If you've been wanting to play the best iPhone games without carrying a gaming controller around, this new case could be the answer to your woes.

Made by BitmoLab, GameBaby is a unique case that not only protects the best iPhones from drops and scratches but lets you play a bunch of games thanks to its built-in physical buttons. Simply slide out and flip the bottom half of the case, and after loading up retro gaming emulators such as Delta, you can use the physical buttons to play games — just as you would on a Nintendo Game Boy handheld.

The first 1,000 GameBaby cases are currently available for $19.99 each as an 'Early Bird' special, but once these are gone, the price will rise to $39.99. BitmoLab also notes that the GameBaby should work with iPhone 15 Pro Max and the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max handsets. However, with no confirmation on the upcoming iPhone yet, we may have to wait and see if the controller case works with the new iPhone once it's made available later this month.

What's rumored for iPhone 16?

With Apple's 'It's Glowtime' event days away, where the company is expected to announce the iPhone 16 lineup, there could be plenty of reasons to upgrade from your iPhone 13 or earlier handsets.

Rumors suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro’s display will be 6.3 inches, an increase of 6.1 inches from previous models — thanks to a thinner bezel this time. In addition, a new Capture button is rumored to feature on the right-hand side of every iPhone 16 device, making it easier to take photos and videos. This button might be pressure-sensitive too, which may enable users to focus on an object or take a series of photos in burst mode — depending on how hard the button is pressed.

The ultrawide lens is rumored to be getting a big 48MP upgrade, which could result in better-quality images. The 5x 120mm telephoto lens, currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, is also expected to be coming to the iPhone 16 Pro as well as the 16 Pro Max later this month.

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Picture the scene — it’s 7pm, you’re the last person in the office, you’ve got an hour commute ahead of you aaaaaand… your iPhone is about to die, with no charger available to save it. With no iPhone-provided distraction between you and the armpit of your fellow commuter, that’s going to be a pretty sorry journey home.

If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you had a mini charger to keep with you at all times for situations just like this, turn your attention to Native Union’s new Pocket Cable. Designed to resemble an old Swiss Army Knife, it weaves a 6.5-inch USB-C cable into its housing, ready to be hung on a keychain so it’s always at your side.

Supporting 60W fast charging when connected to a compatible USB-C plug, it’ll get an iPhone 15 back to 50% battery life in around 30 minutes. With USB 2.0 transfer speeds, it’ll even let you move files around at a pinch, though it won’t be particularly speedy in that regard. 

iPhone-to-iPhone charging

I’ve had the Pocket Cable for a few weeks now, and it’s been really useful. At just under 7cm in length and only weighing about 30g, it’s small enough to take everywhere with me without a second thought, and has been very handy for getting some extra juice into my iPhone 15 Pro from my M2 MacBook Air when I’m in a pinch.

Now, its size and design means this is a ‘bring-your-own-plug’ situation. But with the introduction of USB-C charging from an iPhone or iPad to another device, you’ll be in a good spot to top some juice up for your most important devices, or something like AirPods Pro 2.

Available now in black, ‘sandstone’ gray, ‘lemon’ yellow, slate green and an orangey ‘Oxyfire’, you can get the Pocket Cable directly from Native Union or retailers like Amazon at an RRP of $29.99.

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Losing your wallet is nobody's idea of a good time, and trying to find it again can be an exercise in frustration. Sure, you can slide an AirTag into your wallet so you can locate it should it go missing, but that can be bulky and cumbersome. What you need is a wallet with Find My support built in.

The first classic wallet with such a feature is now available for order via Kickstarter with accessory maker ESR offering such a thing via a super early bird discount price of $38.

Despite support for Find My, the ESR wallet is still thin and lightweight while the tech hidden inside is rechargeable. Sure, charging your wallet might take some getting used to, but it's better than losing all your cards, right?

Found it!

ESR's Geo Wallet is Apple-certified which means it'll work as you'd expect when connected to the Find My app, with real-time location tracking available. There's even a built-in speaker so you can make your wallet sound off when trying to locate it.

Charging is handled via a MagSafe-like magnetic charging solution that will allow the battery to run for up to five months from just a two-hour charge. And unlike boring card-only wallets, this classic offering can house two ID cards, seven bank cards, 10 notes, and 15 coins just fine.

With a handy combination of a classic wallet and modern location-tracking technology, this ESR Geo Wallet could well be the one for you. You can back the Kickstarter now with shipping expected to begin in September. Seven color options are available so pick the one that you like best when placing that order.

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Remember the BlackBerry? In middle school, only the coolest kids had access to one and everyone else wanted to know what people were talking about on BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). There was even a period where iPhone users felt left out, dreaming of a world where BBM was available on iOS. Then things changed, the iPhone took over and iMessage became the go-to messaging service — BlackBerry was left in the dust and just like Jessie in Toy Story 2 thrown away to the tune of “When She Loved Me” by Sarah McLachlan.

Fast forward to 2024, and over 58% of the US smartphone market is dominated by iPhone according to Statcounter. BlackBerry, on the other hand, is now defunct with the last device to sport the name released in 2018: The BlackBerry Key2.

But why am I talking about BlackBerry? Enter Clicks, a case for iPhone with a BlackBerryesque keyboard attached. I’ve been using the Clicks keyboard for my iPhone 15 Pro Max over the last few weeks and while it hasn’t clicked with me it might click for you.

Clicks for iPhone

If you’ve read any of my articles in the past you may have heard that I’m a huge fan of the color yellow. When Michael Fisher (MrMobile on YouTube) revealed his passion project that hoped to bring back the heyday of physical keyboards on smartphones, my first thought was “I need that black and yellow iPhone case.” In the midst of my excitement for yellow, I overlooked the form factor of the product itself. There’s no beating around the bush, Clicks for iPhone 15 Pro Max is long and I mean looooong. It adds about 25% extra length to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, completely changing the weight balance of an already huge device. At first, I found the weight distribution all wrong, if you don’t hold the case exactly as advertised it’s like a seesaw in your hand. After using the case for a few weeks, I definitely got used to the imbalance but it never felt comfortable to use.

I never really adjusted to the new form factor of my iPhone, I’ll go into detail about the keyboard itself a little later because that aspect of the case is genuinely great. As a whole, however, using Clicks never stopped feeling like a chore and it pains me to say that considering how cool it is to have an extra 50% screen for my favorite apps.

The case is a hard shell with soft silicone covering the iPhone’s buttons on both sides. The keyboard connects via USB-C and while the keys are lovely to type on I can’t help but feel like Clicks should put some weight inside to try and counter-balance the top-heavy smartphone above it. There’s USB-C charging passthrough too so if you want to you can use Clicks indefinitely without removing the case.

Clicks for iPhone 15 Pro Max retails for $159 which is a price point that turns me off this fun gimmick. If there was a way to make the Clicks keyboard work with future models the price would feel more justified but considering a lot of people like to switch up their device every year this feels like an extortionate price for a case without MagSafe.

I’ve spoken in the past about hand cramps and how much I hate using uncomfortable tech. Well, it’s safe to say Clicks had my hands cramping continuously and after using the keyboard case on my iPhone for around 10 days I had to give up. It just never seemed to click for me (I know I’ve used this pun already in the intro) and ultimately I don’t feel like this product can be recommended to any iPhone 15 Pro Max user unless they’ve been having BlackBerry withdrawal symptoms for the last decade (in which case I say get with the times).

Another aspect I need to flag is the fact that we’ve evolved away from tiny keys and iOS 18 is just not made for a physical keyboard. Even after using Clicks relentlessly and refusing to give up, I found that it never felt natural like my iPhone’s on-screen keyboard. I tried so hard to like this product, but there’s just no way I could see myself using it long-term.

I do see a future for Clicks on iPhone

Now, I’ve been pretty scathing with my experience so far but there are positives here. For starters, I love niche technology like this and there will 100% be people out there who fall in love with Clicks for iPhone. Writing an email with a full-screen experience rules, as does using notetaking apps. The keyboard is also very similar to the experience we once had on BlackBerry, it feels as nice to type on as the now discontinued smartphone of every suit from 2004.

For me, the main issue with Clicks is the size of the biggest iPhone out there. It’s just cumbersome and absolutely exhausting to use a large case on an already large smartphone. Clicks doesn’t make a keyboard case for the iPhone 13 mini but if they did I could see a real future for the product. I own an iPhone 13 mini and side by side combined with Clicks, the device would be the size of a 15 Pro Max — in other words, ideal.

Combine a smaller form factor with Clicks’ endless shortcut customization allowing you to launch apps with the tap of a key or run automations whenever you want at the press of a button and Clicks starts to make sense. Instead, the version I’ve tried just doesn’t feel right with the modern 6.7-inch smartphone, and with rumors that Apple is set to make the iPhone 16 Pro models even larger, Clicks for iPhone is set for an even bigger identity crisis in the near future.

I’m a big fan of MagSafe, Apple’s wireless charging standard that’s available on the iPhone 12 and above. Simply snap a phone to a MagSafe point and the iPhone will securely lock in place and charge.

I’ve got one for my car, one for my battery pack, and for the past several weeks, I’ve had one as a bedside stand thanks to ESR. I’ve spoken before about how an ESR stand reminded me of StandBy mode, a feature that debuted on iOS 17 in 2023. Being able to have my iPhone 15 Pro Max function as a smart alarm clock has become very useful. I can also charge my AirPods Pro 2, and, thanks to an optional attachment, charge my Apple Watch

I’ve become such a fan of this stand that I’m considering buying several of them to place around my home — from the kitchen to the bathroom. This way, I can watch YouTube on my iPhone in landscape mode wherever I am — whether I’m shaving or making food. With Prime Day in full swing, ESR has discounted this stand by 30% on Amazon, meaning you can buy it right now for $45.99! It’s this saving that’s tempting me to buy three more. If you don’t own this ESR stand, I strongly recommend you do.

Magnets!

Another benefit of this stand is Qi2 support. This is a newer wireless charging standard that restores power to an iPhone 12 and above at 15W, as long as these best iPhones are running iOS 17.4.

This means the stand can charge an iPhone from empty to 50% within 45 minutes. That’s just enough time to watch an episode of Severance to get ready for season 2 and have your phone with enough charge once the episode ends. At $45.99, you’ll have a challenge to find a better stand for your Apple devices.

