I didn’t fully appreciate the MagSafe connector on my iPhone 12 until I was sent a collection of Moment MagSafe accessories to try. If you weren’t aware, Moment makes some of the best smartphone photography gear and accessories available. The Moment MagSafe accessories I’ll be telling you about today are great, and I can’t imagine going back to the old system for connecting my iPhone to a tripod, securing it in the car, or attaching cold shoe accessories like a microphone.
When Apple introduced its MagSafe charging protocol with the iPhone 12, I was underwhelmed. After all, I already charged my iPhone wirelessly. “Why,” I wondered, “did I need to adopt a proprietary protocol for charging my iPhone? I already have numerous wireless chargers for my iPhone, so why would I want to spend $39 on a new Apple-branded charger?” I just didn’t see the need.
Then I was sent a collection of Moment MagSafe accessories to try. Each uses the magnets placed around the iPhone 12’s internal charging coil to connect and hold a range of useful accessories. They don’t do anything I wasn’t previously able to do, but Moment’s approach is far more refined.
Let me explain what I mean.
Previously, if I wanted to hold my phone in the car securely, I used a spring-loaded cradle that held both sides of the phone with enough force to keep it in place. It worked well, except when it didn’t. Similarly, if I wanted to shoot a video and needed a tripod, I used an accessory similar to the one in the car to hold the iPhone in place. And if I wanted to attach accessories like a microphone or a light, I needed a different holder with a cold shoe mount or two. It worked, but it was far from refined.
Moment takes a different approach. Instead of a cradle that holds the iPhone by applying pressure to both sides of the phone, their accessories use the magnets that are part of the MagSafe system to connect to the iPhone. The grip is secure, the accessories are beautifully crafted, and I don’t ever see myself using a traditional cradle again.
It is worth noting that while these mounts work with all of the iPhone 12 models, they are not compatible with Moment Lenses when paired with an iPhone 12 Mini.
Let’s take a look at five of the accessories Moment currently offers.
Moment Wall Mount with MagSafe
If you want to secure your phone to the wall, the $19.99 Moment Wall Mount with MagSafe has you covered.
One side of the Wall Mount is a smooth metal plate that securely locks onto the iPhone’s back. The grip of the magnetic hold is strong enough that you can feel confident your iPhone won’t fall down, but it’s not so strong that it is difficult to remove.
On the other side of the Wall Mount, there is a circle of 3M adhesive. It is strong enough to fix the Wall Mount to any smooth surface. For example, if I want to secure my phone to the corner of my computer monitor to keep an eye on email, I can affix it to the corner of the screen.
Once in place, I simply need to bring my iPhone close to the Wall Mount. The magnets do the rest and perfectly align the iPhone in the optimal position. Better still, because the magnets surround the wireless charging coil, you can position the phone in either landscape or portrait.
Here’s what Moment has to say about the Wall Mount:
Our new, stick it anywhere, wall mount with MagSafe. We all have flat surfaces, so we created a small universal mount for iPhone 12 with strong magnets on one side and 3M adhesive on the other. A super-thin, 2.25-inch wide circle, this mount adheres to almost anything flat. We even added a countersunk through-hole so you can screw it into a stud or drywall anchor if you want. Compatible with or without a case, this mount also includes our proprietary (M)Force magnet array which is even stronger than standard accessories, giving you extra confidence your phone won’t fall off.
I especially appreciate the fact that Moment included a second 3M adhesive pad in the package. That way, if you decided to move the location of the Wall Mount, you can do so with ease.
The Moment Wall Mount:
- Works with or without a case on iPhone 12.
- Is compatible with MagSafe cases and accessories.
