RAM Mount vs Quad Lock: Which Mounting System Suits Your Setup?

If you are comparing RAM Mount vs Quad Lock, it is tempting to focus on which phone holder looks better or which system seems easier to install.

A more useful starting point is to look at how each system is built.

Quad Lock centres on a phone case or Universal Adaptor that connects to compatible mounts through its twist-lock interface. RAM® Mounts uses separate holders, socket arms, and mounting bases connected through its ball-and-socket system.

Both approaches can provide a secure mounting solution. The better fit depends on your device, where you need to mount it, and whether your setup is likely to change over time.

The main difference is how each ecosystem approaches flexibility. RAM® is built around interchangeable mounting components, while Quad Lock keeps the phone-side connection at the centre of the system.

RAM® Mounts: Build Around the Application

A typical RAM® Mount setup consists of three main components:

Device holder + socket arm + mounting base

The holder secures the device, the arm controls positioning, and the base determines where the system attaches.

This allows the mounting point and device holder to be selected independently. A phone mounted on a dashboard, for example, may need a very different base from a tablet installed in a work vehicle, while still using the same basic RAM® architecture.

If you are unfamiliar with the system, our complete RAM® Mount setup guide explains how the holder, arm, and base work together.

Quad Lock: Build Around the Device Connection

Quad Lock takes a more phone-focused approach.

A compatible Quad Lock case or Universal Adaptor connects the device to the mount through its twist-lock interface. From there, the phone can be used with compatible vehicle, motorcycle, bike, desk, and other mounting options.

For users who mainly want to mount a smartphone, this creates a relatively straightforward ecosystem.

This is the part of the comparison that is easy to overlook. Imagine two people who both own the same smartphone. One wants to mount it on a motorcycle and nowhere else. The other wants to use the same phone in a work ute, 4WD, and boat, and may later need to mount a tablet as well. They are both technically shopping for a phone mount, but they are solving very different problems.

Our rule of thumb is:

One device + one location = focus on the individual mounting setup.

Multiple devices or multiple locations = start thinking about the wider mounting ecosystem.

This is where component compatibility becomes important. If you expect to change phones, add another device, or introduce more mounting locations, consider which parts of the system can continue to be used rather than looking only at the holder you need today.

For RAM® users, universal holders such as X-Grip® and Quick-Grip™ can accommodate a range of compatible phone sizes, while the broader system extends to tablets, GPS units, and other equipment.

If the device is likely to change before the vehicle does, that flexibility is worth considering from the beginning.

Motorcycles need separate consideration because sustained engine vibration can place additional demands on the device and mount.

Both systems now offer dedicated vibration-management solutions.

Quad Lock's Vibration Dampener is designed to reduce high-frequency vibration transmitted through compatible motorcycle mounting setups.

RAM® Vibe-Safe™ is designed to dampen a wide range of vibration frequencies and can be integrated with compatible RAM® phone mounting configurations.

That means the motorcycle decision is no longer simply about which system offers vibration damping. Both do.

Instead, look at the complete installation:

• where the phone needs to sit
• the available mounting point
• how much positioning adjustment you need
• whether other devices may be added later

For RAM® setups, the motorcycle mounts range includes mounting options for phones, GPS units, and other devices.

RAM Mount vs. Quad Lock does not always have to be an either-or decision.

Quad Lock offers a 1-inch Ball Adaptor that can connect its phone interface to a compatible 1-inch socket arm, including RAM® B Size systems.

This can be useful if you already own RAM® mounting hardware but prefer to use a Quad Lock phone-side connection.

Before replacing an existing setup, it is worth checking whether an adaptor can allow you to retain hardware you already have.

Rather than beginning with the brands, start with these three questions.

1. 1. How many mounting locations will you use?

   
   

   If you only need one device in one location, a straightforward phone-focused setup may be enough. If you plan to use the device across several vehicles or mounting points, look at how easily the system can expand.

   
   

2. 2. Are your devices likely to change?

   
   

   If you regularly upgrade phones, use different device types, or may need to mount a tablet or GPS later, consider which components can remain useful as your setup evolves.

   
   

3. 3. Where will the mount actually be used?

   
   

   A commuter car, motorcycle, 4WD, boat, and piece of machinery can place very different demands on a mount. Consider vibration, positioning, mounting strength, and how securely the device needs to be held.

These questions usually provide a clearer answer than comparing individual product features in isolation.

Both systems offer practical ways to mount a smartphone, but they are built around different priorities.

Quad Lock centres on a phone-focused locking interface that can be used across compatible mounting locations. RAM® Mounts takes a component-based approach, allowing holders, socket arms and bases to be selected around a wider range of devices and applications.

The right choice is the system that gives your setup the flexibility it needs without unnecessary complexity.

If the modular RAM® approach suits your application, explore the RAM® Mounts range or use the RAM® Mount Builder to match a holder, arm and base to your setup.