EMF, or electromagnetic field, radiation is an area of concern for some people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), long-term exposure may cause health issues, while high levels of EMF radiation is known to be harmful over any duration. Short-term exposure to low levels of EMF radiation, such as what you might get from an iPhone or Android smartphone, is deemed to be safe for healthy individuals. But while the WHO has not confirmed any dangerous effects of low-level EMF radiation exposure after thousands of studies, we don’t know for sure about the effects of long-term exposure. 

Should it be a factor to consider when weighing up the purchase of an upcoming iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro? According to the WHO, we just can't be certain that EMF causes dangerous health effects. In order to make a connection like this, three types of studies are needed: "Laboratory studies on cells aim to determine if there is a mechanism by which electromagnetic field exposure could cause harmful biological effects. Animal studies are essential for establishing effects in higher organisms whose physiology resembles that of humans to a degree. Epidemiological studies look for statistical associations between field exposure and the incidence of specific adverse health outcomes in humans." 

In other words, in order to prove a connection between EMF and health hazards, we would need to have lots of research done three ways: in the lab on cells, animal testing, and epidemiological (statistical) studies. 

From the WHO: "Results of diverse studies (cellular, animal, and epidemiology) must be considered together before drawing conclusions about possible health risks of a suspected environmental hazard. Consistent evidence from these very different types of studies increases the degree of certainty about a true effect." 

To put it simply, the results of all of these studies would need to give the same result. Correlation is not the same as causation. We aren't there yet.

The WHO goes on to note that the lack of proven health effects so far could mean that there really aren't any. But it could also mean that we just haven't been able to detect the link with our current testing methods. 

Clearly, more studies are needed for definitive answers. In the meantime, in the interest of caution, case manufacturer Atom Studios has created the Alara case to protect users from EMF radiation.

I wrote about the Alara case in a recent article, Do you need to spend $100 on an iPhone case? As you can tell from the title, the Alara is a pricey case. But is it worth $100? It’s quite a nice case, combining silicone and recycled plastic with a soft microfiber interior. The case is aesthetically appealing and protective, offering 10-foot drop protection and full MagSafe compatibility. Of course, you can find similarly attractive and protective cases for far less money. But if EMF radiation is a concern of yours, you might find it worth its price tag. I spoke with Ryan McCaughey, the Chief Scientist at Atom Studios to learn more about EMF radiation and the Alara case, to try to understand if this is a concern everyone needs to have — or a marketing trick to separate you from your cash.

How bad is EMF radiation?

According to Ryan, there is a growing body of evidence that long-term exposure to radiofrequency (RF) EMF has negative health effects in humans, particularly in regards to the brain and fertility. He mentioned that the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified RF as a “possible carcinogen” since 2011, based on research that shows an increased risk of brain tumors in heavy cell phone users. He tells me that the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) found “clear evidence” of cancerous heart tumors in rats due to RF exposure. Ryan suggested that sperm quality could be negatively affected by cell phone use. He also mentioned that 50 minutes of cell phone exposure will alter brain glucose metabolism in the area of the brain closest to the antenna.

Should you be worried about using a smartphone at all, or even keeping it in your pocket?

The studies mentioned above generally involve people holding their phones up to their ears to talk. But what if you’re holding it in your hands or keeping it in your pocket? There are too many variables to test hand-held use, such as texting, since everyone holds a phone differently. 

But iPhone manuals used to have a warning telling users to keep the phone 15 millimeters (0.59 inches) from the body. Now the manufacturer’s RF exposure guidelines are more ambiguous and hidden in the Settings, explaining only how it was tested – 5 millimeters from the body. 

Ryan explains that this means if you’re keeping your iPhone in your pocket, it will probably exceed safe exposure limits. One thing to note: the radiation comes from the back of the phone, so putting your iPhone in your pocket with the screen facing your body is safer than the other way.

How are cell phone manufacturers even able to sell phones?

In the US, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) sets the limit for radiation exposure at a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg). This is a metric for quantifying the rate at which cell phone radiation is absorbed by the human body. All phones must be tested by independent certified labs before they can be released. 

Some feel that this limit is too lax since it was established in 1996 before keeping a cell phone in your pocket every day was common. Not to mention the possible effects on children – it was far rarer for children to have cell phones back then than they do now.

So how does the Alara case offer EMF protection?

Ryan explained that the Alara case uses patented antenna technology to redirect radiation away from the head and body. Highly conductive silver elements change the phone’s electromagnetic field spatial pattern to reduce the amount of radiation absorbed by the body. Atom Studios claims that the Alara case reduces your exposure to cell phone radiation (or SAR) by up to 75%. According to Ryan, the Alara case undergoes rigorous lab testing by RF Exposure Lab, an independent, accredited facility. 

The Alara doesn’t block or shield radiation; it changes the radiation pattern from the phone. That’s why it only needs to cover the back, not the front of the phone. Since it’s diverting rather than blocking, your cellular signal won’t be affected. Other EMF radiation protection cases do claim to block or shield radiation, but they may also block your cellular signal. Ironically, a blocked or weak signal causes your iPhone to transmit even more radiation.

What else can you do to protect yourself from EMF radiation?

Keep your iPhone out of your pocket and away from your body as much as possible. Using your iPhone when it has a weak signal is more dangerous than using it when it has a strong one. Ryan explained that the iPhone uses dynamic power management, which means that it optimizes battery life by transmitting the minimum required for connection. The farther you are from a cell tower, the more signal your iPhone has to transmit to make a connection, which means your exposure is higher. You could even put your iPhone in Airplane Mode when you’re not using it, like overnight for example.

Of course, cell phones aren’t the only sources of EMF radiation in most people’s homes. Microwave ovens, Wi-Fi routers, and Bluetooth headphones are common sources as well. A microwave oven exposes you to about 300 microwatts per square centimeter (µW/cm2) if you’re standing close by, compared to 600 µW/cm2 from a phone that’s 2 millimeters from your body. Wi-Fi routers expose you to less than 1 µW/cm2 as long as you’re three feet away or more. Bluetooth earbuds are only about a tenth as powerful as your iPhone, but they are right in your ears.

How worried should you be about EMF radiation?

There is no conclusive proof that it is dangerous, but there is also no proven safe level of exposure. Certainly, there is no harm in taking simple precautionary measures. If nothing else, keep your handset farther from your body whenever possible. Use the speaker phone rather than holding the device up to your ear for phone conversations. Try not to keep your smartphone in your pocket, but if you must, then keep the screen against your body and the back of the phone facing away from you.

Should you buy the Alara case? As mentioned above, it’s a nice case, at least from an aesthetic point of view, and the physical protection it offers. But I only have the company’s word on the case’s level of radiation protection, with the jury out even among health professionals as to how concerned we need be in relation to radiation produced by our mobile devices. While pricey, Alara’s EMF radiation protection may, at the very least, give you some peace of mind if you have concerns.

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Gaming on the iPhone has never been better. Not only can users download retro-gaming emulators that allow them to play games from systems such as Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Game Boy, but console-quality games have also begun to arrive on the iPhone such as Death Stranding. This is why a gaming controller is essential if you want to play all of these games.

iPhone gamepads have come a long way since the first one debuted in 2013 for iPhone 5s. Logitech’s Powershell, for example, was as bulky as SEGA’s Game Gear handheld from the mid-90s, complete with a terrible DPAD. Fast forward to 2024 and we’ve got a bunch of controllers we can use with our iPhones — both wired and wireless via Bluetooth.

Out of them all, two stand out. The first is the Backbone One USB-C controller, which is a cross between a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and an Xbox controller. The second is Razer’s Kishi Ultra. This features Razer RGB Chroma, the company’s customizable lighting effects that feature on the controller, and an extra USB-C port so you can use it with your Mac. The Kishi Ultra can also extend to fit between an iPad mini, meaning you can play your games on the tablet’s 8.3-inch display with the controller whenever you want.

With this in mind, we’ve put them head-to-head to see which one wins out on top.

Backbone One vs. Razer Kishi Ultra: Specifications

The differences between the two controllers are small but significant. Here's a quick look at the disparities.

Backbone One vs. Razer Kishi Ultra: Design

Backbone and Razer’s controllers both follow a similar design in that they both slide out to accommodate the different sizes of iPhone models currently available. One big difference, however, is that Razer’s Kishi Ultra is wide enough to fit an iPad mini, meaning you’ll be able to play your Apple Arcade games, emulator apps, and more on the tablet’s 8.3-inch display.

Both controllers feature buttons that reflect the controllers that the Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation consoles offer. Backbone One uses the same button layout as a PlayStation controller, while the Razer Kishi Ultra uses an Xbox layout.

There are also capture buttons that can record screenshots and movies of games you’ll be playing with these controllers, meaning you can share the captured media with social networks and friends on the messaging apps you use on your iPhone.

One other similar feature of the two is the headphone jack. This is a great addition if you’ve got some wired headphones lying around and you want to be completely immersed when playing a game. Crucially, it also means you can use wired headphones and charge your device at the same time. 

One big difference between the two is the lack of RGB on the Backbone. This has been a big USP of Razer’s products for years, where different lights will be splashed across mice, keyboards, and more. On PC through Razer’s Chroma app, you can customize the lights to change and flicker however you want. For the Kishi Ultra, two RGB lights feature on each grip, and can be customized through the Razer Game Launcher app, explained in the ‘Apps’ section.

Backbone One vs. Razer Kishi Ultra: Feel

A big factor for a gamepad is how it feels when playing a game, which Razer’s Kishi Ultra delivers, thanks to its bulky design. It’s perfect for playing fighting games and certainly passes the ‘Hadouken’ move test from Ryu in Street Fighter IV CE.

All of the buttons feel clicky, with enough travel that makes every punch and kick feel so satisfying. The DPAD is also a winner, easily rivaling those found on the Xbox and PlayStation controllers. In addition, the triggers have enough depth when pressed, feeling as good as the classic Dual Shock 2 controller that came packaged with Sony’s classic console, the PlayStation 2.

Using an iPhone 15 Pro Max with Razer Kishi Ultra, it feels like I’m playing a PS Vita 2. Instead of a 5-inch OLED, I’ve got a 6.7-inch OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion.

When it comes to Backbone, the gamepad is thinner, which makes it feel more like the Joy-Cons from the Nintendo Switch. The grip of this gamepad is fine but not as good as the Razer Kishi Ultra, because it’s not thick enough, so you have to take some breaks to avoid a lot of sweating when trying to hold the Backbone. The DPAD also isn’t as good - it feels cheap compared to the Kishi Ultra, as it has a basic design, and doesn’t offer the same dexterity as the diagonal presses aren’t there on the Backbone.

