Best iPhone Accessories That Might Actually Be Useful

Credit: Unsplash/Miguel Tomas

Since we use our phones for pretty much everything nowadays, why not take our devices to the next level by using some trusty and useful accessories for them?

Furthermore, since the holidays are right around the corner, this list contains some really good gift ideas for all the iPhone lovers in your life!

Of course, you might be looking for something cool that you can use yourself as well, which is perfectly understandable.

From impressive tripods to some high-end headphones for the perfect music or podcast listening experience, to even a game controller for your phone, there is no way you won’t find at least a couple of things you or your loved ones would enjoy a lot!

All in all, they are all meant to give you some new ideas of things you can do with your phone, so they may not be your run-of-the-mill accessories but rather things you most likely haven’t owned or some, even heard of before!

Not to mention that the market is flooded with all kinds of products of this kind so it makes sense it’s a difficult to navigate shopping experience, usually.

As a result, this article is meant to make this as simple as possible, eliminating all the guesswork when it comes to quality or compatibility as well.

Read on to find out more about some of the best iPhone accessories out there that can be the perfect gift to your loved ones or to yourself this winter holiday season!

Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter


While the iPhone 13 is pretty great, it’s carried over one of the least convenient features from the previous model and that is the lack of a charger!

That’s right! This phone does not come with its own charger and that might not be such a big issue if you already have some chargers from your previous phones just lying around.

However, if that is not the case for you, or if you want to take your charging experience to a whole new level, you may want to try out the Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter.

First of all, there is no reason to worry about compatibility since it’s made by Apple and the 20W charging speed also lets you charge up your iPhone at a maximum rate.

And since it’s very likely that Apple will stick with its Lightning port for a long time, you’ll be able to use this accessory with future phone models as well!

Apple AirPods Pro


Of course, AirPods Pro is a must if you have a new iPhone! After all, there is a seamless connection and integration that makes using these two together really intuitive even for less tech savvy people.

Furthermore, the buds fit excellently in pretty much all ears without any discomfort or fear of them falling out thanks to the fitted tips they come with.

However, perhaps the best feature is the active noise cancellation and transparency mode, which lets you hear yourself speaking without having to take out an earbud.

Unfortunately, if you want these popular earbuds, you’re going to have to wait for a while since they only start shipping in July – definitely not here for Christmas – but ordering them now comes with a very special offer that you’re not going to want to miss.

Anker Powerline III Flow USB-C to Lightning Cable


The Anker Powerline III Flow might just be the best third-party USB-C-to-Lightning cable out there.

It’s 6 feet long which makes it much more versatile than the standard length which is 4 feet.

Furthermore, it’s also really durable since it’s designed to withstand 25,000 bends and 220 pounds of weight.

This cable comes in a variety of colors as well, including black, white, green, gray, and pink and all of them have sporting connector housings with gold bits, making them look really stylish and elegant.

Joby StandPoint


The Joby StandPoint might seem a bit odd at first since it’s basically a case with extendable legs!

However, it’s actually quite a genius design!

The case comes with 3 plastic-coated aluminum legs that have rubber feet that fold out from a little hump on the back, as well as an integrated cold shoe for a mic.

Furthermore, two caps are included for the cold shoe, so you won’t have to worry about dealing with any sharp edges.

Of course, it is not as flexible or tall as a classic tripod but it is a great accessory for you to take with your everywhere.

Not to mention how handy it is if you just want to use it as a way to angle the screen for a more comfortable viewing experience.

It’s even wireless charging compatible!

BACtrack Mobile Smartphone Breathalyzer


Having a breathalyzer of your own can be useful if you are seeking to either collect some medical data easily or to simply be able to consume alcohol more responsibly.

The ZeroLine system can let you know when you are actually sober again after drinking and not just feeling like you are for whenever you need to drive somewhere.

Not only that but it can even direct you to the Uber app whenever it seems to be the better choice.

Furthermore, it integrates with Apple Health for data tracking.

This could be a really great present for the people you care about and can be kept in the glove box compartment.

AGS Laser Projection Keyboard


Carrying a laptop around is not always the most practical thing to do but there are certain situations where you might find yourself needing an actual keyboard on the go.

With that being said, the Laser Projection keyboard is a great tool that will work paired with virtually any device by just using Bluetooth – including iPhones.

