20 Essential Smartphone Accessories You Can Buy

Sep. 7, 2019

There’s no doubt that modern-day smartphones are pretty great. Android smartphones and iPhones come with some great hardware and operating systems that feature millions of amazing apps andgames. So, when you buy a new smartphone these days, you get a great package. However, smartphones are just a platform that can be enhanced using awesome accessories. While there are various accessories designed specifically for some smartphones, some accessories are compatible with almost all devices. So, we are taking a look at the 20 most essential accessories for smartphones you should buy.

What to look When Buying Accessories

If the said accessory is offered by your smartphone manufacturer then you should get it from first-party for better compatibility and support. So these are the bare minimum things you must give heed to before buying accessories for your smartphone.

As I stated above, first-party accessories will always have better compatibility with your smartphone. You will get good support from customer service as well. Not to mention, it’s generally found that first-party accessories last much longer than third-party ones. However, keep in mind, first-party accessories also cost much higher than their counterparts.

Coming to third-party accessories, well, they are not bad at all. In fact, the world of accessories is filled with third-party manufacturers who bring out innovative solutions. In some cases, third-party products are also certified by the original manufacturer so always look for those products.

And the best part about third-party accessories is that they are quite affordable and usable. There are many brands like Spigen, Anker, Zhiyun, etc. which have made a reputable name in the market. You should have no problems getting products from these manufacturers.

Portable chargersorpower banksare something that almost everyone buys these days and that’s because, no matter what the battery capacity your smartphone has, it’s never enough.

Another cool offering is theRAVPower Portable Charger($13.99), which isvery pocket friendlyand includesbuilt-in cableswith microUSB, Lightning, and USB-C connector.

It even brings a built-in AC plug that allows you to directly connect the power bank to a wall outlet to easily charge it. If you just want an affordable portable charger that gets the job done, you can check outAnker PowerCore 10000 mAh portable charger($19.99).

If you are looking for something different, check out thisgraphene power bankfrom Apollo ($88) which recharges in just 18 minutes. Finally, if you are looking forUSB Type-C power banks, you can click on the link to check them out.

If you tend to use your smartphone to navigate around in your car, you must get a car mount. We’d recommend you to getMaxboost DuraHold($11.99), if you want to set up the mount on the car’s dashboard or the windshield. You can also getWizGear magnetic car mount holder($9.49), which fixes on the car’s air vent.

Both these car mounts support almost all types of devices, so no matter which smartphone you use, these should be fine. If you want more options, you cancheck out our listof thebest car mounts. While the list is made for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the car mounts mentioned on the list are versatile and will work with any smartphone.

Selfies are all the rage these days and if you love taking selfies, you must be planning to get a great selfie stick, right? While there are numerous selfie sticks available, if you want a Bluetooth selfie stick that offers great battery life, you should get theMpow Selfie Stick($18.99), which offers20 hours of battery life. The selfie stick is very compact, features a highly adjustable cradle and can be extended to 29-inches.

Another veryportable and compactoffering is the Yoozon Selfie Stick($16.99), which is only 7.1-inches long when collapsed, so you can even carry it on your pocket. If you want a selfie stick that even works as a tripod, you should buy the Fugetek Selfie Stick ($24.99).

It comes with a Bluetooth remote that supports both iOS and Android smartphones. It will come in really handy if you want to include all your family members or friends in your selfies. Want to check outmore selfie sticks? Click on the link.

Most smartphones these days come with great cameras and while they take decent pictures, what if you want to improve their performance even more? Well, you can always buy a camera lens attachment.

The best of the lot isMomentwhich offers wide-angle, telephoto (58mm), macro, fisheye and anamorphic lenses. They are compatible with both Android and iOS devices. You can browse all kinds of Moment lenses fromhere.

Apart from that, there are different camera attachments available for fish eye lenses, macro and wide-angle but you can get all of those lenses inCoPedvic Phone Camera Lenskit ($33.99), which supports almost all the smartphones & tablets out there.

The packagebrings macro lens, wide angle lens,zoom lens, universal macro lens, fish eye lens and more. You can also check out the Leknes Camera Lens Kit ($17.99) if you are looking for something cheaper. It brings different lenses for fish eye, macro, wide angle, and more.

Gimbals have become an essential accessory for users who want to shoot professional-grade videos on their smartphones. Gimbals allow you totake super steady videoseven on phones that don’t come with OIS. Simply put, if you want to shoot highly stable videos for vlogging or other purposes then gimbals are must to have.

We recently wrote about thebest gimbals for iPhone 11 seriesso go through that to find the best gimbals for iPhones. For Android devices, I would recommendZhiyun Smooth 4($99).

