Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount Ball Review: Conditional 7.8/10
“Strong magnet, weak glue.” That blunt line from Best Buy user edwardt captures the tension around the Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount - Additional Car Mount Ball: the concept wins people over fast, but long-term adhesion and heat can decide whether it becomes a favorite or a frustration. Verdict: Conditional buy — 7.8/10.
Quick Verdict
For drivers who want a tiny, low-profile dash-mounted magnetic ball (and are confident they have a clean, smooth mounting surface), the Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount - Additional Car Mount Ball is often described as “simple,” “compact,” and “very strong.” But if your car bakes in summer heat or your dash is textured/porous, the adhesive is where complaints cluster.
| Call | Data-driven Pros | Data-driven Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Conditional Yes | Strong magnet/holding power praised across Best Buy | Adhesive longevity questioned in heat/over time |
| Yes | Low-profile, minimal footprint design | “Permanent” feel—hard to move once placed |
| Yes | Easy install and quick attach/detach | Some report angle limits vs photos/expectations |
| Conditional | Works on smooth surfaces, multiple cars | Can struggle on textured/porous dashboards |
| Conditional | Good stability on bumpy roads (some users) | Wireless charging interference mentioned (Orbiter kit) |
Claims vs Reality
Nite Ize positions the Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount - Additional Car Mount Ball as a “universal, secure attachment” that can adhere to “smooth, hard, flat or vertical surface” using 3M VHB adhesive, plus “adjustable viewing angles” via the articulating ball system (Amazon product description). Digging deeper into user reports, the “secure attachment” claim holds up strongly for some drivers—but for others, the adhesive becomes the single point of failure.
One recurring pattern emerged: users who mount on smoother surfaces and in less punishing heat often describe the adhesive as extremely strong. Best Buy user zack 72 said: “the adhesive is really strong… hasn’t failed due to the high AZ heat yet,” and emphasized how the “magnetic ball is compact which makes it perfect to stick anywhere.” In the same Best Buy thread, stacks wrote: “very effective and extremely strong adhesive. didn't have to use additional adhesive for it.”
But that confidence collides with reports from hotter climates or longer timelines. On Revain, david m. warned: “works great until summer comes! the glue just can't handle how hot it gets in the car in the summer… after about a week at > 90 the glue fell off.” Best Buy user edwardt echoed the same theme: “very strong magnet. however the pad and adhesive didn't last that long and after a few months… the adhesive either melted or failed to stick.”
A second marketing promise—smooth adjustability and wide-angle viewing—also has a reality check. While many celebrate how easily the ball-and-socket lets them reposition the phone, a Revain reviewer (warren h.) claimed the physical geometry they received didn’t match ad imagery: “the one i received only allowed the angle to be adjusted to no more than 45º,” despite expecting a more extreme angle based on photos. That doesn’t negate users who love the glide; it highlights that some buyers are sensitive to small differences in ball/base shape and resulting angles.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Minimalist drivers keep returning to the same point: this system doesn’t turn the dashboard into a plastic scaffolding. Best Buy user chuck called it a “very compact” mount that is “hardly noticeable once it's installed,” which matters most to people who hate vent clips or windshield arms. For those with limited mounting real estate, that tiny footprint is the feature. Best Buy user rottie 73 summed it up: “i have a mini and not much space for a phone holder. this is perfect!”
The magnetic holding power is the headline across platforms—and it’s not just casual praise. Best Buy user erik 77 said: “this is so far the strongest ever… it will stay in place regardless of weather or other conditions (such as bumpy roads).” For drivers with heavier phones, that “strongest” framing shows up repeatedly. Best Buy user zack 72 highlighted that it “holds the weight of my note no problem,” and daking inda norf noted it “holds my iphone 8 + without issue.” The impact is obvious for commuters relying on phone GPS: fewer mid-drive re-adjustments and less fear of a phone tumbling into the footwell.