Backbone One vs. Razer Kishi Ultra: Price

The Backbone One costs $99.99 / £99.99, while the Razer Kishi Ultra is $149.99 / £149.99, which puts both controllers at the very high end of third-party controllers for iPhone. With the Kishi Ultra costing 33% more than the Backbone, we can assume this is due to the RGB lighting on the controller, as well as the need for firmware updates and maintenance of the Razer Nexus app, which is explained below. However, if you’re someone who plays games on your phone daily, you want to have something that’s got great build quality. Both of these controllers will suffice, but if you want to bring your iPad mini along for a ride, the Razer Kishi Ultra can accommodate your tablet too.

Backbone One vs. Razer Kishi Ultra: Apps

Pressing the orange button on the Backbone One launches the Backbone app. Here, you can add friends who also have a Backbone account, so you can join them in multiplayer matches. You can also capture images and videos from the games you play, and there’s also the option to share them on social networks like Instagram and X. You may think that, for $99.99 / £99.99, you’ll be able to use Backbone’s app free of charge with what it offers — but you’d be mistaken. You need to pay a $49.99 / £48.99 yearly fee to use the capture features of the controller, which is frankly ridiculous in 2024.

Razer Kishi Ultra similarly has an accompanying app — pressing the ‘Razer Nexus Launcher’ button below its right analog stick will launch the Razer Nexus app once you’ve installed it. You can customize the Chroma RGB with the app, as well as ‘bookmark’ certain games so you can launch them from one place in the app, instead of trying to find them on your iPhone’s Home Screen. Another benefit of using the Nexus app is the ability to remap the Kishi Ultra’s buttons for your games. This can be very useful for changing up the control method in certain games for comfort, accessibility, or because the developers’ control scheme that was decided upon simply wasn’t good.

Which one should you buy?

When you tally up how both gamepads perform — from the grip to the travel of buttons and triggers from the Backbone One and Razer Kishi Ultra, there’s one that wins out.

Yes, it’s the Kishi Ultra. This feels like the best of what made previous gaming controllers so good that came packed with consoles, such as the Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 2.

Its DPAD is the best we’ve tried in a handheld controller, which is as good as what was offered on SEGA’s Genesis controller from way back in 1989.

Backbone One supports a lot more devices that have a USB-C port, but its $49.99 / £48.99 yearly fee to use all the features of its app, as well as a lack of RGB and customization lets it down hard.

Satechi, the company well-known among Apple device owners for its charging and data accessories, has announced a new Qi2-compatible in-car magnetic charger designed for iPhone 15 and more.

Qi2 chargers are all magnetic and support fast wireless charging of up to 15W which means that you can expect to be able to power your iPhone quickly while on the go.

This new charger attaches to your car and is a way to keep it hands-free while using Apple Maps and other mapping apps, answering calls, and more.

Power on the go

In terms of features, this charger features a soft silicone charging puck that will protect your iPhone during use and each charger comes with a one-meter USB-C cable and a 25W charging adapter for plugging into your car's 12v port. In short, you'll get everything that you need to get started when you unbox your new wireless car charger.

Installing the Satechi charger is as simple as attaching it to your car's air vents and the phone can be rotated for landscape map use. Owners of iPhone 12 handsets and newer will be able to use the new charger and there is no limitation on size — even the massive iPhone 15 Pro Max. The charger will also of course work just fine with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models when they arrive later this year, too.

The new Satechi Qi2 Wireless Car Charger is available starting today for $59.99 direct from Satechi's website. Whether you're someone who just enjoys a road trip or you spend your working days behind the wheel, this new wireless charger could well be the device for you.

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There is a growing list of game emulators now available in the App Store after Apple changed its stance on whether or not they would be allowed in, but you're going to want a great iPhone game controller to make the most of them. And if you're playing Game Boy games, there may be few better than this homebuilt one.

The controller in question is called the Weirdboy, and it's 3D-printed and hand-assembled by one man. You can't actually buy one just yet though, and there is a waiting list available for those who want more information when it's available. But we've already seen enough to whet the appetite. Why? Because it's actually an iPhone case that transforms into a controller.

That got your attention, didn't it?

• iPhone deals: Verizon | AT&T | Mint Mobile
• Game controller deals: Amazon | Razer | Dell | Best Buy | Walmart

It's game time

You can see why we're interested in the Weirdboy in the video below because the prospect is definitely an interesting one. At first, we see an iPhone 13 Pro in a case that looks like any other. And then the transformation begins.

According to the waiting list form the iPhone 13 Pro is currently the only model supported, but work on making one for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro is underway.

The controller itself sits atop the bottom half of the iPhone and turns the on-screen buttons into digital ones that mimic those of a Game Boy for as close to an authentic experience as you're likely to find. We're told that it's designed for playing Game Boy DMG and Game Boy Color games via the Delta emulator, too.

We don't yet know how much this thing will cost if and when it ships, but its creator is asking for an idea of how much people are willing to pay during the waitlist sign-up process.

Fingers crossed that this is one case-turned-controller that we can all buy one day.

Want to to game on the go without annoying those around you?

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A good MagSafe charger for traveling is worth its weight in gold, which is why the Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger (the ButterFly from here onwards) drew my attention when it was first released. 

After several weeks and multiple trips, I’m happy to report that the TwelveSouth ButterFly is excellent and is now an indispensable part of my travel inventory. With a unique take on the design of a 2-in-1 MagSafe charger and premium build quality, read on to find out why this is my favorite iPhone accessory of the year and one of the best MagSafe chargers you can buy right now. 

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger: Price and availability

The Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 USB-C MagSafe charger can be bought for $129 or £129 from Twelve South’s website, as well as Apple.com. The fact that this charger has the Apple retail seal of approval should tell you everything you need to know about the accessory. Having only come out recently, the charger hasn’t been subject to any discounts or offers during my time testing it. Stock and availability have remained consistent too. 

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger: Design

As the name suggests, the ButterFly is a 2-in-1 MagSafe charger. That means it can be used to charge an iPhone and an Apple Watch simultaneously, harnessing the power of Apple’s magnetic charging ecosystem to deliver juice to your iPhone. Likewise, the Apple Watch can be charged using the same magnetic puck you’d find on the end of Apple’s standard Apple Watch charger. 

The ButterFly’s design is unique in two distinct ways. Firstly, it’s round, rather than square or rectangular. This makes it look a lot more premium and stylish than the average box of plastic you often find in this space. Secondly, the two charging elements are held together by way of a vegan leather strap, rather than a hinge. No bigger than an AirPods Pro case, the overall shell consists of an extremely well-made aluminum shell, replete with a subtly etched ‘12’ on the front. The magnets that power the MagSafe compatibility are also used to hold the folded parts together in a compact union, the soft leather-like strap protruding from one side. 

This is a truly unique design and a wonderful take on the 2-in-1 charger. Unfolded, each charging panel is coated with the same soft vegan leather. There’s nothing special about the iPhone side, but the Apple Watch portion features a magnetic charger on a hinge that can be opened up, propping up your Apple Watch in Nightstand mode. If you only want to charge one device, you can fold the ButterFly back on itself, and the magnets hold the pieces securely together. This, again, allows Nightstand mode for your Apple Watch but perhaps more intriguing, it can also be used to prop up your iPhone in StandBy Mode. It’s not perfect, but the two folded components serve as a rudimentary kickstand so your iPhone can rest at an angle in landscape mode. Here, the ButterFly is much more effective when applied to a smaller iPhone 15. If you have Apple’s best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you’ll need to deploy the charger with the leather strap off to one side in order to stop the weight of your iPhone from collapsing the stand. It’s not quite perfect, but as a secondary nifty feature, it's very cool. 

The design is also complemented by a rather fetching velvety travel bag with a drawstring. The bag is plenty big enough for both the charger and the included USB-C cable, which sports a lovely braided design. 

My only concern about the design is the durability of the vegan leather strap that holds the two panels together, but we’ve not had this long enough to test its long-term durability. After several weeks, however, I have no complaints.

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger: Features and performance

As you might expect, the features of a simple MagSafe charging unit are limited, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. The ButterFly MagSafe charger can charge any iPhone from the iPhone 12 onwards (in any size), delivering 15W of power. That’s faster than standard Qi wireless charging, but not as fast as plugging your iPhone in. It can also be used to charge Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods 2 with wireless charging case, again all at 15W. On the other side, the Apple Watch fast charger delivers 5W of power and is compatible with any Apple Watch model from the original right up to the Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Apple Watch panel can also be used to charge AirPods Pro 2, so you’re not limited to the combination of iPhone and Apple Watch. 

The cable you get in the bag is a plentiful 1 meter long. Handily, the ButterFly also ships with a substantial 30W USB-C power adapter with four different plugs: U.S., UK, EU, and AU. That means that this is not just a charger, but a handy travel adapter all-in-one. Charging performance from both panels is very much as expected, with no overheating to speak of. 

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger: Competition

As noted the ButterFly’s design makes it very unique, but it’s not the only device in the sector serving a 2-in-1 charging purpose. Naturally, Apple’s own MagSafe Duo charger is an alternative. However, it’s just as expensive and not as stylish. It also doesn’t come with the requisite charger included, so the ButterFly is much better value all-round. From our pick of best portable travel Apple Watch chargers, there’s also the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station. This is a 3-in-1 foldable charger with a clever design, and of course, boasts an extra charging station over the ButterFly. Likewise, the Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe offers broadly the same functionality as the Anker, plus a nifty carrying case. Finally, Ampere’s Unravel travel charger offers 3-in-1 charging and a unique folding design. While capable, all of these chargers fall short of the ButterFly’s premium aluminum finish and stylish leather coating. The ButterFly is the pick for form over functionality, but users who want a more practical solution, or simply want to charge more devices, may be better served elsewhere. 

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger: Should you buy it?

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger: Verdict

So there you have it. The Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger is a nearly-perfect travel charger that’s incredibly stylish and functional. It has become an absolute necessity for all of our trips.  When you’re not on the road, it would even serve as a functional nightstand charger too. Color me very, very impressed.

Rode, a company known for its many microphone options and the cornerstone of many a podcast company, has announced two new products that are designed to help creators take the show on the road while leveraging the power of their iPhones.

The two products, dubbed the Magnetic Mount and Phone Cage, were announced at the NAB 2024 event and are both available for preorder today. They both also take advantage of the iPhone's MagSafe technology to wirelessly and magnetically attach to the back of the iPhone 12 or newer, including the latest iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro lineups.

