Since the iPhone supports common standards like Bluetooth and Qi wireless charging, there’s no shortage of accessories that can be used for things like listening to audio and recharging your device. Not all accessories are created equally, however, and you’ll usually get the best experience from those that are designed specifically with the iPhone in mind. The best iPhone accessories are for anyone who wants to get more out of their Apple device. We’ve rounded up some of the best picks across several popular categories that should work for any recent iPhone model. Better yet, they’re not only effortless to pair up with your iPhone—just hold them nearby, open the case, and follow the prompts—but once you’ve paired them with your iPhone, they’ll automatically sync via iCloud and pair up with your iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, or even your Apple TV. This means that everything just works, and you can even seamlessly switch between devices; your AirPods will automatically connect to wherever you begin playing audio. You can also simply call out “Hey Siri” while you’re wearing your AirPods to bring up the voice assistant to listen to music or podcasts, check messages, set reminders, or even control your home accessories—all without taking your iPhone out of your pocket. Plus, if you have a friend who also owns a set of AirPods or Beats headphones, you can easily link them up wirelessly and let them listen along to your favorite tunes on Apple Music and Spotify. Best of all, you’ll get up to five hours of listening time from the earbuds on a single charge, plus up to 24 hours more simply by popping them back into the case to juice them back up again. Featuring a 270-degree adjustable head, the iSnap X lets you capture the perfect show from just about any angle. Plus, with a maximum length of 31.5-inches, you’ll easily be able to extend it to get a shot of you and all your friends, or even just whatever scenic panorama you want to capture yourself in. Despite its length, however, the iSnap X is also super portable, folding down to a mere 7.1 inches, so it’s easy to throw in a backpack, purse, or even your pocket. It’s also lightweight, coming in at only 4.3 ounces, and the handle is grippy and comfortable, so you won’t have to worry about it slipping out of your hand. It also easily pairs up with your iPhone over Bluetooth, so you can snap photos from the button on the handle without the need to fuss with wires. With a rugged construction and an IPX7 waterproof rating, you can take the JBL Charge 4 pretty much anywhere without worrying about rain, splashes, or even dropping it into the pool. In fact, it’s designed to float, so you’ll be able to easily retrieve it even if it goes off the edge of your boat. The single full-range driver gets surprisingly loud, and yet manages to keep the sound crisp, clean, and distortion free even at the top volume. The 7,500mAh battery offers up to 20 hours of listening on a single charge, and it can also use some of that battery power to juice up your iPhone, acting as a power bank via a USB port on the back. While the Charge 4 only packs in a single driver, that’s understandable in a speaker this size, especially since you can link up another JBL speaker for a proper stereo soundstage, or even use the built-in JBL Connect+ feature to link up to 100 more JBL speakers to sync up and play the same songs. With the release of Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup, a lot of chargers have appeared that will magnetically attach to the new iPhones. However, only those certified for Apple’s new MagSafe technology actually offer faster charging. MagSafe accomplishes this by ensuring that the charging coil is always perfectly aligned with the iPhone, guaranteeing maximum 15W charging speeds without any of the excessive power waste that comes from not having everything lined up properly. This means it’s not only good for your iPhone, but it’s great for the environment, too. The Apple MagSafe Charger also works like a normal 7.5W Qi wireless charger for non-MagSafe devices. So, even if you don’t have one of the newest iPhones yet, you can still use it for any iPhone that supports wireless charging, which means you’ll be good all the way back to the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and original iPhone X. Since MagSafe technology is here to stay, however, that means you’ll also be ready when you do take the plunge and upgrade to a newer iPhone model. Plus, it works for charging other accessories like Apple’s AirPods, too. The charging disc magnetically attaches to the back of a MagSafe iPhone, so you can even pick up your device and use it while it’s charging. Best of all, there are even a number of inexpensive and creative third-party accessories designed for Apple’s MagSafe Charger that will let you incorporate it into a more vertical stand or mount it more securely on your desk so that it stays there when you pick up your iPhone. When not in use, the PopSocket flattens back in as much as possible to stay out of the way, and while it obviously can’t disappear entirely, it won’t interfere with laying your iPhone down on a flat surface, or even sliding it into a pocket in your skinny jeans. That said, if you want to enjoy the benefits of wireless charging, you’ll either have to place your PopSocket toward to the top or bottom of your iPhone, being careful to avoid the central Qi wireless charging zone, or pick up PopSocket’s specially designed wireless charger. There’s also a lot more to a PopSocket than simply holding on to your iPhone, as it can also double as a stand when extended, letting you prop up your iPhone for watching videos, taking photos, or even hanging it off the edge of a cup or a glass. The reusable adhesive also lets you easily remove your PopSocket in the event you upgrade your iPhone or simply want to position it differently. Plus, PopSockets are available in hundreds of different patterns and designs, so you can easily find one to match your personal style. The built-in MagSafe charger will suspend your iPhone up where you can see it, while also providing an unparalleled 15 watts of wireless charging power—twice the speed of a normal wireless charger for the iPhone. To the right of the MagSafe disc is a place to charge your Apple Watch, plus the base includes a standard 5W Qi charger designed to juice up your AirPods or AirPods Pro. Although there are other stands that will magnetically hold your iPhone 12, only chargers like Belkin’s that are MagSafe-certified can provide the full 15-watt