What iPhone accessories are actually worth buying in 2026?

[Seb51]

Just picked up a newer iPhone and started looking at accessories, and there's way more out there than I expected.

Firstly no more lightning. USB C so all old ones accessories for my IP13 are no use. Unless an adapter would work??

So new Cases, chargers, MagSafe stuff, screen protectors, mounts, etc.

Some of it looks useful, some of it feels like stuff you'd buy once and never touch again.

A few I've been looking at:

MagSafe Compatible iPhone Case with Screen Protector
MagSafe Wireless Charger Pad
Portable Magnetic iPhone Charger
iPhone Screen Protector Tempered Glass

From what I've read, MagSafe seems to be the main thing now. The magnets inside newer iPhones let accessories snap on properly, which makes charging and attachments easier

Main things I'm trying to figure out:

are MagSafe accessories actually worth it or just a gimmick?
do cheap cases protect well enough or is it worth spending more?
are portable chargers useful or just something you forget to carry?
do screen protectors actually make a difference long term?

Also curious if there's anything people bought and ended up never using.

Feels like it's easy to waste money on accessories that look good but don't add much

[GameChanger]

MagSafe is actually useful, not just marketing.

Being able to snap a charger or mount on without messing around with cables is nice.

Wouldn't go back now

[HiggsField29]

Cheap cases are fine unless you drop your phone a lot.

More expensive ones just feel nicer and last longer

[Emma92]

Portable charger is one of those things you don't use often but when you need it, it saves you.

Worth having just in case

[Scholar29]

Screen protectors are 100% worth it.

You don't notice them after a while and they stop scratches building up

[VidiTechnica]

That is one way of looking at it. You are not wrong.

Good thread this.

[Rory84]

I love the way you put that. There is usually something in the structure that tells you more than the surface does.

Happy to keep discussing this

[CosmicRay40]

Yep, agree with that. Every time without fail.

Legend

[Olivia_36]

One accessory that earned a permanent place in my bag is an Anker MagSafe-compatible battery pack.

Being able to snap it on during a long train journey without dealing with cables is far more useful than I expected. It's one of those purchases that quietly proves its value every week.

[Dylan54]

Rather than spending loads on fancy gadgets, a good USB-C charger with multiple ports is where I'd put the money.

Anker and UGREEN both make excellent ones. Charging your phone, watch and earbuds from one brick makes travelling much less cluttered .

[SuperPosition78]

Screen protectors are boring right up until they save your display.

Spigen's EZ Fit kit is about as stress-free as applying one gets. The alignment tray does most of the work, so even clumsy people like me can manage it.

[Aura49]

Cases are worth spending a little extra on.

The Apple Silicone Case feels nice, but I've had better luck with Spigen and Caudabe for long-term durability. They seem to survive drops and everyday wear without looking battered after a few months.

[FinnHalliday]

Wireless charging stands have become one of my favourite accessories.

Belkin's MagSafe-compatible stands are great on a bedside table because you can glance at notifications without picking the phone up. Small convenience, surprisingly big difference.

[ThreadNecro98]

Everyone talks about chargers, but don't overlook a decent USB-C cable.

Cheap cables have a habit of disappearing, fraying or refusing to charge at the worst possible moment. Buying a couple of braided Anker cables has saved me plenty of frustration.

[Liam98]

Funny how the smallest accessory made the biggest difference.

A simple phone grip or stand on the back makes reading, watching videos and taking photos much more comfortable. Plus it has probably prevented at least three accidental drops. \

[Taker29]

External microphones deserve a mention if you record videos.

The DJI Mic Mini works brilliantly with modern iPhones and makes spoken audio sound dramatically better than relying solely on the built-in microphones.

[Tundra54]

Probably the best advice is to wait a month before buying half the accessories that catch your eye.

The things you keep wishing you had after using the phone every day are usually the ones worth buying. Everything else has a funny habit of becoming expensive drawer decorations.

[WildManCena23]

A car mount is one of those purchases that pays for itself in convenience.

ESR's MagSafe mounts hold the phone securely without fiddly clamps. Once you've used magnetic mounting, the old spring-loaded holders feel ancient.

[Ruby_50]

Portable SSDs are worth considering if you've started recording lots of ProRes video.

The Samsung T9 is ridiculously fast and means you don't have to worry about filling the phone's storage during longer shoots.

[Nova]

Camera lens protectors are one accessory I'm still not completely convinced by.

Some are perfectly fine, but others introduce glare or reduce image quality. A good protective case with a raised lip seems like the better compromise.

[QuantumToken]

A quality 3-in-1 charging station makes a lot of sense if you own an Apple Watch and AirPods.

Instead of three separate cables sprawled across the bedside table, everything charges neatly in one place. Less clutter is always welcome.

[WWEGary20]

Would probably skip most of the novelty accessories flooding online marketplaces.

Tiny fans, clip-on lights and random gadgets usually end up living in a drawer after a week. Buying fewer but better accessories tends to work out cheaper in the long run.

[MiniElliot]

Travel changed my priorities more than anything.

A compact GaN charger with folding pins takes up hardly any room and still charges everything quickly. Those old chunky power bricks suddenly feel prehistoric.

[Richard_36]

MagSafe power banks have improved a lot over the past couple of years.

The newer models generate less heat and hold much more securely than the early versions. That's one category where the newer designs really are worth upgrading to.

[Odd Maverick]

One thing that's easy to forget is a decent cleaning kit.

Keeping the USB-C port free of lint and the cameras clean does more for day-to-day use than another flashy gadget. Not glamorous, but definitely worthwhile.

[Steady Dylan]

AirPods Pro are still the accessory I'd recommend first if you don't already own them.

The automatic device switching, noise cancellation and overall integration with the iPhone ecosystem still make them hard to beat.

[Sentry]

A MagSafe wallet sounded like a gimmick until I borrowed one for a week.

Carrying two cards and some cash without needing another wallet is surprisingly liberating. Just don't expect it to replace a full wallet if you carry everything including old receipts from 2019.

[WhatUQuant]

Photography fans should have a look at the ShiftCam SnapGrip.

It adds a proper camera-style grip and shutter button, making longer photo sessions much more comfortable than balancing the phone with your fingertips.