The USB OTG feature on Android smartphone has been here for quite some time now and you can use it in a lot of different ways. Having said that, it comes in especially handy when you have a smartphone with a rather modest internal storage.

USB OTG flash drives are to smartphones what portable hard drives are to computers. If you are an Android smartphone owner, there are a plethora of great USB OTG flash drives available. If you are looking for a microUSB OTG flash drive, you can buySanDisk Ultra offering(starts at $8.99).

For a USB Type-C OTG flash drive, you can buy theSanDisk Ultra USB Type-Cversion (starting at $8.99). In  you want both USB-A and USB Type-C flash drive, you can buy Samsung’s 2 in 1 64 GB USB OTG flash drive ($19.99).

If you own an iPhone, you’d know that there’s no support for USB OTG but don’t worry,SanDisk offers its iXpand Flash Drive(starting at $19.99), which works on iOS devices using an app.

Most smartphones come with an in-ear headphones that are just fine but nothing great. However, if you are a music aficionado, the first accessory that you will get is a decent pair of headphones.

When it comes to in-ear headphones, the Sony MDRXB50AP earphones ($29.99) is arguably the best in its price range. If you want something way more affordable but still pretty great, you can get thePanasonic ErgoFit($8.99).

Talking about headphones, if you want the best, you should check out the much regardedAudio-Technica ATH-M20x($49). They don’t only sound great but are also quite comfortable to wear.

The world is going wireless, as all the new smartphones including iPhones, the OnePlus 7, the latest Note 10, and more cancelling the headphone jack. While you can use adapters to use your old wired headset, I suggest that you invest in a decent wireless earbud.

If you are looking for something affordable, you can check out the TOZO T10($34.99) but if you want something premium you should get theApple AirPods Pro($234), which is arguably one of the best wireless earbuds available right now.

If you are looking for a pair of over the ear wireless earphones, you should check out theSony WH-1000XM4($349.99) which are currently the best wireless noise-canceling headphones on the market.

The Gen-2 AirPods bring wireless charging case which makes them easier to charge.  If you want something more substantial, you should check out thePowerBeats Pro($199). They bring the convenience of AirPods with much better sound quality and noise cancellation. Wireless earbuds have become the most essential smartphone accessories right now and you should definitely invest in one.

Smartwatches have become a must-have accessory for smartphones because of its multi-purpose use-case. You canmanage your notifications, attend calls, ask questions to voice assistants and more. But that is not all. Now, smartwatches act like a fitness tracker and a medical device too.

For example, the Apple Watch allows you to takereal-time ECGand can also detect heart attacks which can actually save lives. So if you are into the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch (starts at $419for Series 5) is your best bet. And for Android users, you can either go for Samsung Watch 3 (starts at $399) or Oppo Watch ($200). If you are looking for asmartwatch for your kids, click on the link to read the article on the same.

While most games available on the App Store or the Play Store are designed for the touchscreen, there are games that can be played better using a controller. Games running in emulators or VR games will be a lot of fun when played with a controller. Although there are various gaming controllers out there, you should check outSteelSeries’ Bluetooth gaming controller.

It’s available in an Android & Windows version dubbedStratus Duo($36.98) and an iOS, macOS and Apple TV version dubbedNimbus($65). The controller features a design reminiscent of the Xbox controller and offers a number of features. It packs in a phone holder, customizable triggers and more.

As you might know, with the update to iOS 13 andApple Arcade,iPhone and iPads now support both PlayStation($46.32) andXbox wireless($43.99) controllers. If you own an iPhone and have extra cash to spare, I believe that they will serve you better than the SteelSeries controller mentioned above. If you play games, these are the best smartphone accessories that you can buy.

Not all smartphones look great, some just look too bland, but don’t worry, you can always install a custom skin on your device. You can useSlickWraps,DbrandorGadgetshieldzto create your very owncustom skin.

You can just head over to their websites andcustomize the lookof the back, front, side, camera lens and even the company logo through different textures and materials. Now that’s cool, isn’t it?

For most people, cases or covers are the first accessory they buy for their smartphones. Well, it’s important because smartphones are prone to drops, which can result in minor scratches or even shattered display. You can check out for the best cases and covers frompopular manufactureslikeSpigen,Incipio,Otterboxor you could just head toAmazonand search for your specific device’s case.

You can even check out our articles oncases and coversfor different devices. We cover cases and covers for almost all popular smartphones. Some of our latest coverage includeNote 20 Ultra cases,Galaxy S20 Cases,iPhone 11 Pro Cases,Pixel 4a cases, and more.