Both of the new accessories are set to ship on April 24 and are designed to offer different things, whether that's a way for pro filmmakers to get their work done or for TikTokers to have an easy way to mount lights and microphones to a stand.

Magnetic Mount

Starting with the Magnetic Mount, buyers will pay $90 and preorders are available from B&H Photo right now. For that money, you can expect a magnetic attachment that  "features an ultra-strong magnet for complete security, even with vigorous use, and comes with three removable attachments for maximum flexibility." That flexibility "includes both short and long cold shoe arms for shooting in landscape or portrait mode, plus a long arm for mounting your smartphone onto a tripod, handle or desktop arm for use in a wide range of video or content creation applications."

This all means that creators can attach microphones, lights, and other accessories to their iPhone via the aluminum construction. The 1/4-inch thread should ensure compatibility with all good tripods, handles, and desktop arms as well.

Phone Cage

The phone cage is a different beast and is designed to "transform your iPhone into a pro filmmaking rig," Rode's website says. It'll do that for $120 when it goes on sale, but again preorders are already open.

Described as a premium magnetic mobile filmmaking cage, this accessory definitely sounds like it has what creators are likely to need. "Featuring an ultra-secure mounting system for attaching a MagSafe iPhone or other smartphone with a MagSafe-compatible case, cable management slots, five cold shoe mounts for attaching microphones and lights, and a wide array of 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch threads for use with tripods, handles and other accessories, it is the perfect solution for elevating your smartphone content," the Rode blurb explains.

Designed to work in both portrait and landscape orientation, there should be more than enough flexibility for those who need to get the job done using an iPhone.

The iPhone has long been the go-to for creators who want to capture great quality video and audio while on the move, but adding accessories like lights, microphones, and more really can take the production value up a notch. Accessories like those announced by Rode definitely work towards doing just that, and the pricing seems reasonable if you've made a career out of using Apple's best iPhones to capture footage away from a studio.

Remember that neither of these products will be ready to go until the end of April but you can preorder yours today if you absolutely must have these accessories as soon as they become available. B&H Photo is Rode's retail partner in the US, but other online stores are available in other countries, too.

More from iMore

• iPhone Photography Week: Tons of tips, guides and photo editing expertise for iPhone owners
• iPhone 15 Pro Max vs a DSLR camera: iPhone Photography Week showdown
• iPhone Photography Basics: How to compose better images

AirTags managed to help a local community in Ireland by tracking six stolen hanging plant baskets to a local address, which led to an arrest in January.

As reported by The Irish Mirror, Police Sergeant Pat Lyons told Judge Mary Dorgan that a number of baskets had been previously stolen, so AirTags had been placed into some new ones. Then, between May 29 and May 31 2023, these six hanging baskets and flowers, with a total value of €180/$195, were also stolen from Inch, a small village in County Cork, Ireland.

A local WhatsApp community was able to track the AirTags to an address in Carrigaline in County Cork, Ireland, which led to the arrest of a Mary O’Driscoll. A warrant was then issued to search the property, whereby the six baskets were found at her home.

O’Driscoll is now being prosecuted for possession of these hanging plant baskets. A date for the court case will be decided on May 21.

Saved by the AirTags — iMore’s take

Apple’s small disc-like trackers have been known to help — and hinder — many since debuting in 2021. For example, one individual managed to find his luggage when two airlines couldn’t, but there have also been reports of others using AirTags to stalk ex-partners, something that Apple has been trying to reduce by proposing new industry standards with Google.

I have an AirTag attached to my house keys as I always manage to misplace them. I can pinpoint the exact place of where I last left them, even if they’ve mysteriously gone off on an adventure. Being able to load up the Find My app on my iPhone to discover where they’ve ended up has always felt satisfying — and relieving — especially when the app flashes ‘Here!’ in its bright green font.

It’s no surprise then, that local communities, like those in Ireland, are using AirTags to help solve crimes that almost rival famous TV detectives such as Columbo and Monk. These trackers can be incredibly useful when used with good intentions, and it’s cases like these that only prove that further.

More from iMore

• What is AirTag stalking and do you need to be worried about it?
• Best AirTag wallets in 2024
• How to find an AirTag with your iPhone

The GameSir X2s is not a controller I will be using very much. It is something my partner will dig out when they want to play Resident Evil Village on my iPhone 15 Pro Max but there are so many other options out there I’d prefer. 

It is, however, a controller I think is very good and I would recommend it. With the GameSir X2s, I’ve been met with a device that, despite some flaws, feels perfect for the right type of person. 

GameSir X2s: Price and availability

The GameSir X2s is currently available for $45.99 at Amazon and the GameSir website. The stock has been consistent since I have been monitoring it, which means you can get it as early as tomorrow with Amazon Prime. 

The GameSir X2s is currently only available in a single color scheme and hasn’t seen any price reductions since its launch. 

GameSir X2s: What’s good?

iPhone gaming controllers sometimes lack a clear identity in regards to their color and layout. Many of the cheaper controllers just try to look like something you are familiar with. The GameSir X2s doesn’t try to just fit in and thrives because of it. A grouping of mostly greys and purples, it feels very similar to an old SNES controller. The bulk of the controller is a light grey, with the accents being a darker grey and light purple. The back of the controller is mostly that same purple and appears to wrap around from the triggers to the base. It looks very stylish and retro. 

The USB-C connector housed in the center of the controller has an adjustable angle so you can push it up, connect your iPhone to it, and then clip the iPhone into the grip. It all works really well and I’d be surprised if more companies don’t implement a similar mechanism in future iPhone controllers. 

Once everything is strapped in, the GameSir X2s is very nice to use, thanks to clicky buttons, the ability to swap from Xbox to Nintendo button layouts with a quick button shortcut, and extra controls like a built-in screenshot button. Hall effect sticks mean that the controller will never get stick drift and an optional hair trigger mode means that you can fire instantly, rather than having to press the trigger down to a certain threshold. In the recently launched Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, these triggers feel super smooth and a textured grip on the sides of the controller makes it easier to reposition my body while playing. 

Pass-through charging down the bottom left of the controller means never having to run out of battery as you play and it requires no fine-tuning to get Genshin Impact, Resident Evil Village, and all the best iPhone games running. 

GameSir X2s: What’s not so good?

Being both a good and bad thing, the GameSir X2s is a very small controller — not only in dimensions but also in its thumbsticks and buttons. The controller’s triggers feel comparatively huge and my large hands don’t quite feel right around it. However, my partner, who has much smaller hands, loves the feel and look of the controller so it seems like a good choice for someone who finds other controllers a little too big. 

Though the GameSir X2s having passthrough charging is great, the lack of an aux port makes it not quite as versatile as I would have liked. As well as this, the USB-C connector is so small that it does not work with any of the 15 or so iPhone 15 Pro Max cases I have in my house — meaning I have to take my case off anytime I want to play a game. 

GameSir X2s: Competition

The Gamesir X2s has a lot of competition. Though it tends to go for around double the price, the BackBone One 2 is perhaps the best game controller for iPhone out there and manages to beat the GameSir X2s with aux support and the ability to use it with a case. However, if these aren’t too big of a deal for you, the GameSir X2s is an excellent alternative that is a good bit cheaper. 

For $35 more, you could pick up the GameSir G8 Galielio, which is a bigger controller with almost all of the benefits of the X2s. It also has a great aesthetic. Part of what makes the X2s feel special is how it fits into the market. There aren’t really many options that offer the same features at the same price point. You can find some controllers I’d prefer for more money but nothing quite like it at just $45.99.

GameSir X2s: Should you buy it?

GameSir X2s: Verdict

The Gamesir X2s is a great iPhone controller that feels perfect for smaller hands. It does lose out in a lack of case compatibility and no aux jack but makes up for it with excellent sticks, triggers, and a fantastic aesthetic. 

The best flash drives for backing up your iPhone come in all shapes and storage sizes. Instead of using cloud storage like Apple's own iCloud service or Google Drive, having a real-world accessory that stores all your sentimental media can give you extra peace of mind.

Since iOS 13 arrived in 2019, all of the best iPhones compatible with that software update have been able to accept external storage devices. This means that those spare USB-C pen drives you may have hidden in your drawers at work can now work with your device.

With the arrival of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023, the Lightning Port was replaced with USB-C. This meant that any storage device with a USB-C cable could now be plugged in without using an adapter.

With this in mind, we've picked a few and listed them below to see which one may suit your needs best.

Best flash drives to back up your iPhone

• Back to the top ^

Find the best flash drive for your iPhone

While some users might still prefer to rely solely on iCloud, there's never any harm in also using physical storage such as a flash drive with your iPhone to keep its files safely backed up. You could always AirDrop files to your Mac once you run out of space, but sometimes AirDrop has a tough time with bigger files or many files at once. Similarly, you could use one of the best cloud storage apps to store your files off the device, but that can take a while depending on internet speeds, and usually requires an ongoing subscription cost to keep the service ticking. 

For a physical solution, we're fans of the SanDisk 256GB Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C because of its fair price, and compact, colorful design.

If you need to multitask with many types of device, or have a ton of data to back up, we'd suggest the PioData iXFlash series. With a Lightning port on one end and a USB-C connection on the other, you'll easily be able to move entire generations of iPhone back-up files from older devices to another — capacities of 1TB mean only the very, very largest iPhones can't be backed up in full. It's a great — if pricey — option.

If you're worried about longevity -- don't be. Reports suggest that the average flash drive for an iPhone can last from 10,000 to 100,000 write cycles. That means you won't have to worry about replacing it for a while to come.

When it comes to choosing the best iPhone controller for your mobile gaming needs it's difficult to look too far beyond the Backbone One. The original model was already one of our favorite mobile gaming controllers but the updated 2nd-gen model, complete with support for USB-C, made for an even better experience. Now, Backbone has announced that it's also brought that same 2nd-gen upgrade to older iPhones that still use a Lightning connector.

The new controllers dubbed the Backbone One - Lightning (2nd Gen) and Backbone One - PlayStation™ Edition - Lightning (2nd Gen), might sound like they came out of the same marketing meeting that gave us the terribly named "AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C)" but we'll let Backbone off here. But only because the controllers are so darned good.

The updated model brings with it some notable improvements for those who already have the original and have yet to upgrade to an iPhone 15 and the USB-C version, while there's also a handle deal for those who are buying a new controller for their old iPhone — they'll get 30% off if they're a Backbone Plus member and they won't even have to send their old controller back.

