Your new Samsung Galaxy S III (S3) or other Android phone can serve as a great navigator or in-car entertainment center. You can control lots of the functions with S voice or other voice control software, but you still need to be able to see your phone.
The iBolt ProDock Alumina is a great way to keep your phone in sight, but mounted and safely accessible when needed. No matter which Android phone you have, it should fit on this dock.
iBolt ProDock Alumina
What’s in the box
The iBolt ProDock Alumina comes with everything you need to quickly get up and running. The iBolt contains:
- The dock
- Suction cup mount for windshield or plastic disk
- Plastic disk for the dashboard
- Vent mounting kit
- Extra set of long feet (for phones with thick cases)
Set up suction cup mount
The iBolt ProDock can either be set up as a window or dash mount or, using the vent mount kit, as a vent mounted dock for your phone.
The easiest way to mount the phone is via the window mount:
- Unscrew the ring on the back of the mount
- Put the ball joint into the housing and push
- Screw the ring in to tighten
- Mount the suction cup to the window of your car
- Put your phone in the dock
- Tighten the fastener by pushing down (or to the side if mounting in portrait mode)
To attach the unit to your dashboard, you first need to attach the plastic disk to your dash. Then, do just as you did above, but attach the suction cup to the disk instead of the windshield.
To release the phone from the fastener, just push in the button on the side of the iBolt mount.
Set up vent mount
The iBolt ProDock comes with a vent mount kit as well. Some folks like using a vent mount because it places the phone closer in reach and closer if you use the speaker phone of the Galaxy S3 or other Android phone.
To use the vent mount:
- Snap the two legs into the top of the vent mount unit
- Slide the legs to best position them for your car
- Squeeze the legs to attach to upper vent
- Adjust bottom of vent mount for support
- Unscrew ring on back of main mount
- Push in ball joint and screw in ring
- Put phone in dock
- Tighten fastener
To release the phone, push the button on the side of the iBolt dock.
Using the iBolt
The iBolt can be used in either portrait or landscape mode. Rotate the dock to any position desired. Thanks to the ball joint, you really can have this in just about any position desired.
The legs on the bottom (or on the side if in portrait mode) can slide to either side. This is particularly helpful so as the buttons don’t press on the Volume buttons or Power button or Camera button on other phones. If your phone has a particularly bulky case, you can attach the included extra long legs in place of the standard ones to accommodate the phone in the case.
Once you have the orientation of the dock set, put in your phone and push down (landscape mode) or to the side (portrait mode) on the locking fastener. To release the fastener, just push the button on the left-hand side (landscape mode) or the bottom (portrait mode.)
NOTE: If you are using the phone in portrait mode and push the release button, make sure you are holding onto your phone or it will just fall straight down!
Design and Build quality
Overall, the iBolt ProDock seems like a solid product. The dock is made of a durable and strong plastic. The ball joint snaps in securely and seems very secure when attached. The suction cup has a lock and release and really held in place – even with road vibration.
The vent mount, as is the case with pretty much every vent mount I have tested, used plastic feet than can snap if forced into place. That being said, I was able to attach and remove the vent mount with no problems in my particular car.
The Wrap up
The iBolt ProDock alumina does just what it claims to do. It hold your Galaxy S3 or other Android phone securely in place. It is versatile, in that it can attach to your window, dash or vent and it can easily be rotated form portrait to landscape mode.
The Good
- Easy to use and set up
- Strong suction cup
- Solid construction
- Easy to rotate between portrait and landscape
- Adjustable feet to avoid buttons
The Bad
- Vent mount feet are not as sturdy
- Nothing to protect the phone from falling out of dock in portrait mode
The Verdict
The iBolt ProDock is a great way to dock your HTC One X, EVO 4G LTE, Galaxy S3 or other device in your car. The flexibility of portrait or landscape use, window or dash or vent mount makes this a very user configurable product.
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