It’s a great gift idea for the people in your life who love sci-fi.

While it may not be as easy and quick to type as using an actual full sized keyboard, it’s still much easier than using an iPhone Mini screen to do it since the AGS Laser Projection Keyboard is 250mm long!

Whoosh! Screen Cleaner Kit


Getting fingerprints all over your new phone is really easy to do but not exactly something you want.

So, if you want to keep your iPhone smudge free as much as possible, this is the product for you.

The Whoosh! Screen Cleaner Kit comes with a 3.4 ounce bottle, a pocket sized 0.8 ounce bottle as well as three microfiber cloths.

And since it’s alcohol and ammonia free, you don’t have to worry about accidentally stripping off the factory coating from your phone screen.

Case-Mate iPhone cases


If you are looking for a fun phone case to stuff your loved ones’ Christmas stockings with this year, Case-Mate offers many different options!

There is a ton of different designs including retro Kodak cases, camo ones and even iridescent and sparkly ones as well!

Of course, you can rest assured that they’re not just pretty, they also have functionality since they’re doing a good job protecting your phone.

Bose SoundLink Revolve+II


The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II is a speaker that you can really take anywhere!

This is because it features a convenient handle for easy carrying but that’s not the only reason as this product is also water resistant and features a super long battery life too!

So if you or your friends and family members love listening to music on the go, this might be the ideal iPhone accessory to get!

Furthermore, the sound quality of this product is truly impressive as well as the other features it has such as the ability to take calls and trigger the virtual assistant of your phone!

Bang & Olufsen H4 headphones


If you are looking for wireless headphones that look just as good as they sound, the Bang & Olufsen H4 headphones could be a great choice!

The design is classy, they have very stable Bluetooth connectivity and sound quality and they are perfect for people who own an iPhone 7 or newer without the headphone jack.

SteelSeries Nimbus+ for iOS and Apple TV


If you or someone you know loves mobile gaming on the go, the SteelSeries Nimbus+ for iOS and Apple TV could be a wonderful way to improve that experience.

Of course, Apple’s touchscreens are good enough for most mobile games but they could never compare with the joy of pressing actual buttons or using joysticks when it comes to gaming.

It’s a great way to make playing iPhone games feel more like playing on a console.

Lifeproof Fré Case


If you or someone in your life lives in constant fear of getting their phone in water and ruining it, a Lifeproof Fré iPhone case is a must!

This case is fully submersible in water that is up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) deep for up to a full hour!

And since it features a built in screen protector and port covers, it is also fully sealed at all times so it will protect your phone from the elements as well!

For the time being, this brand makes cases for the iPhone 6 through the iPhone 12 but on their product pages, you can choose to be notified when the ones for iPhone 13 become available.

Belkin USB-C Wall Adapter


By using Belkin’s USB-C-to-Lightning Cable and USB-C Wall Adapter, you can take advantage of faster charging speeds if you own a newer iPhone.

Furthermore, the cable is MFi certified by Apple as safe and it’s also clearly a well-made and durable product.

Elecjet PowerPie Battery pack


Another great stocking stuffer for your loved ones is a portable battery pack!

Of course, over the years, the battery life of the iPhone has improved a lot but it’s still reassuring to have a battery pack with you for any charging emergencies.

This one has its 20,000mAh of capacity and is able to not only charge your phone but also your tablet and even laptop!

SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive 64GB for iPhone


Running out of storage on your phone and struggling to transfer files and pics from your phone to your laptop can be really annoying which is why you might need SanDisk’s iXpand Flash Drive for iPhone!

This product is able to solve both of these problems while also looking elegant and stylish!

This drive features a regular USB-A end that works for most laptops as well as a lightning end that fits all iPhones so you can easily transfer files back and forth!

Lifeprint 3 x 4.5 Portable Photo and Video Printer


Digital photos are definitely great. You can keep them forever, in large numbers without the fear of damaging or losing them and you can also post them on social media!

But sharing physical photos and using them as small, decorative memories around your home is also great!

As a result, Lifeprint’s portable photo printer can help you with that by reproducing high-quality pictures on photo paper in a fun 3-by-4.5-inch size.

Furthermore, the app lets you do a lot more things as well such as making your photos come to life as GIFs. All you need to do is hold your phone above the printed photo and they will immediately animate!

