Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook is a great peripheral that turns your iPhone into a webcam. First revealed during WWDC 2022, the product complements the updated version of the Continuity Camera coming to macOS Ventura. It’s a small peripheral that can make a big difference for some people – especially those using MacBooks with 720p cameras and content creators.
We received a prototype of the Belkin iPhone mount for testing. Although the final product may vary, we are quite pleased with the peripheral. It’s a simple puck that makes video conferencing more enjoyable on the best MacBooks. On top of that, the Desk View feature allows you to show others what’s on your desk, which you can use for demonstrations, how-to videos, unboxing, and more.
All of this is one of the most amazing features I’ve seen on a MacBook.
Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook: Release Date and Price
Unfortunately, the Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook doesn’t have a release date or price yet. But we anticipate that the accessory will be available when macOS Ventura launches this fall.
Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook: Setup
Installation of a Belkin mount is a straightforward affair. You’ll first need to have macOS 13 and iOS 16 installed on your compatible MacBook and iPhone (respectively). Our guides on how to download macOS Ventura public beta and how to download iOS 16 public beta will get you started.
The Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook is a simple puck that attaches to the back of your MagSafe-compatible iPhone. (Image credit: Tom Guide)
After that, you’ll snap the Belkin mount to the back of your MagSafe-compatible iPhone — that is, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lines. There’s a latch with the Belkin logo that you’ll then flip over. This part attaches directly to the top bezel of your MacBook. The Continuity Camera will automatically detect your phone if it’s in range, so there’s no need to plug it into your laptop. The process is really that simple.
Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook: Design
As stated above, the Belkin mount provided to us is a prototype and thus does not reflect the final product. So, be aware that everything I discuss about its design and functionality is subject to change.
The Belkin mount attaches to the top bezel of the MacBook via a thin latch. (Image credit: Tom Guide)
The Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook is a circular all-white puck that attaches to the back of the iPhone with MagSafe. I’m not sure what kind of material covers the surface of the mount, but it feels as smooth as the silicone cover on my iPhone 13 Pro. The product also has a metal ring that you can use as a kickstand or phone grip.
We don’t have official specs for the mount, but it’s roughly the size of a MagSafe ring on the back of an iPhone, measuring 2.12 inches in diameter. We also don’t have a final number for the thickness of the mount, but it’s about as thick as my Spigen Valentines Magnetic Wallet Card Holder, which is 0.27 inches thick. It weighs almost as much as that card holder (about 1 ounce). Again, please be aware that these are rough estimates.
Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook: Performance
The difference between the MacBook Pro M2’s built-in 720p webcam and the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 12MP camera is staggering.
I tested the Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook using the iPhone 13 Pro Max and MacBook Pro M2 for this practical purposes. review, I also tried the mount on the MacBook Pro 16-inch, which has a thicker lid than the M2 MacBook Pro. The mount slipped into both laptops without issue, though it fit more easily into the lid of the MacBook Pro 16-inch.
Once you have the Belkin mount on your MacBook, all you need to do is turn on your favorite video conferencing app and select your iPhone from the list of available webcams. Note that you have not been charged for using the Apple-owned FaceTime app. Google Meet, Zoom, Discord and more work equally well.
The Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook securely attaches to the top bezel of your MacBook. (Image credit: Tom Guide)
Since both macOS Ventura and iOS 16 are in beta, there were times when switching from the MacBook Pro M2’s built-in webcam to the iPhone 13 Pro Max caused the picture to freeze. Sometimes the iPhone camera isn’t available as an option at all. Restarting the MacBook Pro solved this problem for me.
The difference between the MacBook Pro M2’s built-in 720p webcam and the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 12MP camera is staggering. The MacBook Pro’s camera struck me as more attractive than usual. The sunlight coming out of the nearby windows appeared harsh. In contrast, my skin had a natural lighter olive tone using the iPhone’s camera. Not only this, everything was clearly visible behind me. The frame rate was also smooth on the iPhone camera.
The latch attached to the top bezel of the MacBook is quite thin. Because of that, I was worried that the phone would fall if I opened the laptop lid more than 90 degrees.
Despite being thin, the latch on the Belkin iPhone mount maintains a solid grip on the MacBook’s lid. (Image credit: Tom Guide)
Thankfully, my concern was unreasonable as the Belkin mount held its own no matter how far I opened the laptop. If the mount can easily hold the heavy iPhone 13 Pro Max, it shouldn’t be a problem for a lighter phone.
The metal ring of the mount gives it additional functions. When you pull the ring down perpendicular to the puck, it acts as a kickstand to elevate your phone while watching video. This phone also acts as a grip when you are talking on your device.
The Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook has a metal ring that you can use as a kickstand for your phone. (Image credit: Tom Guide)
My only complaint with the Belkin mount is that the latch feels a bit flimsy. Although it grips the top bezel well, I still can’t help but worry that it will fall off. I expect the end product’s latch to be made of a harder plastic rather than the current soft silicone material – even if it’s just to give me peace of mind.
Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook: Desk View
I don’t know what kind of processing wizardry makes Desk View possible. What I do know is that it is very adorable.
I just had to dedicate a section to the Desk View feature. Why? Because this is the most impressive feature of the updated Continuity Camera.
Desk View uses the iPhone’s ultrawide lens to display a live view of the things on your desk. Maybe I shouldn’t admit this as a technical reporter, but I don’t know what kind of processing wizardry makes this possible. What I do know is that it is very adorable. I showed the feature to colleagues in the office and everyone who saw it was stunned. It really is unbelievable.
Desk View uses the iPhone’s ultrawide camera to make video of whatever is in front of your MacBook. (Image credit: Tom Guide)
Simultaneously, I noticed that whatever was on the screen appeared to be somewhat distorted. For example, the notebook I focused on appeared longer in desk view than in real life. My fingers also got longer when I took them in the camera. I’m not sure it will (or will happen) when macOS Ventura and iOS 16 are officially released. However, as things stand, the Desk View is quite doable.
Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook: Outlook
I found the Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook to be a handy tool that pairs well with the updated Continuum camera. Although I haven’t tested the finished product, I think the prototype gives a good indication of what to expect. If you own a MacBook and do a lot of video calls, this accessory seems like a no-brainer – considering the price is affordable.
As for the new Continuity camera features, I think they are great and will improve video conferencing on MacBooks. Using an iPhone as a webcam is a winning idea, especially for people using MacBooks with 720p webcams. And I look forward to showing Desk View to my friends and surprising them with this feature the way my colleagues in the office did.
We don’t have a release date or price for the Belkin iPhone Mount for MacBook. The new Apple operating systems are set to launch this fall. Hopefully, the camera mount will come out around the same time. If the finished product is as functional as the prototype, I’m sure it will be a hit among MacBook users.
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