Game on

Backbone's announcement means that Lightning-powered iPhone owners can still benefit from the new magnetic adapters that allow for a better fit for popular iPhone cases as well as a more ergonomic design than the older controller. Backbone promises enhanced iPhone stability as well as a reshaped D-pad as well, all things that are sure to be popular among those who have the older controller and found it to be a little .... wobbly at times.

Buyers of the new controller will also get three months of Apple Arcade to sweeten the deal, making this quite the bargain when you think about it. The new model is available for $99.99 (minutes that discount if applicable) and you can of course choose between the black and PlayStation-themed model, too. Remember that the Lightning version works with the iPhone 6s all the way through the iPhone 14 range but you'll need the USB-C variant if you're using Apple's latest models.

More from iMore

• Backbone One review: The controller that Apple should have made
• Backbone One USB-C (2nd gen) review: A triumphant second attempt
• Check out this gorgeous Death Stranding limited edition Backbone One

The iPhone is a pretty great way to play games, especially if you own one of the iPhone 15 Pro models with its A17 Pro chip. But the truth is that you're probably going to want an iPhone game controller to get the best experience, and there is no shortage of options in that regard. Unfortunately, most of the best options have prices to match their capabilities but there's one new entry that might just prove you don't have to spend a lot to get a great controller.

That entry is the new GameSir X2s, a game controller that's compatible with both Android and iOS handsets so long as they have a USB-C port. That of course means the iPhone 15 models are good to go, but you're unfortunately out of luck if you're gaming on something a little older. On the positive side, this controller will likely work well beyond the iPhone 15 thanks to a movable USB-C connector that should stand the test of time no matter how much Apple wiggles that port around.

There are tons more features to dive into but potentially the best news here is the price. The GameSir X2s retails for just $45.99, a price that is considerably lower than some of the controllers produced by the competition.

Game on

With the price out of the way, the other thing that immediately jumps out is the purple and white aesthetic that immediately reminds us of Nintendo consoles of yesteryear. But this thing has features that make it an even better option beyond those stunning looks and an incredible price.

The USB-C connection is obviously key here, while there's also a USB-C passthrough so that you can charge your iPhone as you game. And because you're plugged in rather than using Bluetooth you won't have to contend with any latency, either.

The notable features continue to the sticks which are of the Hall Effect variety. "Precision and durability are the hallmarks of the X2s Type-C's Hall Tech features," GameSir's press release explains. "The Hall Effect sensing sticks provide 360° seamless pinpoint control, offering the precision and durability demanded by mobile gamers." The release continues, adding that "anti-friction glide rings ensure super-smooth stick control, minimizing stick grinding and extending usage time."
There are also precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers with what GameSir says will be "unparalleled smoothness and responsiveness. For FPS and action gamers, a quick switch to Hair Trigger Mode is just a button combination away."

A Turbo function offers faster firing without latency, while other features include a microswitch design of the LB and RB buttons that price "an e-sport mechanical feel."

That's all pretty great and the Hall Effect triggers and sticks are undoubtedly well worth paying attention to here, but really we were sold when we saw how much this controller makes our iPhone look like a Nintendo DS.

One word of note for future iPhones that might be of interest — GameSir says that its new controller works just fine with foldable Android phones, including those like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold. So, should Apple finally get around to launching a foldable iPhone, your game controller will probably work with it as well

You can order your new GameSir X2s game controller from Amazon for $45.99 starting right now.

More from iMore

• How to add a game controller to your Apple TV
• Best Game Controllers for iPhone
• All Apple Arcade games with controller support

NOMAD is known for its upscale, elegant accessories. The latest in the NOMAD family of chargers is the Stand One Max, which allows you to charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods (with wireless charging case) simultaneously. It's a great-looking stand that streamlines the look of your nightstand or desk.

NOMAD Stand One Max: Price and Availability

That glass and metal design doesn't come cheap, it retails on NOMAD's site for $180. That price includes the charging cable but does not include the 30W wall charger you'll need to go with it. NOMAD sells the wall charger separately for $30, but you can use your own if you have one handy. The Stand One Max is currently available only on NOMAD's site, but other sites like Best Buy and Amazon often sell NOMAD products so it may appear there at some point. The price point makes this quite an expensive option for a 3-in-1 charger, especially since the wall charger isn't included.

NOMAD Stand One Max: Specs and features

The Stand One Max offers MFi MagSafe charging for iPhone up to 15W, Apple Watch Fast Charging, and Qi charging for AirPods. All of these work fine, both separately and together. However, with all three devices charging, my iPhone 15 Pro Max didn't charge up very fast at all. In fact, it barely charged half as quickly as the official MagSafe charger from Apple. This doesn't bother me, since I'm charging overnight, but it's worth noting if you're looking for a fast charge. The other two devices charged a lot faster, even with all three devices charging at once.

You can use both Nightstand Mode with your Apple Watch and Standby Mode with your iPhone. But the biggest flaw of the Stand One Max is that if you do use StandBy (charging your iPhone horizontally) mode, your Apple Watch won't fit on the charger! This is a strange oversight, which I'm guessing is because the charger was designed before StandBy was announced.

NOMAD Stand One Max: Build and looks

Constructed from solid metal and glass, the Stand One Max looks elegant and feels quite substantial and expensive. It's something you'll be proud to showcase in your home or office; it has gravitas. A durable braided two-meter USB-C to USB-C cable is included, but the 30W wall charger you'll need is not. While you could carry it from room to room in your home, of course, it's not practical for throwing it in a bag and taking it on the go. It has a fairly small footprint but it's heavy. In my home, it "lives" on my nightstand, and I have a different charger I use in my go bag. 

NOMAD Stand One Max: Competition

There is a great deal of competition out there in the 3-in-1 charger space, including Belkin's BoostCharge Pro MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand. It's slightly less expensive, yet it allows StandBy at the same time you charge the Apple Watch and AirPods. And it comes with the wall charger.

There are also cheaper, portable models out there that work great, like the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe and the Alogic Matrix Ultimate charging stand. They both fold down for stowing in a bag, charge all three devices, and come with a cable and wall charger. They do let you use StandBy while charging the Apple Watch, but not Nightstand Mode, due to the angle of the watch charging puck.

Still, the NOMAD charger is the best-looking of the bunch, in my opinion. It’s still worth your consideration.

NOMAD Stand One Max: Should you buy it?

NOMAD Stand One Max: Verdict

No, the NOMAD Stand One Max doesn't charge up the iPhone very fast while it charges the other two devices, and no, you can't use horizontal StandBy mode at the same time as you charge your Apple Watch. And it's pricey. Yet, this is still a fantastic charger that has earned a lasting spot on my nightstand. It's gorgeously designed, feels heavy and high-quality to the touch, and it doesn't take up an inordinate amount of room on my nightstand. 

I don't use StandBy at night, and I don't need my iPhone to charge quickly at night either. There's always a trade-off, and fast-charging can generate heat that damages the long-term health of your iPhone's battery. I have not noticed the Stand One Max heating up at all. If you're in the market for a high-end triple charger, this is one to consider.

The iPhone is already a pretty great note-taking device with tons of apps and services available. The built-in Notes app has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years as well, with reliable iCloud syncing making it the default option for people all around the world. Those who want to take handwritten notes can of course use the iPad and an Apple Pencil or similar stylus, while that option also makes it easier than ever to draw and doodle on those notes.

Another note-taking option is to write on paper and then scan it using an iPhone or iPad. That's an option available in the Notes app as well as countless others that are available for download from the App Store. But it can be a fiddly affair and most suited to those with the best iPhones with the best cameras. What if there was a different solution that allowed people to enjoy the best of both worlds?

Turns out, there is. It's called XNote and it's available via a Kickstarter campaign today. A combination of an iPhone app and a smart pen that can write on normal paper, the system can convert handwritten notes into on-screen text if needed, and it tracks pen strokes in real-time as well. But the ability to get notes into an app isn't the whole story. Where XNotes takes things to a new level is its ChatGPT support which allows the app to offer information and answers based on what is written, something that has the potential to change the way people take notes. And you can't do that with a normal notebook.

Smarter writing

So how does XNote work? The system has three components beginning with the pen, but that's just the start. The XNote Indiegogo page explains that the notebook itself is part of the equation which means that you can't use any notebook you choose. This one "has special dots on the pages that let the pen know where it is," while the app is where all of the notes are saved and interacted with.

Once those notes are inside the XNote app the ChatGPT portion of the system comes into effect. Users can ask a variety of questions or issue commands including:

• Pull up the action points from today's team meeting.
• Where did I jot down that book recommendation?
• Create a short quiz based on last week's lecture notes.
• How much sugar do I add based on mom's pie recipe?
• Remind me of the key points from the team meeting last month.
• List all my book recommendations from summer.

"No need to sift through pages or set manual reminders. With XNote’s Smart Task Detection, your to-dos stand out. Just jot down a task, and let XNote handle the rest," the blurb explains. "Whether you scribble 'Homework due next week' or note a 'Meeting with Chris tomorrow at 8 am', our cutting-edge AI instantly recognizes and sets reminders for you. Your notes transform into proactive planners, ensuring you never miss a beat. Stay ahead effortlessly with XNote, where your tasks jump off the page and into your day."

That all sounds very impressive, but it won't run cheap. The XNote Early Bird price costs $199 and to get the best out of the whole thing you'll also need an XNote subscription — although those who back the project can pay an additional $59 for a lifetime membership.

More from iMore

• How to use Notes on Mac
• Notes app for iPhone and iPad: The ultimate guide
• How to add home notes in the Home app

The OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe is a 10,000mAh power bank that folds flat, so you can charge your best iPhone and Apple Watch on the go when you don't have a place to plug in. It unfolds into different positions, so you can take advantage of either Standby or Nightstand Mode.

OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe: Price and availability

OtterBox's 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe is MFi approved (15W) and comes in just one color: white. It's currently available just on OtterBox's website and retails for $150, though OtterBox often runs 20% off sales, making it $120. According to OtterBox, it's also sold on Apple's website, but as of this writing, I didn't see it there. The price puts it in line with the higher-end chargers, so it's not what I'd consider to be a great value. The price includes a 1.6-foot (0.5-meter) USB-C to USB-C cable, but it doesn't include the wall charger. I used it with a 30W charger, which OtterBox sells separately for about $30.

OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe: Specs and features

The power bank charges the iPhone at up to 15W and accommodates fast charging for the Apple Watch. What makes the OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank stand out is the folding design. Not only does it fold flat for travel, but it can be used in different ways. Open it up all the way, and pull out the Apple Watch charger: this lets you charge your iPhone upright, either vertically or horizontally (which takes advantage of StandBy.) Or, keep it folded flat and pull up the Apple Watch charger; this lets you use Nightstand Mode while your iPhone charges pad style. Note that the Apple Watch is suspended in the air a bit in this configuration, not resting on anything. That's fine, it feels secure because the magnets are strong, but the weight of the band does can make the watch slant a bit so it doesn't look as neat as it does in OtterBox's photos.

The dual direction USB-C port in the back charges the power bank, but also allows you to charge other devices besides your iPhone and Apple Watch on the go. Four LED lights on the back indicate how much power is left in the power bank. You must remember to press the power button when using the power bank without the charging cable to begin charging your devices.

The MagSafe magnet array is strong and works great even with a MagSafe-compatible case on your iPhone. A short (1.6-foot/0.5-meter) USB-C to USB-C charging cable is included but not the wall charger.

OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe: Build and looks

The OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank is nice enough looking, it's certainly something you can keep out on your desk or nightstand, as long as you're happy with white, which is the only color option. It feels good in the hand and has a pleasant aesthetic.

The base is weighted, which is a double-edged sword. It does make the charger feel like higher quality, and makes it easier to take your devices on and off one-handed without worrying about it falling over. However, it also makes it less desirable for travel, as it adds extra weight to your luggage.

OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe: Competition

There are other portable multi-device travel-friendly chargers out there that also charge your AirPods in addition to your iPhone and Apple Watch. The Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe is one to consider, particularly if you have AirPods (with a wireless charging case) as well. It's similarly priced with a smaller footprint and clever design. If you don't need a wireless option but you want something lighter and more portable, you'll want to check out the mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe. It folds up neatly into its own carrying case and has a similar price point.

You'll also want to consider the Alogic Matrix Ultimate charging stand, which has a modular design for ultimate flexibility at home and on the go. It's slightly more expensive than the OtterBox, but it may offer a more complete solution for your needs.

OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe: Should you buy it?

OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe: Verdict

The OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe is worth your consideration. With 10,000mAh of charging power, you'll get a good deal of juice for your iPhone, Apple Watch, and other devices. While this robust charger is portable, it's pretty heavy. So if you're looking for the lightest possible charging solution, this isn't it.  

What makes this power bank unique is all the ways that you can configure it. Use it with a power cable or without. Charge your iPhone on the MagSafe ring flat or upright, at any angle, vertically or horizontally (which allows you to use StandBy.) Charge your Apple Watch flat or upright, which allows you to use Nightstand Mode. Note that either the iPhone or the Apple Watch have to be flat, so you can't use StandBy and Nightstand Mode simultaneously (not that you'd probably need to.) Additionally, the two-way USB-C port lets you both charge up the power bank and use the power bank to charge another device via the cable.

When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max back in September of last year gaming was a key focus. Apple's best iPhones both feature the A17 Pro, a chip that is capable of console-like gaming experiences the likes of which we had previously not seen on a smartphone. Since then we've seen the release of Resident Evil Village and the remade Resident Evil 4 into the App Store, but there's an even bigger release on the horizon.

That release is of course Death Stranding Director's Cut, a game that will up the ante for mobile gaming. But to play it at its best you're going to need a controller. There are tons of iPhone game controllers to choose from and the Backbone One is one of our favorites. Now, Backbone has announced a limited edition version of that controller to celebrate the arrival of Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding and it might just be the best-looking controller to date.

Not only is Backbone offering its new Backbone ONe Death Stranding Limited Edition controller but it's also throwing in a free copy of the game as well, saving you up to $40 and giving you the chance to play the title on the newest iPhones and the iPad and Mac. The new controller is available for order starting today, and it's the version to buy if you've been on the fence about picking one up.

Game on

Backbone announced its new controller in a press release sent to iMore and a larger blog post offering all of the details you could ever want to know.

"This collaboration commemorates the release of DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT for iOS," the announcement explains. "The Backbone One controller features custom product and packaging designs that blend the innovative design of the Backbone One with the artistic vision of Hideo Kojima and his award-winning title, DEATH STRANDING."

The controller itself is functionally identical to the Backbone One that's already on sale including the USB-C port that is required for use with the iPhone 15 Pro models. It features a semi-transparent yellow case with Backbone confirming that a limited number will be sold globally.

"All Backbone One USB-C 2nd Gen controllers include magnetic adapters, which allow for even better phone fit and support for a large assortment of phone cases," Backbone's description of the controller details. "The reshaped D-pad enhances responsiveness, resulting in superior feel and control across all gameplay genres. When combined with the Backbone app – which puts all of gaming in one place – it’s our most accessible gaming experience ever."

As for pricing, the new controller sells for $124.99 and is available for order directly from Backbone's website. You'll get a free game code that will unlock the Death Stranding Director's Cut game via the Backbone app but make sure to redeem it — Backbone says that it must be redeemed by February 29, perhaps hinting that it expects to sell through its controllers long before that date.

Already have a controller? You can preorder Death Stranding Director's Cut in the App Store for $19.99 with the price increasing to $39.99 at an unspecified date in the future. It's important to remember that gets you the game on three different platforms too. You'll need plenty of space, however, with an initial 13GB download required before an additional 50GB download is initiated, publisher 505 Games has confirmed.

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When I go away on holiday, I take with me a collection of different things to keep my iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods topped up with juice. There’s the portable battery bank that I leave in my bag, and then a selection of different cables, plugs, and other assorted charging detritus that I plug into every single outlet I can find in my hotel room. It’s a lot.

It would, of course, make loads more sense for me to have a device that does it all in one so that I don’t have to lug three hundred different devices around when I’m away from home. The Matrix Ultimate from Alogic Might just be the answer to my prayers

It’s a stand, an iPhone MagSafe Charger, an Apple Watch charger, an AirPods charger, and a portable battery bank all in one, and it looks like it just brought all my stuff together. But is it any good?

Alogic Matrix Ultimate: Price and availability

The Alogic Matrix Ultimate can be found at the Alogic online store and will become available on Amazon and other retailers soon. It costs $169/£129, so it’s not the cheapest, but the feature list more than makes up for the slightly higher price.

Alogic Matrix Ultimate: Build and style

The Matrix, unlike many of its contemporaries, comes with a carrying case straight out of the box. It’s a lovely, felted affair, and has compartments inside for the stand itself, the power cable, and the power brick. Before you even look at the build quality of the device, the carrying case is enough to make you less hesitant to slip it into your backpack.

Once out of the case, the Matrix Ultimate is a weighty, well-built thing. The hinge that lets it unfold into its stand configuration is smooth, metal, and heavy-duty. The battery bank that sits in the cradle with the MagSafe puck on it is compact and hefty, and the hinge for the Apple Watch charger clicks into place in both folded and unfolded positions.

It’s heavy enough to move about while you stack your devices on it, and looks good while it does so. I just wish it came in more than just the white color option — while the case will protect it in my bag, I can foresee some discoloration in my unit's future.

Alogic Matrix Ultimate: Features

This is where the Matrix Ultimate really comes into its own. First off is all the charging pads on the device when it’s fully stacked up. There’s an AirPods wireless charging base at the back, a fold-out Apple Watch charger, and then the main MagSafe charging point at the front. They all work well, with charging initiating the moment you plonk your device down.

It’s in this form that you’ll mostly use the charging stand, placing it on a hotel nightstand or bedside table. In the morning, when your devices are all charged up, you can slot the MagSafe charger out of the base for a portable MagSafe charger with 5000Mah of battery juice that you can use to keep your phone topped up through the day. 

That’s not the biggest portable battery, but it’s a wickedly small thing that doesn’t take up too much space in your backpack. There’s a USB-C port on the bottom of it as well, so you can plug in another device that needs charging. The puck itself is 15W, so you’ll be waiting for around 3-4 hours for a full charge — although that’s a limitation of the standard, rather than of the charger.

The Apple Watch puck on the stand is also removable, and you can plug that into the bottom of the battery bank and charge your Apple Watch on the go as well. Don’t have a power port where you’re staying? The battery in the portable pack will power the whole device.

That battery will last you around two charges of your iPhone 15, or roughly one and a half if you charge your Apple Watch battery with it as well. That’s plenty for a one-night stay without a power outlet.

Alogic Matrix Ultimate: Competition

There are loads of MagSafe docks out there that you can buy — the Anker Cube being our favorite. It’s small and easily ported about when you’re off on a business trip, or on holiday. It lacks the battery of the Matrix Ultimate, however, so you’ll still need one of those in your bag.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro is similarly lacking a battery bank, and is most definitely not portable by any stretch of the imagination — and while it’s a good-looking thing, it costs around the same as the Matrix Ultimate.

If you want a charging stand that doubles as a portable charger, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything like the Alogic Matrix Ultimate.

Alogic Matrix Ultimate: Should you buy one?

Alogic Matrix Ultimate: Verdict

There’s not much like the Alogic Matrix Ultimate. A solid charging stand that takes up little space in a bag with a built-in, super compact rechargeable battery pack. It looks good, charges well, and slips into a bag or suitcase with no issues for a clean traveling companion.

It’s all the extra little features that make it well worth the price, however. The Apple Watch puck that can be moved from the cradle to the portable battery pack, the diminutive size of the portable battery and the looks of the device all tell you that a great deal of thought has gone into the device. It might make a little sacrifice in its battery capacity, but it's a very solid portable dock that gives a little extra. 

Ugreen’s latest storage solution allows for 8K media playback, up to 184TB capacity, comes loaded with an Intel CPU, and has app integration for easy access. It’s a behemoth that you won’t be able to fill up for a long time

Unveiled at CES 2024, the Ugreen NASync NAS (Network Attached Storage) was made in collaboration with Intel, which has provided its 12th generation Intel Core i5 for better multitasking, processing, and smooth media playback. It comes with both expandable storage and expandable memory, capable of upgrading up to 184TB and 32GB respectively. 

For quick file sharing, the NASync has two USB-Cs and one USB 3.2. It also has an ethernet port for connecting to the internet and a HDMI and audio jack for media playback. This is capable of running at 8K in the more expensive models. 

You can sign up for the Kickstarter right now, which is expected to go live in mid-March. We don’t yet have a release but it will likely launch this year and the price point has not been announced just yet for any of the 6 variations available. 

Some smart software — iMore’s take

Though the hardware is the star of the show, the NASync also has some great software like ‘financial-grade data security’, an app for remote access, and a smart assistant, which should make going through and sorting files a lot easier. 