charging speeds. Unlike Apple’s own MagSafe chargers, Belkin’s stand also includes the power adapter in the box, guaranteeing that you’ll get the fastest possible charging speeds for all of your attached devices. You can also use the base of the stand for more than just AirPods, since it’s really just a standard Qi charger. This makes Belkin’s 3-in-1 stand great for couples who want to charge both their iPhones at the same time. Even though modern iPhones offer pretty great battery life, there’s really no reason to let your battery drain needlessly when your car can keep it juiced up. However, most other car mounts require you to also fuss with plugging in a Lightning cable. With Mophie’s solution, however, you just keep the mount plugged into your car’s power port, and your Qi-compatible iPhone will automatically charge up wirelessly whenever you pop it into the mount, without you needing to give it a second thought. Even better, this mount is designed to let you easily insert and remove your iPhone with one hand, making it even more convenient to pop in whenever you hit the road. Rubber coating on the arms and charging surface also hold you iPhone securely while preventing scratches, and the vent clip is designed to fit the slats in just about any car or truck on the market. Mophie also includes everything you need in the box, including a USB car adapter, a 2.6-foot USB cable, and even an extended vent clip and dash mount adapter. Logitech is a company that clearly knows what it’s doing when it comes to keyboards, and its brought that expertise to bear in designing Keys-to-Go. With responsible and tactile keys, it offers one of the best typing experiences you’ll find in a keyboard in its class. Plus, it will last for up to three months on a single charge, and it’s even protected against dust and spills. While Keys-to-Go is far from pocketable, it’s definitely small enough—and sturdy enough—to fit into a tote bag or purse. Unlike many smaller foldable keyboards out there, Keys-to-Go provides properly spaced keys that are comfortable and accurate to type on. Logitech even includes a stand for propping up your iPhone, although as a separate piece, it’s one more thing you’ll have to carry around with you. While Keys-to-Go is clearly aimed at iPhone users, it’s ultimately just a Bluetooth keyboard, which means you can pair it with an iPad, Apple TV, or any other Bluetooth device. Whether it’s a camping weekend or long days spent sightseeing, the Powerstation XL will make sure your iPhone gets through the day no matter how long you spend listening to music or how many photos and videos you’re taking. The 10,000mAh battery cell will recharge an iPhone 12 Pro Max at least two times over, and four LEDs on the side will let you know exactly how much power you have remaining. When it runs out, you can top it up either by plugging it in to a USB wall adapter with your iPhone Lightning cable, or even simply dropping it onto another Qi wireless charger. What’s especially great about the Powerstation XL, however, is that it offers a ton of flexibility. You can simply set your iPhone on top to charge it wirelessly from the built-in Qi charger, or you can plug a USB-C Lightning cable into the 18W USB-C port for rapid charging. In fact, you can even use both methods at the same time, so you could juice up your iPhone from the wired connection while charging a set of AirPods or even another iPhone on the wireless side. Plus, thanks to pass-through charging, the Powerstation XL can work just like a Qi wireless charger, powering up your iPhone directly from external power. Danny Chadwick has been writing about tech since back in 2008, and has produced hundreds of features, articles, and reviews on a massive range of subjects. He specializes in mobile audio equipment and reviewed several of the speakers on our list. Emily Isaacs is graduate of Monmouth College and Western Illinois University who is passionate about emerging technologies and how they can enrich daily life. Emily resides in Lombard, Illinois, where she works in email marketing for companies such as Oracle and Shaw + Scott. When she’s not checking out the latest tech, she’s working on her first novel. Andrew Hayward is a Chicago-based writer who has been covering technology and video games since 2006. His areas of expertise include smartphones, wearable gadgets, smart home devices, video games, and esports. Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years. Previously, you could find him at Wired’s Gadget Lab, Fast Company’s CoExist, Cult of Mac, and Mac Stories. He also writes for his own site, StraightNoFilter.com.
What to Look for in an iPhone Accessory
Compatibility: iPhone owners enjoy fairly universal accessory compatibility, since every iPhone is made by Apple. Every iPhone made since 2012 uses Apple’s standard Lightning connector, and every iPhone made since 2017 supports Qi wireless charging. Bluetooth has also been available on the iPhone since 2009. Hence, most compatibility issues are confined to obvious products like cases and mounts, which of course have to account for physical differences between various iPhone models. If you’re buying a more advanced, app-based accessory for an older iPhone, however, you’ll want to make sure that it supports the latest iOS version that your iPhone is capable of running. Since Apple generally provides iOS updates for each of its iPhone generations for 4–5 years, however, this isn’t likely to be a problem unless you’re using a much older model. Certification: Certain accessories need to be certified by Apple’s Made-for-iPhone program to guarantee proper operation. This includes MagSafe chargers for the iPhone 12 and later, as well as advanced accessories that plug into the Lightning port. Always look for the “Made for iPhone” logo when shopping for these kinds of accessories. Fortunately, standard wired and wireless chargers aren’t part of this, although you should definitely still make sure that they’re from reputable sources, and in particular, Qi wireless chargers should be certified by the Wireless Power Consortium. Plan Ahead: Even if you aren’t yet toting the latest and greatest iPhone model, it’s worth looking at what kind of new technologies it offers and take those into consideration when buying certain accessories. For example, the iPhone 12 introduces new MagSafe charging technology, but since all MagSafe chargers can also be used with older iPhones, you can buy one for your older iPhone, and you’ll have it when you do eventually upgrade to a newer model down the road.