Ease of use shows up as a day-to-day quality-of-life win. Best Buy user ha hanson described the appeal as a repeatable routine: “easily attach, detach, and rotate your phone… installing it takes about a minute… it’s simple, unobtrusive, and it works.” That attach/detach convenience is especially helpful for people who hop in and out of their vehicles—delivery drivers, rideshare operators, field supervisors—anyone who doesn’t want to wrestle with clamps. Best Buy user kainoao even tied it to work use: “i loved it as a supervisor because i could see who’s calling and answer… and talk while driving.”
Common Complaints
Adhesive performance is the most consistent complaint, and the frustration intensifies because the magnet itself is usually praised in the same breath. Best Buy user edwardt put it plainly: “strong magnet, weak glue.” On Revain, matthew e. went further, calling it a “horrible glue,” describing a failure mode where “the ball comes off, but the band stays,” and saying it “only lasts 3 months.” For drivers in hot climates, the adhesive is portrayed less as a convenience and more as a liability—because a dash mount that detaches mid-drive defeats the hands-free promise.
Heat is the accelerant in these stories. Revain’s david m. said the adhesive failed quickly once temperatures climbed: “after about a week at > 90 the glue fell off,” even after trying a second sticker and mounting near an air vent. Another Amazon reviewer (Orbiter kit reviews) described a longer runway but the same destination: “the adhesive lasted for about a year in florida sun and then it finally gave.” While not every comment specifies climate, the pattern suggests summer heat and sun exposure raise the risk of adhesive softening or letting go.
Surface texture is another common tripwire. Best Buy user chuck hesitated to mount where they wanted because the dash had “too much texture,” and ultimately placed it elsewhere. Revain reviewer cody c. said it “doesn't stick to the dashboard… due to the fact that the surface is porous / not smooth.” The implication: owners of textured dashboards or soft-touch materials may have fewer viable mounting locations, turning “mount it anywhere” into “mount it where it can actually bond.”
Divisive Features
The “permanent” nature of the install splits opinion. Some see it as set-and-forget stability; others see it as unforgiving. Best Buy user chuck liked the solidity but warned: “once the base is set, it can't be moved,” and called out that the con is you “can't be moved without buying more adhesive strips.” In that sense, the very thing that makes it stable also punishes indecision about placement.
Adjustability also divides users depending on expectations and phone orientation. An Amazon reviewer (Orbiter kit) reported: “works for portrait mounting, but not landscape… if i put it in landscape, it twists and flops a little too easily,” suggesting that rotation or torque from certain setups can reduce confidence. Meanwhile, many others frame the glide as a strength—Best Buy user jestro 88 wrote the phone “adjusts when i move it, but it's never loose enough to move on its own accord.”
Trust & Reliability
Digging deeper into user reports, “trust” here is less about scams and more about whether the mount stays bonded months later. On Revain, david m. complained there was “no way to order replacement glue once the two stickers supplied have worn off,” which turns adhesive failure into a replacement problem, not just a one-time annoyance. Best Buy user edwardt similarly described the adhesive pad ripping after attempting to re-stick it: “resticking it the next time the pad just ripped in half.”
Long-term durability stories do exist, and they’re the reason the product stays highly rated in many places. Revain reviewer ryan g. wrote: “for more than 3 years my phone has never been dropped,” framing the Steelie system as something you “can’t live without.” Best Buy user skydive sre also shared a longer ownership window: “owned for 1.5 years… looove this mount kit!” The contradiction is stark: some experience multi-year reliability, others see adhesive breakdown in months—often tied to heat, surface prep, or dash material.
Alternatives
Only a few competitors are directly mentioned in user feedback, but they’re revealing. Several reviewers compare Steelie to vent mounts and cup-holder mounts—usually unfavorably toward those alternatives. Best Buy user zack 72 said they wanted “something that wasn't a vent holder” because vent mounts “block a portion of the vent,” while jestro 88 said cheap vent mounts “inevitably fallen apart.” Another user on Amazon’s Orbiter kit reviews summarized the hierarchy: “works better than most vent mounts… youre still better off mounting the ball to your dash with the normal adhesion but if that is not an option, this can still provide at least a reasonable.”