As someone who can get a little lost with just 6TB of storage, the idea of being able to sort things out from my iPhone, without having to sit at a desk and plan it out, is very enticing. As well as this, the ability to run 8K files into a TV or monitor from the app means movie nights can be sorted all from the leisure of my iPhone 15 Pro Max. Though the max storage potential on the NASync will likely be a good bit too much for a casual consumer, its lower thresholds will likely be an excellent investment for many. 

We should know more about Ugreen’s latest when the Kickstarter goes live in a few short months. 

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When Apple finally added support for wireless charging with the iPhone X and iPhone 8, it also confirmed that it was working on AirPower. The wireless charging pad was supposed to be capable of wirelessly charging multiple devices at once, including an Apple Watch. That was in 2017 and things soon went quiet.

Fast forward to 2019 and the AirPower project was finally canceled after it was deemed to be too difficult to produce to Apple's specs. It wanted it to work by allowing people to place items down anywhere, and the whole thing was powered by similar chips that made iPhones work, so it was never going to be cheap. But then we got its replacement in MagSafe, a magnetic charger that shipped alongside the iPhone 12 in 2020.

But it turns out that the MagSafe that shipped is very different from the one that Apple had been working on. In fact, it had been designing the MagSafe charger alongside AirPower all along, and photos of the prototype from 2017 have now surfaced on X.

2017, the year of wireless charging

Images of the prototype MagSafe charger have been shared on X, the social network previously known as Twitter, by Apple collector @KosutamiSan. They say that the prototype was built around March 2017, noting that there are a few differences when places alongside the MagSafe wireless charger that you can walk into any Apple Store and buy today.

The most obvious difference seems to be that the prototype is thinner than the shipping model, with a change in magnet arrangement also pointed to by the prototype collector.

Interestingly, they also say that the bottom prototype shows design similarities to the bottom of the HomePod in that they both have the same material. It isn't clear why Apple chose not to use that material, but it's perhaps notable that the HomePod has been accused of leaving white rings on some kinds of woods, so it's probably for the best that Apple went in a different direction here.

Ultimately, Apple chose to go the route of the MagSafe Charger that can be found today and it's worked well. The advent of the Qi2 wireless charging standard means that MagSafe isn't quite as important to iPhone owners as it once was of course, so there will soon be more options than ever for people who want wireless charging at 15W without going the MagSafe route.

As for AirPower, it's a shame that it didn't launch because the initial 2017 demonstration looked pretty great. But it seems that Apple over-promised on a product that it could never quite get right. There were regular rumors of AirPods units getting too hot during testing, something Apple couldn't get to grips with. And a company as risk-averse as Apple was never going to risk selling a wireless charger like that.

We should never say never, however. I'd be surprised if there wasn't still an AirPower or two in Apple Park and there is always the chance that the project could be revived. For now, though, all eyes will be on CES 2024 to see what Qi2 wireless chargers are announced. We've already seen new Satechi Qi2 wireless chargers, and Belkin has some of its own, too.

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When Apple announced the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro families of devices it also confirmed that they would come with support for Qi2, a new wireless charging standard. That charging standard is based on MagSafe, so it was no surprise. But the move to Qi2 means that accessory makers don't have to license Apple's MagSafe technology to be able to offer the same features — fast wireless charging and magnetic connectivity.

That's great news for people who have been put off by the high price of MagSafe-certified wireless chargers, and with CES 2024 now very much underway accessory makers are choosing this week to unveil their new wireless charging accessories. And yes, they're Qi2 compatible for use with Apple's best iPhones. Don't worry though, they'll work with older iPhones so long as they support magnetic wireless charging — so that's the iPhone 12 and newer.

Satechi's products include two new magnetic charging stands, one designed to wirelessly charge an iPhone and a pair of AirPods, the other that does that with the addition of a space for charging an Apple Watch, too. Both of these new charging stands are set to be available in the second quarter of 2024 and they both have a party trick — they can be folded to make them the perfect travel companion, too.

3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand

The biggest and best of the three chargers is a 3-in-1 device that can charge Apple's iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods all at the same time. It'll retail for $129.99 when it does arrive and can charge an iPhone at up to 15W rather than the old 7.5W that non-MagSafe accessories were left with. The AirPods and Apple Watch can both be charged at 5W and the place where the iPhone charges is perfectly suited for both portrait and landscape orientation. Those with an Apple Watch Series 7 or newer will also benefit from fast-charging capabilities.

In a post-iOS 17 world, that's a big deal because it means that this charging stand is a great way to use StandBy, a feature that turns an iPhone into a dashboard of sorts as well as a very expensive alarm clock at bedtime. We're big fans of StandBy and the more people that use it, the better so it's great to see more chargers built with it in idea.

Travel seems to be a key aspect of Satechi's new charging stands with the company's press release noting that "the 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 Qi2 Wireless Charging Stands have a foldable design, making them small enough to tuck into a tote bag, backpack, or carry-on." It goes on to note that "to make international travel even easier, the 3-in-1 Charging Stand comes with two travel adapters for the included 45W power adapter."

2-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand

The 2-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand is of course almost identical to the three-device alternative but with the removal of somewhere to charge your Apple Watch. That of course makes this a cheaper option and the go-to stand for those who don't have an Apple Watch that needs to be powered up.

This model benefits from the same foldable design as the other stand so it's great for traveling, but Satechi's press release suggests this model doesn't come with the travel adapters that the more expensive model does.

We can expect many more Qi2 chargers and stands to be announced this week, and we'll keep our eyes peeled for the best of the rest, too.

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OtterBox has unveiled its latest case offering for the iPhone 15, made with a new material that “feels like leather but made from nopal cactus.”

The new OtterBox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather range looks to provide iPhone users with an alternative to Apple’s official FineWoven case that is “durable, cruelty-free and sustainable.”

The Cactus Leather range uses a material called Desserto made by Adriano di Marti, and is a leather-alternative made from cactus, which is exclusive to OtterBox. This material is the “world's first highly sustainable and environmentally friendly organic material made of Nopal cactus. This patented plant-based, soft touch material is used in clothing, footwear, purses and now OtterBox mobile accessories.”

Apple unveiled FineWoven accessories alongside the launch of the iPhone 15 in September last year, and the material has since come under large scrutiny due to its lack of durability which causes the FineWoven material to scratch incredibly easily. In our FineWoven review, iMore Editor-in-Chief Gerald Lynch wrote, “But the material at the heart of the FineWoven design is so prone to scratches and stains, and the USB-C cutout so narrow, that it’s simply impossible to recommend.”

The main benefit of FineWoven is the lack of animal by-products, which is part of Apple’s move to a carbon-neutral future. Now, for the eco-conscious among us, OtterBox are providing a fantastic alternative that is likely to provide the durability we expect from a case brand with such an established name.

Sustainable and durable?

Adrian Lopez Velarde, co-founder of Adriano di Marti, said, “Following an exhaustive development and engineering process, the organic content and performance stabilization of the material has been intelligently optimized to deliver the next generation in both biomaterials and sustainable efficiency,"

Marte Cazarez, co-founder, added, "We appreciate having the opportunity to collaborate with the OtterBox project team to translate the goal of achieving the most sustainable and technically advanced material into a unique designed solution."

You’ll be able to pick up an OtterBox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather case via otterbox.com soon, and we can’t wait to see how it holds up in daily life.

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At the CES trade show, currently being held in Las Vegas until January 12, accessory maker Belkin announced a line of iPhone chargers that come with the QI2 standard, offering the same charging speed as Apple’s own MagSafe accessories.

For those unaware, QI2 is a massive improvement over the previous wireless charging standard, which only gave you charging speeds of 5W. Compared to MagSafe, Apple’s wireless-charging take that charges at 15W, it was a poor alternative if you wanted to buy wireless charging accessories for your iPhone.

"So with QI2 offering the same speeds as Magsafe charging, and iPhone 13 devices and above supporting the standard on iOS 17.2 or later, it's one of the biggest improvements in wireless charging some time. Belkin has become one of the first manufacturers to pack the standard into its new accessories.

These range from a magnetic 3-in-1 stand for $149.99, to a power bank stand that comes in three capacities you can choose from — which start at $59.99. These are set to ship from March onwards.

Put my name down for the power bank stand — iMore’s take

I’ve owned a similar power bank stand for the past year, and I’ve loved it. For those unfamiliar, it’s the size of a credit card which can snap to any MagSafe-compatible iPhone, and you can put the phone in any orientation you like. If you want to watch something on YouTube, for example, you can place your iPhone on the charging stand in landscape, place the stand on a table, and enjoy the video.

I’ve spoken before about my experience of owning one, and I didn’t have a reason to replace it until I saw Belkin announce a QI2 model. In the year since owning my stand, I upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, so charging now takes longer — mostly due to the increase in battery capacity.

Having a QI2 charging stand could help reduce the amount of time it would take to recharge my 15 Pro Max. It may seem expensive at $149.99, but for the number of times it has saved me from holding up my iPhone to watch a video as I’m on the train, I think it's worth the price to upgrade.

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Do you remember the Apple Smart Battery Case? Not heard from in a few generations now, a new patent suggests it could finally be making a return with the potential of working on other devices. It seems to be bigger and better than ever before. 

Spotted in this patent originally filed on June 22, 2023, and accepted on December 28, 2023 called “Case for portable electronic devices”, it shows a case that can be put around a device, replacing the need for a portable charger. The patent is rather vague about many of its terms, likely to give Apple room to add more functions to its devices, but it seems to be designed with a bit of a modular function. 

A case can be slotted onto the iPhone, with its own battery pack, which can then be clicked into a larger frame with more functions and a better battery. In the abstract for the patent, it says,

“A case can facilitate operation with a portable electronic device and a battery device that can be connected to another, external device. To minimize the number of separate devices carried by a user, a battery device can be held within the case that also hold the portable electronic device.”

Extra devices, extra functions

The patent shows a diagram of a portable device (likely an iPhone), a case, a battery device, and an external device, then shows them all together in one bigger shell. It has a small component on the side too that could be used to power the case for charge or serve some other function, like charging other external devices. 

This means that not only could your case be used to charge your current iPhone or even iPad as the wording is fairly vague, but it could also charge other devices through some kind of tether. You could also opt to use the reverse charging present in the iPhone 15, one of the best iPhones you can get right now. As it is just a patent, this is not a declaration of intent for making the device but a sign it could be implemented in future Apple cases. 

