Sometimes people take car chargers for granted as merely functional necessities. But Pitaka challenges that with its new MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2, a sleek and innovative device that fast-charges your iPhone or other smartphone and streamlines your in-car experience. It takes up little space as it brings your handset’s screen in sight.
As as a Qi2 device, it gives everyone MagSafe-level charging. And the company also makes a MagSafe edition, of course. It’s a great accessory to keep in the car, especially if the car lacks CarPlay on its infotainment screen.
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Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2
The MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 features a modern, automotive-inspired design that blends with contemporary vehicle interiors. Crafted from high-quality plastic and reinforced with aramid fiber, it’s durable and fairly elegant, even.
The flat front surface, adorned with the signature aramid fiber pattern, provides a secure grip for your MagSafe-compatible iPhone, ensuring it remains firmly in place even on the bumpiest of roads. My iPhone 13 Pro stuck firmly to it through a leather case.
Many cars feature CarPlay, where you can plug in your iPhone via USB to charge and see iPhone functions like Apple Maps right on the car’s screen. But lacking that support, you can integrate iPhone nicely with your car using Pitaka’s mount.
Simple installation and easy compatibility
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
The included vent clip makes it easy to attach the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount. Designed to fit seamlessly into most vehicle vents, it secures the charger firmly in place without obstructing your view or causing inconvenience. I drive a small sedan and found I could install the mount on an AC vent on either side of the steering wheel, or on a vent on the central dashboard to keep it further out of the way. However, I noticed the metal prongs that extend and contract with turns of central knob scratched my vent a little bit as I adjusted the placement before tightening the knob to fix it in place, which is a bummer. Perhaps tiny rubber stoppers on the ends would help prevent that.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
In the box you’ll also find an alternative mounting system that uses 3M sticky surfaces. Additionally, the universal 17mm swivel ball mount allows for easy swapping with compatible dash mounts, just in case you have trouble making it work in your car. And when you buy the mount, you can order the universal version, like the one I reviewed, or a special version with an attachment to fit the dash of a Tesla 3.
Efficient charging and convenience
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Powered by a USB-C connection, the MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 delivers efficient charging capabilities. You can get 15W wireless fast charging with iPhone or Android devices so long as you use a more-than 20-watt adapter/cable.
However, it doesn’t come with such an adapter, so you have to buy one. I used a little 53W Anker adapter in my car’s cigarette lighter port in the console. It’s always handy to have one of those anyway, to add to the other USB ports in the vehicle in case passengers need one for charging. You can also unplug the USB-C cable from the mount and use it to charge your iPhone via wire directly, if necessary.
NFC versatility at your fingertips
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
One MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 that jumped out at me is its clever switch mechanism. With three positions, this switch unlocks customizable NFC (Near Field Communication) automations. You can do things like launch your favorite Apple Music playlist or get directions with Apple Maps. So this charger empowers you to personalize your in-car experience.
Setting up NFC automations with the MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 is not terribly difficult. You can scan the Pitaka box to bring up instructions. Then follow the steps below to work with the Apple Shortcuts app. You’ll be tapping your way to a personalized in-car experience in no time.
- Install the mount and plug it in.
- Open Shortcuts ap from Settings or Control Center and go to the Automation tab.
- Tap “+” at upper right to add an automation and select NFC.
- Choose and check a box to run it with notification or immediately.
- Tap Scan and tap your iPhone to the NFC symbol on the charger.
- Tap Done. Your automation should be ready.
- Select Next and set up your next Shortcut. You can add up to three.
Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount: A worthy investment
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Bottom-line-wise, MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 is priced competitively with other magnetic car mounts, offering a solid value proposition. Its sleek design, robust build quality and innovative NFC automation capabilities make it a worthy investment for anyone seeking a reliable in-car charging experience.
Pitaka’s mount is simply a super-convenient device to use for charging and viewing your iPhone while driving. With its seamless integration, versatile mounting options and cool NFC automations, this charger earns high marks as an excellent automotive accessory. But you know what would improve it? If it came with an adapter/cable. And maybe those little rubber feet on the metal bits to avoid scratches.
Where to buy: Pitaka or Amazon
Pitaka provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
★★★★☆
A MagSafe alternative for iPhones and Android devices, Pitaka's stylish magnetic car charger brings 15 watts of charging power and NFC-based shortcuts.