- Has a Proprietary (M)Force magnet array and grip pad for even more strength (Patent Pending)
- Has 3M adhesive to adhere your phone to most flat surfaces
- Countersunk through-hole for mounting with a screw
- Has padded contact points to keep your phone safe
I wasn’t quite sure how I would use the wall mount, but then, as I was getting ready for bed, it hit me. Raina always complains about the light from my phone at night. So I adhered the Wall Mount to the underside of the shelf next to my bed and positioned a Lighting cable next to it. I plugged my phone in and then put it on the mount. This way, the screen was pointing down but was in easy reach.
I was impressed by the Wall Mount’s ability to hold my phone upside down securely. There’s no chance of it falling off. Now I know where my phone is, and Raina is happier. That’s a win-win, thanks to Moment.
The Wall Mount is a simple accessory. Once affixed to the preferred surface, it holds the phone securely. That way, you can always keep your iPhone in view or know where you left it when walking in the front door.
Moment Car Vent Mount with MagSafe
The $39.99 Moment Car Vent Mount with MagSafe takes a similar approach. Instead of employing a 3M adhesive pad to affix the mount, the Car Vent Mount has a rubberized grip that securely fits around your car’s vent. That makes it easy to apply and just as easy to reposition.
As Moment explains:
We made this universal car mount for iPhone 12 because wanted a better-looking mount with a stronger magnetic connection. This mount securely connects to your car’s air vents with a simple rubberized press-fit attachment. Usable with or without a case, it also includes our proprietary (M)Force magnet array which is even stronger than standard accessories, giving you extra confidence your phone won’t fall off.
Features Include:
- Works with or without a case on iPhone 12
- Compatible with MagSafe cases and accessories
- Proprietary (M)Force magnet array and grip pad for even more strength (Patent Pending)
- Easily mounts to car vents with rubberized press-fit attachment
- Padded contact points to keep your phone safe
I like the idea of the Car Vent Mount, but after using a mount that also offers wireless charging, I’m a bit unsure how useful this will be for me. We have a road trip coming up, and I’ll be using the mount with a charging cable running to the phone, so it stays charged.
Moment didn’t just release MagSafe accessories that hold your phone in the car, office, or home, however. They also took the same approach when designing accessories that take your iPhone photography to the next level. Like the previous accessories, they eliminate the need for a specialized spring-loaded cradle.
Moment Multi-Threaded Mount with MagSafe
The $39.99 Moment Multi Threaded Mount with MagSafe is a simple plate that has five female threads on one side and extra strong magnets on the other. That way, just about any tripod or monopod will likely work to attach your iPhone 12 securely.
Having a range of different screw threads, there are two 3/8” female threads and three 1/4”-20 female threads, which gives you a range of mounting options.
As Moment notes:
Created by the filmmakers at Moment, this is the first mount compatible with MagSafe that includes (2) 3/8” female threads and (3) 1/4”-20 female threads. It allows you to mount your phone wherever you want using any 1/4”-20 or 3/8” accessory.
Magic arms, tripods, rig mounts, ball heads, you name it… we let you mount your phone to it with magnets. Usable with or without a case, this mount also includes our proprietary (M)Force magnet array which is even stronger than standard accessories, giving you extra confidence your phone won’t fall off.
Features:
- Includes (2) standard 3/8” female threads
- Includes (3) standard 1/4”-20 female threads
- Works with or without a case on iPhone 12.
- Compatible with MagSafe cases and accessories.
- Proprietary (M)Force magnet array and grip pad for even more strength (Patent Pending)
- Machined metal body for long-lasting durability
- Padded contact points to keep your phone safe
The Multi-Threaded Mount with MagSafe is a Swiss Army Knife that gives you a range of mounting options.
Moment Cold Shoe Mount with MagSafe
The $39.99 Moment Multi Threaded Mount with MagSafe gives you many options for mounting the iPhone to a tripod with 3/8” or 1/4”-20 screw mounts. The Moment Cold Shoe Mount with MagSafe uses the same system to provide a cold shoe mount to your iPhone. Moment describes it as “ it’s the fastest way to mount a light or microphone to your phone.”
