iPhone Accessories Guide: Our Favorite Picks for 2020

The iPhone has been around for more than 10 years, which has given accessory manufacturers time to come up with all sorts of useful add-ons that improve, protect, and charge your ‌iPhone‌.

There are so many iPhone accessories on the market that we will not go through them all, but we highlight some items in this guide that we believe are among the best accessories that you can get for the iPhone. Over time, we're going to refresh this guide to introduce new things, delete old items, and highlight cool products that we find, so make sure we check back from time to time.

Cases and Screen Protectors

There are an infinite range of iPhone cases and screen protectors on the market, and we have checked a great deal of what is available here at MacRumors. I'm not going to go through every iPhone case you can buy because that list will be endless, but rather highlight some of the favourites we've used over the years and some of our readers' favourite brands.

Apple Silicone Cases ($35 to $39) - Apple manufactures iPhone cases to go along with its iPhones, and they are a great match for any iPhone since they are made by Apple. The silicone cases from Apple are adhesive, small enough not to add a lot of weight, and most importantly, protective. Since the iPhone 6, I have been using silicone cases almost exclusively on my iPhones, and my iPhones have always survived intact via many many drops, some very large. Apple also has a great range of leather cases that are just as protective, if you don't like the feel of silicone, which some people don't.

-Smart Battery Case ($129) - For all of its new iPhones, Apple has a range of Smart Battery Cases that extend the iPhone's battery life. These cases are identical to Apple's Silicone Cases, except on the back they have a bump for a battery pack.These cases from Apple are your best bet for extra power in a convenient way without having to bring another accessory if you routinely run out of battery life during the day or want additional battery for an upcoming trip or outing. The battery cases of Apple will charge wirelessly and you can see the battery life left on your iPhone right away.

- Velvet Caviar iPhone Cases ($30) - Be sure to check out Velvet Caviar if you're looking for a case that's a little out of the ordinary and more eye catching than your regular case. Velvet Caviar cases are lightweight and do not add a lot of bulk, but will avoid drops and bumps from your iPhone. To keep your show clean, there's also a front bumper, and there are plenty of unique patterns.

- Spigen's Liquid Air Case ($19.99) - With MacRumors readers, Spigen cases are super common because they're protective, durable, well-made and won't break the bank. Spigen has a lot of iPhone case options and all are pretty fantastic, but in particular, the Liquid Air is lightweight, making it ideal if you dislike bulk, easy to get on and off, and protective. The Liquid Crystal is another favourite, equivalent to the Liquid Air, but translucent so that the functionality of the iPhone shines through.

- iCarez Glass Screen Protectors (~$8) - At wildly different price points, there are a number of screen protectors on the market, and most of them work in a similar way. MacRumors videographer Dan vouches that are affordable, give a great match, and have a clear installation procedure for iCarez's screen protectors. At a reduced price on Amazon, you can get iCarez screen protectors for all of Apple's iPhones.

Chargers

Logitech POWERED 3-in-1 Dock ($130) - A new entry in Logitech's lineup of wireless chargers, and a new favourite is the Logitech POWERED 3-in-1 Dock. It includes an upright charger to charge the iPhone, a charging puck for the Apple Watch and a small space to charge the AirPods or another iPhone. Upright chargers are excellent because your iPhone always goes for wireless charging in the right place, and this model does not take up too much space on the desk.

- Scosche BaseLynx Modular Charging System Kit ($90)

Scosche's BaseLynx is a modular charging kit that allows you to purchase only the components you need, snapping them together for all your devices to form a customizable charging dock. There is an Apple Watch charger, an iPhone wireless charger, a slotted dock to charge an iPad and other devices, plus a USB-C add-on unit. Individual pieces are about $30 to $50 and multi-piece kits are available starting at $90.

- Zens Liberty Wireless Charger ($140) - There are 16 coils in the Liberty Wireless Charger from Zens, which means overlapping charging capacity no matter where you charge your iPhone or AirPods. It also contains a USB-A port to charge or connect an external gadget to an Apple Watch adapter, which is available for an extra $30.

- Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition ($139) -Nomad's Apple Watch Base Station, along with a double coil Qi wireless charging pad, has an Apple Watch charging puck to charge the Apple Watch, making it a great alternative to the now-cancelled AirPower. To charge the iPhone horizontally, you can use the wireless charging pad, but if you place the iPhone vertically, it frees up a small spot to charge the AirPods, so all three devices charge at one time. It's pricey, but it's one of the best chargers on the market for multiple devices.

- ElevationDock 4 ($50) -The ElevationDock 4 is one of the best docks on the market if you prefer charging over Lightning for wireless charging (it's faster!). It's slim and doesn't take up much space on a desk, and the bottom suction material means you can dock and undock your one-handed iPhone. That may not seem like a big deal, but when it comes to convenience, it is enormous.