Cup-holder mounts show up as the fallback some people dislike. Best Buy user jestro 88 said: “i really hate cup-holder mounts,” and later mentioned replacing a CupFone in an Amazon review: “great replacement for cupfone… the dash mount is unobtrusive.” The narrative comparison is consistent: the Steelie-style dash ball wins on compactness and aesthetics, while vent/cup options win when you can’t rely on adhesive or don’t want a semi-permanent install.
Price & Value
On Amazon, the dash ball component is listed around $19.07 (down from $19.99) for the STDM-11-R7 additional dash ball, with a large review volume for the broader Steelie ecosystem (Amazon listing shows “4.6 out of 5 stars” and “6,735 reviews”). Value is often framed as paying more to escape bulky mounts and fragile vent clips. Best Buy user jestro 88 acknowledged it’s “a bit more expensive than some of the cheaper vent or dash mounts,” but concluded: “it is well worth the small difference in cost.”
Resale and market pricing hints appear on eBay listings, where Steelie dash ball items cluster around the high teens to low $20s (eBay market page shows examples like $19.19 and $19.07). That suggests the component holds a fairly stable floor price—useful for buyers who want to outfit multiple vehicles without paying full kit pricing every time.
Community buying tips mostly orbit around adhesives and placement rather than chasing discounts. Best Buy user chuck noted the instructions suggest waiting “24hrs before use,” and several users emphasize the importance of a smooth surface. If you’re buying for a hot climate, the Amazon review hint is blunt: one user said they fixed their only issue by swapping adhesive: “only issue i had was the sticky on it. once i changed that to the 3 m tape i had, it still has nt fallen off even in extreme heat.”
FAQ
Q: Does the Steelie dash ball really hold heavy phones?
A: Many users say yes. Best Buy user zack 72 said it “holds the weight of my note no problem,” and daking inda norf wrote it “holds my iphone 8 + without issue.” The consistent caveat is that the magnet is praised more than the adhesive.
Q: Will the adhesive survive summer heat?
A: It depends on climate and surface. Revain reviewer david m. said “the glue just can't handle how hot it gets… after about a week at > 90 the glue fell off,” while Best Buy user zack 72 reported it “hasn't failed due to the high AZ heat yet.” Heat-related failures are a recurring complaint.
Q: Can I move it after I install it?
A: Most users describe it as essentially fixed once placed. Best Buy user chuck warned: “once the base is set, it can't be moved,” and said you may need more adhesive strips if you want to reposition. Plan placement carefully before sticking it down.
Q: Does it work on textured dashboards?
A: Textured or porous surfaces are frequently called out as a problem. Revain reviewer cody c. said it “doesn't stick… due to the fact that the surface is porous / not smooth,” and Best Buy user chuck avoided their preferred spot because the dash had “too much texture.”
Q: Does it interfere with wireless charging?
A: Some users mention interference, especially around Orbiter-related setups. Best Buy’s review summary notes “a few users noted that the mount may interfere with wireless charging capabilities.” If wireless charging is essential, pay attention to where the metal plate/magnet system sits.
Final Verdict
Buy the Nite Ize Steelie Dash Mount - Additional Car Mount Ball if you’re a minimalist driver who wants a compact magnetic dash solution and you can mount it on a clean, smooth surface—Best Buy user ha hanson’s verdict fits that crowd: “it’s simple, unobtrusive, and it works.”
Avoid it if your car lives in extreme heat or your dash is textured/porous, because the most repeated complaint is adhesive failure—Best Buy user edwardt said: “strong magnet, weak glue,” and Revain reviewer david m. warned it “works great until summer comes.”
Pro tip from the community: treat placement as permanent and let the adhesive fully set—Best Buy user chuck highlighted the instruction to wait “24hrs before use,” even though they tested early.