This accessory is a simple thing, but it does an important job. As the company explains:
What we love about MagSafe is that you no longer need a phone clamp or a tripod to mount gear to your phone. Instead, we made the first mount that lets you securely connect your favorite cold shoe accessory directly to your iPhone 12 with magnets. Compatible with or without a case, this mount also includes our proprietary (M)Force magnet array which is even stronger than standard accessories, giving you extra confidence your phone won’t fall off.
Features include:
- Works with or without a case on iPhone 12.
- Compatible with MagSafe cases and accessories.
- Proprietary (M) Force magnet array and grip pad for even more strength (Patent Pending)
- Mounts any standard cold shoe accessories
- Adjustable cold shoe arm for different size phones and cases
- Padded contact points to keep your phone safe
I love that the cold shoes mount can be adjusted to fit a range of phone sizes. To adjust it, you simply loosen the thumbscrew, raise or lower the cold shoe mount, and then tighten the screw once again.
I can see using this with my LumeCume light or my Shure microphone. I’ll be putting it to good use when we go away at the end of the week.
Moment Pro Tripod Mount with MagSafe
The final mount I was sent is the $59.99 Moment Pro Tripod Mount with MagSafe. Honestly, I expect this to be the accessory I find most useful.
This accessory has the same cold show mount as the Cold Shoe Mount with MagSafe, but it adds a 1/4”-20 mount so you can attach it to a tripod or a grip with a 1/4”-20 screw. With it, you can:
Make any tripod compatible with MagSafe, plus attach your favorite light or microphone with the included cold shoe mount. Designed to work with any standard 1/4”-20 tripods or handles, you can now shoot in landscape and portrait mode without a phone clamp.
The Pro Tripod Mount with MagSafe is similar to the company’s Tripod Mount but, unlike the latter mount, which works only with the phone in landscape, this version lets you shoot in both landscape and portrait. It is easy to use and gives you a range of options when shooting video or taking film.
Features:
- Works with or without a case with the whole iPhone 12 series
- Compatible with MagSafe cases and accessories.
- Easily usable in landscape mode
- Adjustable cold shoe arm for different size phones and cases
- Proprietary (M)Force magnet array and grip pad for even more strength (Patent Pending)
- The magnetic mount allows for easy micro angle adjustments
- Mounts to any standard 1/4”-20 tripod
- Low profile aluminum construction
- Padded contact points to keep your phone safe
I have several different phone clamps I use with my tripods and grips. Many also have a cold shoe mount. However, none of them are as small, as refined, or as versatile as the Pro Tripod Mount with MagSafe. I’ve already affixed it to the main tripod I use. Now, when I need to shoot a video, attaching my iPhone is as simple as placing it in front of the mount.
My only knock on the Pro Tripod Mount is the fact that it only has one cold shoe. That’s great if you need to use a light or a microphone, but I often use both. In such a case, an extra accessory like the one below solves the problem.
The range of Moment MagSafe Accessories is impressive. Each product is milled from quality aluminum, has a padded surface that won’t damage your iPhone, and is simple to attach and remove. Each works with or without a case, so your iPhone can remain wrapped in the protection of your favorite case.
And if you are worried about your iPhone being bumped and falling off the MagSafe accessories, don’t! Each of these mounts includes Moment’s proprietary (M)Force magnet array. It makes the accessories stronger than standard MagSafe accessories and ensures your iPhone won’t come free until you want it to.
Add in the lightweight, compact size and ease of use of these accessories, and I think you will agree that anyone who is serious about taking photos or shooting videos with the iPhone needs at least one, if not more than one, of these accessories. I’ll be bringing a number of them with us when we go away, and I have little doubt they will come in quite handy.
One final note on Moment’s products.
Each of the Moment MagSafe Accessories was packaged in a small paper box with a cardboard insert. There’s no waste, no plastic to be found, and the entire thing is recyclable. Bravo, Moment; I only wish other companies would follow your lead.