Clever Grip Reviews: Does it Work?
• Highly rated by consumers.
• Works well with most phones.
• Bell+Howell name and reputation.
• Simple to install.
• May not work on largest phones such as iPhone 6 Plus or Samsung Note.
• Placing it in front of heat could cause phone to overheat.
• Requires two hands to place or remove phone.
Clever Grip is a mount which holds cell phones in place on the dash of a car. We found that it works as advertised and that most phones should fit and stay snugly mounted. We have concerns that mounting it in front of the heater could cause overheating, especially if multiple apps (such as GPS) are running. Because you can find Clever Grip in stores for less than advertised on the official website, we suggesting picking it up locally to avoid shipping delays and charges.
Clever Grip
Clever Grip is a phone and accessory holder which mounts to the vents in a car, allowing for hands-free operation of devices.
Claims & Features
- 360-degree pivoting head
- Fits any style air vent
- Works on all phone sizes
- Can be used as a stand
- Lightweight
- Spring-loaded clamp
Cost & Availability
Clever Grip can be purchased from the official website for $14.95 plus $7.95 shipping for a total cost of $22.90. A second unit can be added for an additional $2.95 shipping, which would bring your total to $25.85.
Clever Grip can also be found in some stores, such as Fry’s, for about $15.
Clever Grip Commercial
The TV commercial below has been airing as of this writing.
Clever Grip Reviews
This car accessory has graced the airwaves in television ads since 2014. In 2016, it can still be seen advertising online. It promises to hold your phone conveniently in place as you drive, eliminating fumbling and distractions. Our product researchers were pleasantly surprised to find that Clever Grip successfully lived up to the promises of the advertising hype – with only a few caveats.
The good news is that Clever Grip will work with most phones and mount easily on most dashboards. It holds most phones securely, and performed about as depicted in the television advertising.
While Clever Grip does work with most phones, we found that the very largest phones did not fit, and the very smallest were not held snugly. This does not apply to the majority of phones, but two popular models – iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung Note – may be too big to work with Clever Grip. Large phone cases may also affect how well Clever Grip holds your phone in place.
Overall, we feel that Clever Grip will work to the satisfaction of most consumers, and better than GripGo, an As Seen on TV predecessor which tended to fall off of the windshield due to a weak suction cup design.
A note about Amazon. Clever Grip currently holds a 4.0 out of 5 star rating on Amazon (see product page here). While we feel the product is useful to some consumers, you’ll note that many of the reviews were given in exchange for a free sample of the product. We feel this practice could affect a reviewer’s objectivity, perhaps making them feel more obligated to provide a positive review. Clever Grip is not bad, but it probably isn’t 4-star material. 3 to 3.5 stars is probably more accurate based on our experience and consumer input we have received.
Similar Products
While Clever Grip met our expectations, it is by no means the only product of its kind. There are dozens of cell phone accessories of this type on Amazon, some of them receiving higher ratings for a lower cost. It may be worth perusing the hands free phone clips there to compare before making your final purchase.
Epic Conclusion
Clever Grip is a mount which holds cell phones in place on the dash of a car. We found that it works as advertised and that most phones should fit and stay snugly mounted. We are a little concerned that mounting it in front of the heater could cause overheating, especially if multiple apps (such as GPS) are running. Because you can find Clever Grip in stores for less than advertised on the official website, we suggesting picking it up locally to avoid shipping delays and charges.
If you’ve used Clever Grip, please give it a star rating and comment below.
