one that solves a daily frustration. To wrap up our gift series, I’m looking at a few of the “missing links” in the iPhone ecosystem. From a car mount that keeps your phone cool while running GPS to a lanyard that keeps you connected on the go, here are a few final items that many iPhone 17 owners will be happy to find in their stockings, including a few that most aren’t likely to think of for themselves (which is always key to a great gift idea).
As with everything else in our 2025 holiday gift guide, I’ve personally used most of the accessories on this list. I’ve received many of them at no charge as review samples, but there’s no other promotional consideration involved here. I’m sharing these because my family and I personally use and enjoy them — and we think you will too.
The Last-Minute iPhone Gift Series
- Part 1: Style & Protection
- Part 2: Wallets & Utility Cases
- Part 3: Charging & Power
- Part 4: Car Mounts & Essentials (You Are Here)
ESR OmniLock: Keeping it Cool in the Car
With more vehicles coming with built-in CarPlay support, car mounts aren’t quite the necessity they once were. Still, wireless CarPlay is becoming increasingly popular, and while that’s great for short trips, it’s nice to have a charging solution for longer trips, and that’s where ESR’s OmniLock Magnetic Car Charger comes in handy.
Although wireless CarPlay is typically found on high-end trims that also include wireless chargers, many of these tend to be mediocre 5W Qi chargers. As excited as I was at the prospect of wireless charging in my new 2021 Nissan Rogue four years ago, I was quickly disappointed by its speed and reliability; it died three times, and after two warranty repairs, I simply gave up on getting it fixed.
I’m now using ESR’s charging mounts instead, which deliver 15W to 25W of power, depending on the model. That’s much better than the 5W built-in charger that could barely keep my iPhone powered while listening to music and navigating via CarPlay.
More importantly, it also keeps the iPhone cool while it’s charging. I’m convinced that it was the heat that killed the built-in charger in my Rogue, as it was fine in the Canadian winters, but not so much in the hot Toronto summers, and those high temperatures weren’t doing my iPhone battery any favors.
The OmniLock is ESR’s new Qi 2.2 version that puts out 25W for a modern iPhone 16 or later (as long as you’re running iOS 26), but the company also offers a more affordable 15W version if you don’t need the faster speeds and extended adjustability of the latest model (and it’s worth noting that the iPhone Air still caps out at 20W). There’s also a suction-cup mount option for those who prefer dashboard or windshield placement, which can be more useful for non-CarPlay-equipped vehicles.
Smartish Mounts for Docking
We covered Smartish’s great wallet cases in part one of our 2025 holiday gift guide series, but you may not know that the company also makes a versatile set of MagSafe mounts that can be used in your home or on the go.
I’ve been using the Mountaineer MagSafe wall mount in my kitchen for a few months now, and I can honestly say it’s been a game-changer. While the TwelveSouth PowerBug that I shared in yesterday’s instalment is also great, my kitchen outlets are already occupied by appliances, and not particularly well positioned for visibility. Plus, while StandBy mode is nice, I don’t really need to charge my iPhone 17 Pro Max in the kitchen.
What I do need is to be able to see it, whether that’s reading an article while I’m making my morning coffee or following a recipe. I’ve slapped the Mountaineer right on the outside of my kitchen cabinet at eye level, which not only helps with usability, but also gives me somewhere convenient to put my iPhone whenever I wander into the kitchen and want to set it down so I can use my hands. It’s also a good spot to pop an AirPods Pro case while the AirPods are in your ears.
The Mountaineer wall mount is fabric-coated so it won’t scratch an unencased iPhone — which is great as that’s often how I carry mine around the house — and it uses a strong adhesive to stay in place that bonds in 24 hours, so it’s a relatively permanent installation. While I was a bit nervous at first, the magnets have proven strong enough that the iPhone stays securely in place, even if I slam the cupboard door while it’s attached (which was the first thing I tried, just to make sure I could trust it).
If you’re looking for something less permanent, Smartish also offers the Wallflower MagSafe Suction Mount, which not only attaches using suction cups, but doubles as a ring grip and kickstand. The clever design lets you leave it on the back of your iPhone, flipping the suction cups around so they face inward when you’re not using it. It’s not really my thing, but my teenage daughter loves using it on her iPhone 14 Pro. There’s also the more basic Quickstand MagSafe grip if you prefer just the grip and kickstand without the suction cups, and that one can also be left on when docking on other MagSafe stands, although it won’t pass through charging power.
Lastly, Smartish’s Mountaineer car mount takes the design of the wall mount into your car for those who simply want to attach their iPhone to the dash without worrying about charging it.
Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable
Satechi’s new OntheGo collection isn’t just about chargers like the 3-in-1 that we looked at yesterday. The company also has a fun twist on the crossbody strap with its OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable
As the name suggests, Satechi’s lanyard cable is more than just your average strap. Hidden inside is a USB-C cable that can be used for fast iPhone charging or data transfer at USB 2.0 speeds (up to 480 Mbps). The connectors are covered by stylish aluminum caps, and the fashionable braided design ensures that you won’t look like you’re wearing a USB-C cable around your neck.
Like most such straps, you’ll need to use this one with a case to ensure a secure attachment to your iPhone, but it includes two strap card connectors in black and clear that should work with nearly any closed-bottom case, since the tab passes through the opening for the USB-C port. Although you’ll obviously need a newer USB-C equipped iPhone to take advantage of the cable, the lanyard can be used with any iPhone as long as it has a compatible case, so it could still be handy for folks who need to keep a USB-C cable handy for other reasons.
Scosche MagicMount Flask
The last item on our list of stocking stuffers is something that’s as whimsical as it is practical. The Scosche MagicMount Flask is a great gift for anyone who wants to stay hydrated while working out with their iPhone.
The clever design includes two things that I never would have thought to combine: a double-wall vacuum insulated water bottle and a magnetic mount.
Available in 22- and 32-ounce sizes in four colors, the MagicMount Flask is the answer to the question of what to do with your iPhone at the gym. The bottle keeps cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours, or hot drinks for up to 12, while the cap includes a magnetic mount on a 360-degree rotating head and counterbalanced hinge that lets you conveniently angle your iPhone for FaceTime calls, watching videos, or even capturing photos and videos — which saves you bringing a tripod to the gym when you need to record something.
The strong neodymium magnets also work both ways, so when you’re not using it with your iPhone, you can clamp it onto any metal surface, such as a refrigerator or piece of gym equipment. While Scosche’s largest bottle is 32-ounces, the magnetic cap can fit many other bottles, and the magnets can hold a full canister of up to 40 ounces of liquid. If that’s not enough, Scosche’s bottles also include a silicone sleeve that can be removed to use as a water bowl for your dog.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right accessory for a new iPhone 17 can feel like a balancing act between style, protection, and sheer utility — especially when you’re trying to pick one out as a gift for that special person in your life. Hopefully, this series has helped you cut through the noise of generic gift lists by highlighting the gear that has actually made a difference in my daily routine this year.
Whether it’s the peace of mind that comes from a cooled ESR car charger or the simple convenience of a Smartish mount in the kitchen, these are the items that move the iPhone 17 from a piece of tech to a seamless part of someone’s life.
Happy holidays to you and yours, and I hope this guide has helped you find that perfect final piece for the stockings this year. If you missed any of our previous picks, you can find the complete 2025 holiday series linked at the top of this article.