Another really sweet feature is the fact that these printers can communicate with each other so you can buy one for a loved one which will then allow you to send pictures to one another’s devices to print!

iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Air Vent Car Mount Phone Holder


Having a car mount for your phone is a safety must!

This one from iOttie is a really good choice whether for yourself or as a stocking stuffer for a loved one you know is a little reckless behind the wheel.

It is able to adjust so it can fit any iPhone and it will just fit in any vehicle’s air vent.

Furthermore, you can adjust it the way you need to so you can see the phone properly while driving, which is really useful when you use the GPS app on your phone.

Echo Meter Touch 2


This device is quite popular with wildlife enthusiasts and is able to pick up bat vocalizations at frequencies up to 192kHz.

For better directional detection, it eve features an acoustic horn.

The app is used to identify and classify species based on the sounds they make and their locations on a map that is available thanks to the GPS on your phone.

Furthermore, a spectrogram is also displayed on the screen at the same time, allowing you to “listen with your eyes” to frequencies that cannot be heard by the human ear.

The software also comes with a species database that is updated regularly by the creators.

PhoneSoap 3 UV Sanitizer


Especially now that we are in a pandemic, keeping your phone clean is very important since it always comes in contact with our hands and faces.

This special phone charger is able to not only charge your phone but also clean it at the same time, using ultraviolet light to kill bacteria!

iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe


This is a great accessory for your phone since it can make carrying it around more practical.

It’s a leather wallet that can fasten to the back of your phone by using MagSafe connectors.

It has enough space for three credit cards and there is no need to worry about the magnets affecting them since the wallet is shielded, keeping the cards protected.

Furthermore, it also features a built-in support for Find My, the Apple location app that iPhones have.

This lets you find the wallet as well if it gets separated from your phone.

Rokform Bike Mount


If you love riding bikes, you know how hard it is to really find a place for your phone that guarantees it’s not going to fall out of your pocket while also being easy and quick to access (backpacks and bags don’t count.)

But now, you can use a bike mount that lets you attach your iPhone directly to the handlebars of your bike.

And when the ride is over, the phone is easy to remove from the mount.

AirFly Pro


The fact that Apple is now only wireless comes with some disadvantages such as your in-flight entertainment on planes not featuring Bluetooth connectivity.

In that case, you can use the AirFly Pro to fix this problem.

Use this to connect your Bluetooth iPhone accessories like AirPods Pro and then connect it via the 3.5mm port to the entertainment provided by the plane. Super convenient!

Anker PowerWave Wireless Charging Stand


Having a charging stand is really convenient for your office desk or nightstand, allowing you to see all your notifications clearly while the phone charges.

You no longer need to lean over or pick up your iPhone to check your messages!

Furthermore, the charging fan from Anker PowerWave also features a cooling fan that will keep everything from overheating!

Phone Holder Bed Gooseneck Mount


This iPhone stand can be clipped to your bed frame, any desk, your kid’s car seat, a chair and more! The possibilities are honestly endless!

This is because its clamp is able to grip onto pretty much any surface that is up to three inches thick.

Furthermore, the product’s arm is made out of aluminum which makes it sturdy but also flexible.

And since it works with devices that have 4 to 7 inch screens, it’s safe to say that it is compatible with most iPhones!

With that being said, if you ever want to watch something on your phone in a comfortable position, this product will help you do just that!

SeaLife SportDiver Underwater Case for iPhone


The SeaLife SportDiver Underwater Case for iPhone is great for divers and can be set to fit any iPhone.

It is rated for up to 40m (130ft) which is quite deep, making things very easy and convenient.

Divers will also love the fact that this product also features another version that comes with a light which is perfect for deep divers.

However, if you want it for use near the surface, you might want to just stick to the case as it’s more than enough to take pictures at the pool for instance.

The system uses power in order to keep the Bluetooth running for up to 50 hours!

Shooting is done through a special app that features visual and audio alarms that will activate if the case detects moisture or if the pressure seals are broken.

This way, you can save your phone in time!

William Reid
A science writer through and through, William Reid’s first starting working on offline local newspapers. An obsessive fascination with all things science/health blossomed from a hobby into a career. Before hopping over to Optic Flux, William worked as a freelancer for many online tech publications including ScienceWorld, JoyStiq and Digg. William serves as our lead science and health reporter.