7 car gadgets that'll make driving so much easier

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The modern automobile is only getting smarter, but as we wait for our self-driving future, there are a few simple gadgets that can make driving a little more convenient for any car owner today. We’ve rounded some of them up below, highlighting our favorites along the way.

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A car charger

You can never really have enough ways to keep your smartphone kicking. If you’ve got some emergency calls (not texts) to make, you need your phone’s GPS, or you just want to make sure your device lasts through the end of the night, a simple car charger like the Aukey CC-T6 should do the job.

This particular model sits compact and charges fast, with support for Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 standard. (A Quick Charge 3.0 variant is also available if you have a newer, compatible phone.) Its two ports should be fine for most people, but if you’ve got a family’s worth of devices in tow, a four-port unit like this Anker charger could be a more efficient buy.

Aukey CC-T6, $12.99, available at Amazon.
Anker 9.6A/48W 4-Port USB Car Charger, $16.99, available at Amazon.

A Bluetooth car kit

Those chargers are handy if you need to use your phone while driving — to do that safely, you should look into a Bluetooth car kit. Something like the iClever Himbox HB01is a cheap, convenient way to add Bluetooth functionality to your car, which in turn lets you wirelessly stream music, make hands-free calls, talk to assistants like Google Now or Siri, and the like. (Provided you have an aux-in port.) We’ve praised it before. If you’re mostly focusing on calls, though, a full-on speakerphone like the Jabra Freewayis big and bulky, but serves up clear and powerful sound.

iClever Himbox HB01 Bluetooth 4.0 Car Kit, $29.99, available at Amazon.
Jabra Freeway, $59.99, available at Amazon.

A phone holder

All of that becomes less useful if you have to reach over and grab your device just to confirm what you’re doing. A basic holder puts the phone where you can see it, making things just a little less stressful. Magnetic mounts tend to work just fine here — one like the TechMatte MagGrip Air Vent is cheap yet unobstructive, while its CD slot-based sibling is a bit sturdier for those who can spare the space.

TechMatte MagGrip Air Vent, $7.99, available at Amazon.
TechMatte MagGrip CD Slot Car Mount, $10.99, available at Amazon.