Screen protector or screen guard is another very essential accessory, because no matter what phone you have, the display will get scratched after a point of time. Thus, it’s best to apply a screen protector on your device’s display.

For screen protectors, you can again check out the aforementioned makers or head toAmazonor check outour lists of screen protectorsfor different devices. Some of the recent coverage includesiPhone 11 Pro Screen Protectors,iPhone 11 Screen Protectors,Note 20 Screen Protectors,Galaxy S20 Screen Protectors, and more.

While some smartphones pack in great speakers, some just offer lackluster sound quality. In that case, it’s always better to get a portable Bluetooth speaker that you can carry around with ease to your different trips.

TheJBL Flip 4($79.90) is a great Bluetooth speaker, with features like 360-degree sound with bass, IP67 rating for water & dust resistance, and 15-hour battery life.

If you are looking for something cheaper, you can check out theOontZ Angle 3($25.99) wireless speaker which brings great range (up to 100 feet) and sound quality with emphatic bass. It is also available in multiple colors.

While you can always use portable chargers, carrying it with you all the time can be a hassle. So, if you want to charge your Android smartphone or iPhone while you are on the go, you should get a car charger.

Like most other accessories on this list, there’s no dearth of great car chargers. You can check out theAnker USB Car Charger($8.99), which is an affordable offering that brings two 2A USB ports and an LED indicator. There’s also RAVPower 48W car charger ($19.99) which brings QC 3.0 fast charging.

If you want your smartphone to act as a nightstand at night while it charges or you want to make sure that charging your multiple devices does not look like a mess, you can get a charging station.

If you want asingle device charging station, you can check out Anker Wireless Charger ($18.99). For an iPhone-only charging station, you can get Yootech Wireless Charger ($13.99).

If you want a charging station that charges multiple devices of yours, you can buySimicore 6-Port Charging station($34.99) that looks great and gets the job done.

And if you want a wireless charging station for multiple devices then I would recommend Moing charging station ($36.99) for Android devices,Belkin Wireless Dock($125.25) for Apple devices.

Smartphones nowadays don’t come with the headphone jack and that’s a bummer. But there is a way out which allows you to use your old wired headphone on your smartphone. Yes, you can use a headphone adapter which is basically aUSB-C/Lightning to 3.5mm adapter. iPhone users can get the official Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter ($7.99) and Android users can get JSAUX USB C to 3.5mm adapter ($12.99).

With most smartphones coming in glass build, it has become harder for users toget a firm gripon the device. In that case, you can get the phone ring holder accessory for your smartphone.

It stays on the back of your phone and you can always hold it using your finger. On top of that, the ring holder alsoacts as a kickstand. How cools is that. So for both Android and iPhone users, I have only one recommendation to make: Fitfort phone ring holder ($8.99).

Not all phones have IP certification and even the ones that have water resistance, can’t survive for long under high water pressure. In that case, you should get a waterproof pouch that will allow you totake your smartphone while swimming, kayaking, snorkeling and more.

The waterproof pouch will allow you to operate your smartphone andtake photos and videoswithout any water damage. That’s really great, right? So just go ahead and get the OTO Universal Waterproof Pouch ($7.49).

With multiple smartphones and gadgets, it has become harder for users to charge them simultaneously. But worry not, multiport wall chargers can solve this particular issue. It comes with multiple USB A ports and you canconnect up to four devices.

The best part is that charging speed is pretty high and it cango up to 40W. So if you want the best multiport wall charger that is compatible with all kinds of smartphones and gadgets then go for Anker Wall Charger ($25.99).

I would say cases, screen protectors and wireless earbuds are the most popular cell phone accessories right now.

There are many brands that produce excellent phone cases but I would pick Spigen, Caseology, and OtterBox.

Spigen has the Tough Armor series which is considered to be the most protective of all cases. Apart from that, OtterBox Defender Series offers legendary protection from all sides.

As I mentioned above, you should either go for Spigen Tough Armor or OtterBox Defender Series case.

First of all, you should look for protection from all sides and corners, better if it’s rugged. Secondly, the case should offer you a good grip over your smartphone. And if the case is thin and lightweight then that is an added bonus.

A smartphone is only as good as the apps available on it and the accessories available for it. Thankfully, there are some great accessories available for both Android and Apple devices. So, check out these essential accessories and do let us know you like them. Sound off in the comments section below.

Rupesh is a section editor here and one of the hosts at our YouTube channel. A long time mobile lover and technology aficionado, he loves to indulge in all things technology! In his free time (which is non-existent), he loves watching Westworld, Silicon Valley, and Game of Thrones, obviously.