Video: Testing Continuity Camera With Belkin's iPhone MagSafe Mount

[MacRumors]

Apple with macOS Ventura and iOS 16 introduced a new feature called Continuity Camera, which is designed to allow you to use an iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. This is enabled through special mounts, and Apple partnered with Belkin for an official Continuity Camera accessory.

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The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks is available from Apple for $30, though it's backordered until December and difficult to get. It's the only official Continuity Camera mount so far, though you can find some knockoffs and other versions on Amazon.

Belkin's mount basically attaches to an iPhone using MagSafe, and then a lipped stand on the back folds out. The stand fits right over the edge of a Mac notebook like a MacBook Pro or a MacBook air, and it puts the iPhone in the ideal position to capture video.

You can use the mount in landscape or portrait orientation, with portrait showing a bit less of the background behind you. The camera activates automatically when your iPhone is mounted to your Mac and an app like FaceTime is opened up.

It's a super simple accessory that's probably overpriced, but it does work well. The iPhone camera is leagues better than what you get on a Mac, even Apple's newest Macs, so it's worth it if you do a lot of video calls.

Continuity Camera has extra features like Center Stage support to keep you in frame if you move around, Portrait Mode for blurring the background, Studio Light for focusing the light on you, and a Desk View that shows what's on your desktop by taking advantage of the Ultra Wide camera.

You can also use the Belkin mount as a kickstand for the iPhone when it's not attached to the Mac, and it also serves as a PopSocket alternative.

Have you tried the Belkin iPhone Mount and Continuity Camera? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Article Link: Video: Testing Continuity Camera With Belkin's iPhone MagSafe Mount

 

[mozumder]

They probably could have made a holder with MagSafe power for long video conferences.

 

[Joe Mac User]

I would have liked to have seen one like this for older iMacs as well. I wonder if anyone has one in the works.

 

[TimTheSheriff]

Is there one for use with regular desktop displays?

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Duct tape works fine too!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I’m afraid to try it. I feel like it’s going to scratch my MacBook Pro 💻.

 

[sdwaltz]

My question, and the only reason I haven't bought one yet...

Will this thing work on a desktop monitor or is the clasp too small?

 

[vegetassj4]

I bought a designer mount for only $25, and it can be used with devices that don't have magsafe

 

[testcard]

Version for iMac too, please.

 

[LoveTo]

Looking at this demo, it’s pretty clear that you don’t have to have the mount. You could just place the iPhone on a shelf behind the laptop or even keep it on that snake like holder thing lying around.

 

[AppleTO]

As others have mentioned, this idea would make much more sense for displays that don’t have built in cameras.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Stupid little things like this costing as much as they do, are the main reason I bought a 3D printer I designed one for the LG 5K display and it’s on Thingiverse if anyone wants to download it.

 

[jclardy]

My question, and the only reason I haven't bought one yet...

Will this thing work on a desktop monitor or is the clasp too small?

Way too small, it's only a few millimeters of grip so that it attaches to thin macbook lids. They are working on one for the studio display, I imagine that one will be more compatible with other displays.

 

[Juggernaut99]

I ordered one of these on launch day, but didn't actually "need" to use it until a meeting yesterday. I was nervous about the tilt of my MBP screen, but otherwise it was fantastic. The lip that holds it to the screen is super small, but it is solid. I wish I had paid closer attention to the battery drain on the phone, but I can always just plug it into the laptop next time I want to try it.

I have a 13 pro, I can imagine that with a Max-sized phone I woulda been much more nervous.

 

[calvin2006]

It works great. It won't scratch your display due to the material used for the piece that holds it on the display. I use it for FaceTime Video calls as well as to hold my iPhone 14 Pro Max when filming videos on my phone.

 

[Analog Kid]

They probably could have made a holder with MagSafe power for long video conferences.

This was my first thought-- it it could charge the phone while being used it would be much more practical. What we need is a MagSafe puck with a short cable and a kickstand.

 

[dioncodes]

I don't really see the benefit of mounting that on a MacBook, that already has a decent built-in camera. That only makes sense when using that desk view (for which there are only very little use cases imo) or if some YouTuber or streamer records himself in high quality/4k.

I really need a mount that fits on my Dell (U2718Q) display - I was waiting for Ventura for so long as I really like the idea of just mounting the iPhone on the display instead of having to use an ugly webcam. But I did a lot of research when Ventura came out and didn't find a suitable mount yet. Did I miss something?

 

[beach bum]

According to Belkin, a mount will be coming soon for desktops and monitors. I really like the mount for the Macbook, but am also waiting for the monitor version.

New iPhone Mount with MagSafe designed for Apple’s Continuity Camera | Belkin US

Introducing two elegantly designed options for Mac laptops, desktops and external displays

www.belkin.com

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

It works great. It won't scratch your display due to the material used for the piece that holds it on the display. I use it for FaceTime Video calls as well as to hold my iPhone 14 Pro Max when filming videos on my phone.

Did you try it on Midnight MacBook Air?

 

[Lakersfan74]

I want something like that for my iPad Pro to do a landscape camera

 

[CharlesShaw]

They probably could have made a holder with MagSafe power for long video conferences.

You can still tether the iPhone to the MacBook for power, right?

 

[twocents]

This is definitely my favorite feature released with Ventura. The jump in camera quality reminds me of when our neighbors upgraded to the first HD tvs on the block!

The magnets in the Belkin mount are delightfully strong and the finger ring makes it worth having attached to my phone regularly. Great stuff

 

[beach bum]

You can still tether the iPhone to the MacBook for power, right?

Yes, just use the supplied charging cable.

 

[mattb19us]

Did you try it on Midnight MacBook Air?

Yes. No scratches. I've been using it heavily for the past two weeks of travel

 

[gklka]

It is a disappointment for me. Works well, but there is no way to use the front camera, which would make perfect sense, since, my phone is in a dock facing me all day. Why does literally no review even mention this?