- Logitech 7.5W Powered Wireless Charging Stand ($69.95) -Working at MacRumors, I have tried countless wireless charging options and my favourite is the upright chargers. Having your iPhone in the right place for charging without hassle is simple and you can see the screen. I like Logitech's Powered Wireless Charging Stand best among the upright chargers I've checked. It still works. When it's dark at night, I can put my iPhone in and I know it's charging, it's 7.5W, and it doesn't take up too much room on my desk.It's pricier than the cheap chargers on Amazon, but it's sturdier, looks better, and Logitech is a trusted brand so I know it's safe. Belkin's $70 Boost Up Wireless Charging Stand is a close second.

- Anker Wireless Charger ($50) -You may want to check out the Anker PowerWave if you are looking for a high quality Qi-based wireless charging stand for your iPhone that is not too costly. It has wireless charging of 7.5W, is fitted with a fan to keep your iPhone cool for faster charging, and it is an upright charger so that you can see the screen when charging your iPhone. We also like Anker's $22 PortPort Wireless Stand if you want anything cheaper.

- Zens Dual+Watch Wireless Charger ($112) -If you want an AirPower replacement that can charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch all at once, it's worth checking out the Zens Dual+Watch Wireless Charger. In addition to a base with dual wireless charging coils, it has an arm with a magnetic Apple Watch charging puck built in where you can put your iPhone and your AirPods wireless charging case. It's available in both black and white, and it's Mitchel's favourite wireless charger for the MacRumors writer. 

- Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge ($60) -MacRumors editor Mitchel recommends the Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge if you need an in-car Qi-based wireless charger, which charges the iPhone at 7.5W and can be connected to a window or dashboard so that your iPhone is at eye level when you're driving. To keep the iPhone in place, it uses magnets and it can also be used in the home. Check out the analysis of our Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge here.

Photography and Videography

There are a lot of iPhone lenses on the market that promise to enhance your iPhone photography, but some of the best I've used are Moment's. Moment has super high-resolution telephoto (58mm) and wide-angle (18mm) that won't distort your pictures or minimise the quality, and the anamorphic lens is a must have if you want to capture cinematic video or photos). The Moment lens system is super streamlined and uses a special iPhone case to connect to your iPhone, which is sleek and protective in its own right Moment also has a great collection of lens storage accessories.

- GorillaPod Stand Pro ($41) - For years now, I have been using Joby's GorillaPods on both my DSLR and my iPhone. Thanks to the bendy legs, you can manipulate them into any spot, and for the perfect shot, you can place them anywhere. The GorillaPod is super stable, works with or without a case, in landscape or portrait, and can be used.

DJI's first Osmo smartphone gimbal for video capture was pricey, but the Osmo Mobile 2 is more fairly priced at $130, a normal price for a decent gimbal. -DJI Osmo Mobile 2 ($130) If you want to catch professional looking footage on an iPhone, the way to go for stabilisation is a smartphone gimbal. The sensors and motors of the Osmo Mobile 2 ensure that your smartphone stays steady no matter what you do and the battery lasts up to 15 hours.

- Zhiyun Smooth II 3 Axis Gimbal for iPhone ($190) - A handheld camera mount is invaluable if you want to capture video with your iPhone, to ensure that you get smooth, shake-free footage. A number of gimbal camera mounts are made by Zhiyun, including the Smooth II, which provides maximum 360 degree rotation and a 5-way angle change joystick. Here, check out our analysis.

- SandMarc Camera Lenses ($90 to $100) - For Apple's new iPhones, SandMarc offers a variety of add-on lenses, offering a 2x wide-angle lens, a fisheye lens, a macro lens, and a 2x telephoto zoom lens. These are high-quality lenses that create crisp, transparent images and are a favourite of Tim, the editor of MacRumors. They are about $99 each, but if you buy a pack, you can get a discount.

- Kenu Stance Tripod ($9.95) -  Kenu Stance is a nice little device at an affordable price if you just need an easy, inexpensive tripod for photographs or video viewing. It fits into your iPhone's Lightning port and can be used in either picture or video mode to prop it up.

Headphones

- AirPods 2 ($199) - Without Apple's AirPods, no iPhone recommendation list will be full, and there's a reason why these are some of the most common earbuds on the market. There are no cables, it is super easy to link to the iPhone (and even faster with AirPods 2), the battery life is impressive, they are comfortable, and there is "Hey Siri" support and compatibility with wireless charging so that you can charge them with any wireless charger based on Qi.

