The best iPhone accessories for 2026
From cases and stands to screen protectors and game controllers.
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Your iPhone isn't just a phone — it's a central hub for a whole world of accessories that can make your handset feel more personal, functional and altogether yours . If you're looking to give your device an extra layer of protection, a better way to stay powered up or just something that'll make it more versatile, we've tested a range of iPhone accessories to find the ones that are actually worth your time. Here are a few of our favorites right now.
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Best iPhone accessories for 2026
There are a million different iPhone cases that could work best for you depending on your priorities and design tastes, but we'll suggest a few standouts for those who just want an easy recommendation. The Smartish Gripzilla , for one, offers plenty of protection for a reasonable $35 or $40. It's not the most svelte case, but it's not unwieldy, while its raised corner bumps, well-sized lip and silicone padding do well to avoid nicks and absorb drops. As you'd expect from a product called "Gripzilla," it's also particularly easy to hold thanks to its textured sides and recessed finger grooves. It safely covers up all of the iPhone's buttons and still works with MagSafe chargers too.
The downside: The default finishes aren't the most stylish things (at least to my eye), though you can order a custom design through Smartish's website. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
If you prefer a clear case that can show off your iPhone's original colors, it's hard to find a better value than Spigen's Ultra Hybrid MagFit . It's a relatively basic case, but its hard-plastic back and raised lips around the front and camera modules make it sturdy enough to withstand typical drops. It covers each of the side buttons without making them annoying to press, while the MagSafe ring on the back works as it should. Just be aware that any clear case like this will start to yellow over time. Still, this is a much better value than Apple's official clear case: While that model retails for $49, the MagFit is typically available for $15 or less. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
If you won't accept anything other than an official Apple case, the company's Silicone Case with MagSafe is perfectly fine. Not great, as it's still relatively pricey and it can pick up a fair chunk of dust and lint from your pockets. The lip around the front could stand to be a bit thicker to protect against especially large falls, too. But the matte finish is delightfully soft and smooth to the touch, and each version wraps all the way around its corresponding iPhone like a glove. MagSafe accessories still work reliably, and while the overall design is simple, Apple sells a nice range of vibrant color options. It's easy to take on and off as well. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
I used to walk around with a brick of a wallet in my pocket until it hit me: My phone already has basically everything I need. My Peak Design case , paired with this stand wallet, holds the rest while keeping my pockets unstuffed. Don't have a Peak Design case? I highly recommend one — there are tons of well-designed accessories built for it — but if you're not ready to commit, the company's MagSafe wallet and stand works just as well on its own. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer
I've been using Popsockets on my iPhone for years, and I ultimately end up getting the latest from the company when it comes out with something new. The one that's been on my iPhone lately is the Kick-Out Grip , which attaches magnetically to the back of your iPhone and can flip out when you need to prop up your phone. The grip is great, per usual with Popsockets, and the stand is just as good because it's quite sturdy (thanks in no small part to the strong magnetic attachment). It can also hold your iPhone up in either landscape or portrait orientation. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
The Elevation Lab GoStand is a clever stand for those who want to keep their iPhone propped up on their desk or nightstand. Its wide-ranging hinge lets it hold any iPhone securely, regardless of whether it has a case or MagSafe charger attached, and whether it's in portrait or landscape mode. It can even extend wide enough to fit a small tablet like the iPad mini. Adjusting the pair of spring-loaded stops isn't the most natural process — you have to press and hold a little button on each to move them — but they stay in place once they're set and let you change the device's angle from upright to 45 degrees. It's also super portable, as the whole thing can fold up into a flat little wedge that's small enough to fit in a pants pocket. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
If your daily carry includes an iPhone and a pair of AirPods, this is a great duo of a wireless charger that supports up to 25W of power so it can power up the phone quickly. Your iPhone attaches securely to the charging pad via magnets, while AirPods sit on the flat edge to power up. The best part? It folds into a neat, packable brick when you want to take it with you. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
There are thinner, faster and larger capacity power banks out there, but when it comes to balancing features with size and price, this power bank from Iniu is my choice. The lanyard doubles as a USB-C cable, it has two USB ports, and there's a built-in digital screen that tells you how much power is left. Perhaps most notably, it can magnetically attach to an iPhone via MagSafe and supply up to a 25W charge wirelessly. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer
A good screen protector can give you some extra shielding (and peace of mind) if you're worried about scuffing or scratching your iPhone's display. There are plenty out there that'll do the job, but if you just want one recommendation, consider amFilm's OneTouch series . Its protective glass is smooth, sturdy and clear, so it doesn't affect the screen's responsiveness or natural colors. Installing any of these things always feels a bit like defusing a bomb, but the installation tray included here makes it relatively easy to avoid air bubbles. AmFilm sells different variants for just about every iPhone released in the last few years, and they're all affordable, typically priced at $10 or less. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
With active noise cancellation that turns airplane cabins into libraries, a transparency mode that lets me hear my dog when it needs to go outside mid-video call and a host of other Apple-friendly features, Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are a natural companion for any iPhone owner. They pair instantly and switch easily between all of my Apple devices, and they have become my unofficial "do not disturb" sign during writing sessions. They also sound lively, with pleasing bass and good detail for an in-ear headphone. They even support a level of heart-rate monitoring for workouts. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer
An Apple Watch is the obvious yet most sensible choice for any iPhone owner who wants a smartwatch for tracking workouts, monitoring sleep, checking notifications or firing off texts without having to always look at their phone. The Apple Watch SE 3 is the model we recommend to most people. While the higher-end Apple Watch Series 11 is still great — offering a bigger display, better battery life and a few more advanced health features like an ECG app and hypertension alerts — the entry-level option gets you the core Apple Watch experience for a lower price. It runs fast, its always-on display is sharp and bright, it works easily with other Apple services like iMessage and Apple Pay and it's still plenty useful for health tracking. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
Apple's AirTag is specifically built to work with iPhones and remains a simple tool for keeping tabs on your stuff if you ever happen to misplace it. If a lost item is within 30 feet, the AirTag will help your iPhone locate it down to the centimeter. If it's farther afield, it'll tap into Apple's Find My network to help you pinpoint exactly where it's hiding. Just be prepared to buy a case so you can clip these gizmos to your keychains and other valuables. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer
Unless your car was built in the last handful of years, there's a good chance it didn't roll off the lot with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. And if you're anything like me — directionally challenged and fully dependent on Google Maps — that can be a problem. Sure, you could spring for an expensive aftermarket head unit. Or you could do what most of us do: stick with a good old-fashioned phone mount. This magnetic mount keeps your phone within view and reach, whether you're cruising through the neighborhood or heading out on a road trip, and it charges your phone with up to 15W of power to boot. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer
The average car on the road in the U.S. is over twelve years old, which means plenty of us are still working with limited or no built-in USB charging. Even if your car has one, a single port doesn't go far with multiple passengers. Most 12V cigarette lighter adapters solve this problem poorly: one outlet, cheap construction, easy to knock loose. The Lisen Retractable Car Charger addresses those issues: It has two retractable cables plus USB-C and USB-A ports, so you can charge up to four devices at once. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer
A mobile gamepad like the GameSir G8 Plus is great for playing more intricate iPhone games that aren't always easy to control with just your fingers. This particular model is comfortably sized and natural to grip, with smooth joysticks, responsive buttons and just about all the inputs you'd find on a PlayStation or Xbox controller. It holds iPhones of any size securely and usually won't force you to take off your device's case either. Just note that the model linked above connects over Bluetooth: That lets it work with other devices like PCs or the Nintendo Switch, but if you don't want to worry about battery life or potential extra latency while cloud streaming, know that there's another model that connects directly to an iPhone's USB-C port. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
Any phone you carry on your person all day is bound to get dirty, so it's wise to do a bit of maintenance every now and then. You may have all the tools needed to do so sitting around your house, but dropping $15 on something like iFixit's Phone Cleaning Kit makes the process straightforward: It comes with safe cleaning solutions and microfiber cloths for removing smudges from your screen, an air blower for dispatching dust, plus a variety of picks, tweezers and swabs to help remove grime out of any charging ports and speaker grilles. Using all of this isn't exactly fun, but giving your iPhone a little extra TLC can help extend its lifespan. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
