Best Phone Mount for Gaming: Keep Discord and Walkthroughs Visible Without a Second Monitor
The best way to keep Discord, a walkthrough, or stream chat visible while you game is to mount your phone at eye level on the window or a glass panel beside your setup, using a nano-suction mount (also called micro-suction) that grips smooth glass with no adhesive and no residue. It turns your phone into a free second screen right next to your monitor, so you can read messages, follow a guide, or watch chat without alt-tabbing, without buying a second monitor, and without giving up any desk space.
Most gamers try to solve this with a spare monitor or by leaning the phone against something. Here is why those options fight you, and the cleaner fix.
Why a second monitor or a leaning phone is not the answer
The usual second-screen ideas all come with a catch:
- A second monitor or monitor arm is expensive, adds another cable run, and eats a big chunk of your desk, which is a lot of overkill just to keep Discord or a guide in view.
- Your phone flat on the desk forces you to look down every time it lights up, which is hard on your neck over a long session, and half the messages scroll by out of view.
- Leaning the phone on your monitor base or a mug covers part of the screen and tips over the second you bump the desk or lean in during a clutch moment.
- A desk clamp or gooseneck holder sags and wobbles, clamps onto the exact desk edge your hands and chair want, and the cheap ones droop under a bigger phone.
- An adhesive pad or Command strip on the monitor bezel leaves residue on your gear, and the warmth coming off your monitor and PC wears that sticky bond down over time.
Where should you put your phone at your gaming desk instead?
Look to the side, at eye level. Most battlestations sit near a window, a glass door, or have a glass panel somewhere within arm's reach, and that pane of glass is the ideal spot.
Stick your phone flat on the window or glass beside your monitor, level with your eyes, and it sits in your peripheral vision exactly where a second screen would go. Nothing clamps your desk, nothing leans on your monitor, and nothing takes up the space your keyboard, mouse, and mug are already fighting over. Because the glass is fixed to the wall and completely stable, the mount stays put no matter how hard you slam the desk on a bad round. Keeping the screen up beside you also spares your neck the constant downward tilt a phone on the desk creates (more on that in our guide to keeping your phone at eye level).
Here is the whole setup:
- Wipe a spot on the window or glass panel at eye level and let it dry.
- Press an AIRSTIK mount onto the glass for a few seconds. The micro-suction backing grips instantly with zero adhesive.
- Drop in your phone. The AIRSTIK Cradle holds any phone up to 2 lbs, case on or off.
- Open Discord, a walkthrough, or your stream chat, and game with it all in view. Reposition any time to fine-tune the height or angle.
One honest note: AIRSTIK grips smooth glass, not your monitor bezel or a painted wall. It is built for stable surfaces like windows and glass panels, so put it on the glass beside you, not on the PC itself.
How does a nano-suction mount hold a phone on glass?
AIRSTIK uses nano-suction, a backing covered in thousands of microscopic suction cups that grip smooth glass the way a suction cup does, only split across thousands of microscopic ones. AIRSTIK is technically a micro-suction mount, and nano-suction is simply the finer-scale version of the same suction-cup idea, so the two terms describe the same residue-free grip. There is no glue anywhere in the system, which means nothing to peel, nothing to cure, and nothing left behind on your window when you move it.
Each AIRSTIK is handmade in Savannah, Georgia from highly durable, nearly unbreakable polycarbonate. It holds up to 2 lbs, is fully waterproof, and can be repositioned an unlimited number of times. AIRSTIK launched on Kickstarter back in 2015, is protected by US Registered Trademarks #5561137 and #8028065, and comes with a 30-day manufacturer warranty.
Will it hold my big phone with a case on?
Yes. The AIRSTIK Cradle holds any phone up to 2 lbs with or without a case, which covers even the largest plus and pro-max size phones. Because the grip lives on the glass side and not on the back of your phone, you keep your case on and still get a secure, hands-free hold that stays at eye level through a long raid or ranked session.
Gaming second-screen options compared
| Option | Sits at eye level | Frees desk space | Leaves monitor clear | Residue-free | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second monitor or arm | Yes | No, takes the desk | Yes | Yes | High |
| Phone flat on the desk | No, look down | Somewhat | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Leaning on monitor or mug | Rough | Somewhat | No, blocks screen | Yes | Free |
| Desk clamp or gooseneck | Varies | No, clamps the edge | Usually | Yes | Low to mid |
| AIRSTIK on window or glass | Yes | Yes, uses the glass | Yes | Yes, zero residue | Low |
What if my desk is nowhere near a window or glass?
AIRSTIK needs smooth glass, so a painted wall or the fabric of your chair will not work, and neither will the plastic or metal of your monitor. If your setup faces a bare wall, there are two easy fixes: hang an inexpensive frameless mirror or a small glass panel on the wall beside your monitor, or angle the desk so a window or glass door falls within arm's reach. Either one gives your AIRSTIK the flat, stable glass it needs to turn your phone into a second screen. If you are not sure what will grip, our guide to what surfaces a nano-suction phone mount sticks to breaks it down.
Ready to stop alt-tabbing and give yourself a free second screen? Grab an AIRSTIK Cradle on Amazon, stick it to the window or glass beside your monitor, and keep Discord in view tonight.
FAQ
Where can I put my phone while gaming to see Discord or a walkthrough? Mount it at eye level on the window or a glass panel beside your monitor with a nano-suction mount. That keeps your phone in your peripheral vision like a second screen, so you can read Discord, follow a guide, or watch chat without alt-tabbing or looking down.
How do I use my phone as a second screen without a second monitor? Stick your phone on the glass next to your main monitor with a micro-suction mount and open whatever you want visible, such as Discord, a walkthrough, stream chat, or music controls. You get a second screen at eye level for the cost of a small mount, with no extra cables and no lost desk space.
Will a suction phone mount leave marks on my window or glass? No. AIRSTIK grips with thousands of tiny suction cups and zero glue, so it leaves absolutely no residue. Peel it off and the glass is perfectly clean, which makes it dorm and rental friendly.
Does a nano-suction mount hold a big phone with a case on? Yes. The AIRSTIK Cradle holds any phone up to 2 lbs with or without a case, including large plus and pro-max sizes, because the grip is on the glass, not the back of your phone.
Can I stick the mount right on my monitor? No. AIRSTIK only grips smooth glass, not the plastic or metal bezel of a monitor. Mount it on the window or a glass panel beside your monitor instead, which also keeps it off the warm parts of your setup.
What if there is no glass near my gaming desk? AIRSTIK needs smooth glass to grip. If your desk faces a bare wall, hang a small frameless mirror or glass panel beside your monitor, or angle the desk toward a window or glass door within reach, and you will have the perfect surface.