- Sony WH1000XM3 Headphones ($348) -If you need noise cancellation, the Sony WH1000XM3 headphones are a solid option, and they're a favourite of some of us here at MacRumors. These headphones are not inexpensive, but the technology for noise cancellation is fantastic, they're super comfortable, and the audio sounds great. They're also Alexa allowed if you use Alexa, so you can get hands-free access to your music. Neat features such as a touch gesture to momentarily turn down your music and adapt the ambient sound also make these an attractive choice.

- Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones ($280) -Beats headphones from Apple are often maligned for poor audio quality, but the Beats Studio3 Wireless sounds fantastic, has excellent battery life, and for long periods of time they are easy to wear. Active noise cancelling is helpful, and they attach to the iPhone as quickly and as easily as AirPods with the included W1 chip.

- Bowers & Wilkins PX Active Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones ($400) -Bowers & Wilkins is renowned for outstanding sound quality, which makes them the favourite headphones of Marianne's publisher, MacRumors. They feature active noise cancelling, and they are comfortable, which is ideal for travel. These are wireless, so they use Bluetooth to connect to your devices and have up to 22 hours of communication enabled with ANC and 29 hours without it. If needed for an even longer battery life, you can also use them with a wired link.

Gaming

- SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Gaming Controller ($50) -Many game titles support Made for iPhone Apple-certified controllers if you want to play games on iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, so you can play like you would play a typical console title, using a controller instead of the touchscreen. SteelSeries has had its Nimbus controller available for a long time, and it's one of the best controllers we've reviewed for the iPhone.

Cables, Power Adapters, and Battery Packs

- 45W ZMI 20,000mAh USB-C Battery Pack ($70) -The 20,000mAh USB-C battery pack from ZMI is a solid option if you are looking for a USB-C battery pack to power anything from your MacBook to your iPhone. It can repeatedly charge much of your device, it's cheap, and it's small enough to take with you. Thanks to an extra USB-A port and hub connectivity, you can use it as a hub as well. We compared the most common USB-C chargers on the market, and one of our favourites was the ZMI.

- 45W Jackery Supercharge 26800mAh USB-C Portable Charger ($120) -Our other favourite pack of USB-C batteries is from Jackery. For your MacBook Pro, the 26800mAh Supercharge has enough capacity, and it also charges relatively quickly at 45W. It can charge your iPhone (with a suitable cable) and iPad easily, making it ideal for all your devices. The remaining battery that we loved is clearly displayed, and it includes a 45W power adapter so that you can easily charge it up.

- Anker PowerPort II USB-C PD Charger ($30) -The 49.5W PowerPort II Charger from Anker comes fitted with a USB-C port that provides up to 30W of power along with an additional USB-A port, so you can charge your MacBook or iPad or easily charge an iPhone along with another USB-A accessory. It is inexpensive and a perfect alternative to Apple's 30W charger.

- Anker 30W PowerPort Atom PD1 USB-C Power Adapter -Anker's PowerPort Atom PD1 is an outstanding option if you need a 30W USB-C power adapter for fast charging purposes. Since it uses modern Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor materials, it is much smaller than the typical power adapter, making it more compact and meaning that it takes up less space when used with a power strip. Anker is also recognised for its high-quality line of accessories for the iPhone and is a favourite of MacRumors.

- Mophie Charge Force Powerstation ($57) -Mophie makes a wide range of external battery packs for iOS devices, all of which are reliable. The Charge Force Powerstation is a middle-of-the-road option that offers a respectable 10,000mAh capacity, enough to charge your ‌iPhone‌ a couple of times. Passthrough charging is enabled, as is Qi-based wireless charging, so with the new iPhones from Apple, you don't even need a cable.

Other Accessories

- Fuse Cable Organizers ($10 to $30) -With options for Macs, iPhones, iPads, and more, Fuse has a whole line of cable organising products designed to wrangle messy cables. If you're trying to get your cables in order, Fuse's products are well worth checking out. Simple, inexpensive, and effective, they are.

- Phone Loop ($4.99) - Phone Loops are a useful and inexpensive attachment for iPhones that adds a little extra grip without adding any weight. These are designed to fit underneath the case of your iPhone, and they work with a broad range of case styles. On the mobile, the Loop goes through the camera cutout and coils below the iPhone, cleverly offering a strap you can hang on to.

- PopSockets ($10 to $15) - PopSockets are extremely common because they are helpful for keeping an iPhone for videos, web surfing, and more in one hand, and the PopSocket often serves as a stand. Since these items are totally everywhere, you may already have one but if you don't, it's $10 well spent. With or without a scenario, you can use PopSockets.

- Cable Bites ($5 to $10) - Cable Bites are tiny rubber animals that are intended for a Lightning or USB-C cable to fit over the top. They are adorable, but they are also built to be practical, preventing bending from wear and tear on the cord.