Belkin iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount review: Functional but lacks strength

Continuity Camera mounts let you use your iPhone’s rear camera as an alternative Mac webcam. The benefit of this is that you can instantly and dramatically improve the quality of your webcam image and video without having to purchase a whole new laptop.

One of the best in the business at making computer accessories is Belkin, and so I was excited to get my hands on their iPhone MagSafe Mount for Macs. I spent a few weeks with the device, and initial impressions left me thinking that I'd like to keep it as my permanent mount.

The mount includes a tilting hinge which supports viewing angles from vertical to 25 degrees downward. You can also attach it to a tripod using the standard 1/4" screw thread at the bottom. Read on to see how well it performs and whether its features make it worth the investment.

Belkin iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount: Specifications

Belkin iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount: Price

At $53.99/£39.99, the Belkin iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount is one of the more expensive options on the market. Neewer, Stouchi, Sodi, and other manufacturers sell these types of mounts for less money. Given the fact that it broke during use, I would say it's hard to justify paying this amount of money for something that might malfunction.

Belkin iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount: Design & Handling

When I took it out of the box, the first thing I noticed about the Belkin iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount was its soft-touch rubbery finish. It feels really nice in the hand, and I was particularly grateful to not be attaching solid metal or rough plastic up against my Mac.

The metal plate is connected to the central section with a covered hinge, which looks robust enough to handle repeated movement. It also allows for tilted movement in a downward direction, which was particularly helpful for getting the perfect positioning.

The magnetic plate also has a rubbery finish, which means your phone will be protected from scratches as well. Apart from the Belkin logo and a silver metal axle, the entirety of the unit is dark grey, which, although it looks rather classy, could benefit from some additional design flair.

Belkin iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount: Performance

The most important elements of any mount relate to the hinge and the magnet. If the hinge isn't robust enough or the magnet strong enough, then it's pretty useless as a phone mount.

Thankfully, the magnet is incredibly strong, which meant I had absolutely no problems with my iPhone slipping off. I was grateful for that, as no one likes a damaged phone. They've also got the weight and balance of the product just right so that it doesn't cause your laptop display to drop. I tested it on a 14-inch MacBook Pro and had no problems at all.

The clamp is constructed of two parts and joined together with a covered hinge. Unfortunately the connection part is made of such thin and brittle plastic that it snapped after only a few uses. I was very disappointed with this, as I was initially very impressed with the product.

I would say that this design flaw needs addressing in version two of the product; otherwise, it's hard to see how Belkin is going to retain too many happy customers.

Belkin iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount: Verdict

The iPhone MagSafe Continuity Camera Mount from Belkin shows a lot of promise. Its rubbery finish keeps your phone and laptop protected from scratches, while the strong magnet guarantees to keep your phone in place. As far as a Continuity Mount goes, it generally hits all the right notes.

Unfortunately, it was seriously let down by the clamp hinge, which broke after only a few uses. The plastic that surrounds the axle snapped such that the product became completely unusable. I don't think this was a one-off issue with my particular mount, so hopefully Belkin will address this design flaw in version two of the product.