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We had the joy of reviewing the Ugreen 100W power bank’s bigger, beefier 145W charger earlier this year, and one of our few main criticisms was its price tag. Today, Ugreen has solved our problem at almost half the price with a brand new version we can’t wait to get our hands on it. 

Just because it has a smaller charge, both in capacity and speed, doesn’t mean you’re missing out by saving the $70 difference with the $79.99 price point this new power bank launches at. With 20000mAh of charge storage, you can fully power up your iPhone 15 Pro, one of the best iPhones currently available, up to 4.5 times before it runs out. 

Fixing the overkill

The Ugreen 100W 20000mAh power bank has two USB-C slots and one USB-A slot so you can charge three different devices at once, and a small screen on the side keeps you constantly aware of how much charge you have left by displaying the percentage of the battery available.

I have been using my own unit of the Ugreen 145W charger over the last few months and rarely leave the house without it. It is definitely a little bit bulky at points and takes a while to fully charge up but it often lasts me a full week of use each time. Measuring about 3 ounces lighter than the 145W model, the new power bank is sure to be easier to use in those moments when you have to quickly grab a charging solution and get out and about. 

Approved for flights and coming with a max one-port output of 100W, you can quickly charge your devices without any safety worries. The power bank itself has over-charge protection, high-temperature protection, short-circuit protection, and a whole host of other features to keep you safe on the move. If you want something fast, sturdy, and reliable, this power bank has come at the perfect time. 

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The Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger is now available exclusively at the Apple Store for $129.95, and it’s perfect for throwing in your pocket for the holiday season.

Twelve South claims the ButterFly is the “world’s smallest 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger” and it’s hard to argue with that statement considering the tiny charger measures just 2.25 inches by .5 inches when folded — that’s only slightly bigger than the Apple Watch charging puck.

The ButterFly features “A durable aluminum shell” that “unfolds to reveal a MagSafe charger for your iPhone and a magnetic fast charger for your Apple Watch.”

The ButterFly’s smartest feature, however, is that it “morphs into a display stand that supports StandBy mode on iPhone or Nightstand mode on Apple Watch.” So you get an incredibly useful accessory the size of an AirPods Pro case, perfect for those trips away. And, if you have one of those AirPods cases, you can charge that on the ButterFly, too — it really is the ultimate tiny MagSafe charger.

StandBy on the go

StandBy mode in iOS 17 is one of the best reasons to own a MagSafe charger, making the Twelve South ButterFly a much more convenient option than Apple’s own MagSafe Duo, which can only charge your devices flat. StandBy is a perfect desk companion, showing widgets and important information on your iPhone’s display — I could see the ButterFly being used by those who work away from home but want StandBy wherever they go.

The ButterFly includes a 30W USB-C Power Adapter, four International plug adapters (US, UK, EU, AU), and a travel bag to keep it all together.

The Twelve South ButterFly is the perfect gift for the frequent flyer in your life, and we can’t wait to try it out to see if it’s one of the best MagSafe chargers on the market. Shipping from the Apple Store depends on your location, with most delivery estimates of 4-6 weeks, but online stock shows many Apple Stores across the US, with pickup available today. Given its price and unique size, this might be one of the best MagSafe chargers money can buy right now. 

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Putting a case on a brand new iPhone is always a bit of a shame — with a phone as good-looking as the new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro series, you want the world to see your shiny new toy in all its glory. But a good case can look smart in its own right, while also protecting your precious, expensive device from bumps and scratches. It’s a fair trade off, especially if you’re looking to sell your device further down the line.

But this year Apple has made a rare misstep with its official cases for the iPhone 15 family. The suede-like FineWoven case for iPhone 15 handsets, despite being initially attractive, is simply flawed — a magnet for grime, uncomfortable to hold, and overpriced given its problems.

Put simply, buy a third-party case instead. Want all the gory details? Read on.

Apple FineWoven Case: Price and Availability

The iPhone FineWoven case range for iPhone 15 (and 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max and 15 Plus) is available now and costs $59 per case. There’s a good selection of five color options available (Mulberry red, Evergreen green, a sandy Taupe, Black, and a light Pacific Blue which is pictured in this review), and there are matching card-holding FineWoven Wallets with MagSafe magnetic connections to pair them with, too.

$59 is a lot to spend on an iPhone case, but usually, the premium you pay for an official Apple-designed case comes with a sense of quality that makes it seem worthwhile. And while Apple’s environmental reasons for investing in the case material change are admirable, the resulting product leaves a lot to be desired. Your money is better spent on alternative options.

Apple FineWoven Case: What I Like

Apple’s heart is in the right place with the creation of the FineWoven range at least. Made from ‘microtwill’, it’s a far more environmentally friendly product than Apple’s previously-leather cases, now discontinued — each FineWoven case is made from 68 percent post-consumer recycled content. Moving to a more sustainable production process should be applauded.

Likewise, the color range on offer is understated and complimentary to this year’s handset designs, while the rubberized edges will offer a decent level of fall protection should you clumsily drop the case. It’s a snug fit for your phone, the magnetic MagSafe connection is powerful and secure when used with wireless chargers and the afore-mentioned wallet accessory, and I’ve no reason to question the FineWoven case’s ability to protect the iPhone 15 handsets housed within it.

But beyond that, things go downhill.

Apple FineWoven Case: What I Don't Like

I’ve never been a huge fan of fabric-style phone cases, and the FineWoven iPhone 15 case is no exception. Its suede-like finish is difficult to grip, making it feel as though it will slip from my hand, and its fabric finish retains heat and makes my palm feel clammy — as if I’ve left it in my pocket for too long on a warm day. There may be a bit of personal bias here too, but the texture just feels a bit… odd. Not unpleasant necessarily, but not anonymous either.

The last thing you want is for your hands to be mucky or sweaty too when using the FineWoven case, as it will retain stains that are difficult to remove. Like any fabric, oils, liquids and general dirt will leave marks on the microtwill used here, and cleaning them off can be very difficult. Compare that to a wipe clean plastic case (or even a leather case, which is easy to wipe off), and the FineWoven material quickly looks grimy. You wouldn’t want to be eating a burger and have to quickly grab the phone for a call.

It’s also very easy to scratch — in fact, the inner side of my case (thankfully not visible when the phone is in place) was scratched before I ever took it out of the box, showing just how easy it is to leave marks on the FineWoven cases. Even a light fingernail drag across the case, easily done when removing it from a pocket, can leave a light line on the case, ruining its look and near-impossible to buff out. Within a few days, the case looked as if it had aged considerably and, unlike with leather where a patina effect can be desirable, the wear here just looks grubby.

I’ve also found difficulty inserting some unofficial USB-C cables into the bottom cutout slot. Sure, the one that comes with the iPhone 15 Pro fits fine — but that is a low spec cable, and I’ve got lots of better ones laying around. That’s the whole point of USB-C, giving the iPhone 15 line-up access to the accessories you already have around the home. But the fit of this case will mean there’s no guarantee chunkier cable connections will squeeze in.

In its defense, Apple is up front about some of the potential pitfalls of the product. In its own store product listing page, it states that the “FineWoven material may show wear over time. Interaction with MagSafe accessories will leave slight imprints. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use an iPhone 15 Pro Max Silicone Case or Clear Case.”

And if Apple is suggesting maybe you should look at alternatives, that’s about as red as flags come.

Apple FineWoven Case: Competition

There’s a ton of competition out there when it comes to iPhone cases, from $2 bargain bin shells to premium luxury leather options and colorful licensed tie-ins. We regularly seek out the best cases for your devices, so be sure to check out our guides below:

• Best iPhone 15 cases
• Best iPhone 15 Pro cases
• Best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases
• Best iPhone 15 Plus cases

Apple FineWoven Case: Should You Buy It?

Buy the Apple FineWoven Case if...

• You insist on only having official Apple products. 
• You're absolutely in love with the color options. 
• You're impeccably clean.

Don't buy the Apple FineWoven Case if...

• You want your device's case looking as fresh as the phone itself for as long as possible.
• You want a case that's easy to clean and stain resistant.
• You intend to use your iPhone with many different types of USB-C cables and device connectors.

Apple FineWoven Case: Verdict

The Apple FineWoven case will protect your iPhone 15, and if that’s all you care about — and insist on only buying matching Apple products for your new iPhone — then, yes, sure, it’ll get the job done, and look nice for the first few days after you buy it.

But the material at the heart of the FineWoven design is so prone to scratches and stains, and the USB-C cutout so narrow, that it’s simply impossible to recommend. Shop around — there are literally hundreds of great alternatives. 

It’s finally here! No, not sweater weather, crisp autumn leaves, and pumpkin-flavored everything—the iPhone 15! With all the excitement that the launch of a new iPhone brings, it’s probably likely you’ve already made a pros and cons list on whether you should upgrade. If you have, it is also likely that the limited lineup of accessories available for a new device at launch hit your list of cons. That doesn’t have to be an issue if you’re considering an iPhone 15, however, as ESR already has you covered.

ESR was founded in 2009 to make tech easier to use and more accessible. This goal has been realized with a lineup of Apple-certified MagSafe charging devices that unlock the full potential of rapid wireless charging while still looking aesthetically pleasing and being easy to use. MagSafe certification isn’t just something to consider when it comes to choosing a charging station, however. You’ll also want to find a case that is well-suited to protecting your smartphone without hindering its feature set.

ESR MagSafe cases with Stash Stand for the iPhone 15 can level up the protection of your phone while still letting you make the most of what it has to offer. Features like adjustable viewing angles, drop protection, and unobstructed wireless charging can be found across ESR cases. ESR cases are MagSafe-compatible and offer SGS-certified military-grade protection with or without a Stash Stand, meaning you can charge your iPhone 15 wirelessly and without obstruction while also continuing to use and view your phone from a comfortable angle. Watch whenever, MagSafe whenever.

Watch whenever, MagSafe whenever

ESR’s patented protective cases feature a special bracket component that allows the user to benefit from having a flip out cell-phone stand while still offering protection to the phone’s camera when closed. Known as the Stash Stand, this nifty little attachment sits at the point where form and function meet.

The Do-It-All Stash Stand case is an all-in-one protective cover for your iPhone 15 that features military-grade protection and ESR’s HaloLock technology. A thinner back and powerful magnets with 1500g of holding force lock on to all MagSafe accessories, allowing your phone to charge wirelessly up to an hour faster than with alternative cases. 

The sleek, barely-there 1.5mm casing of the Do-it-all Stash Stand allows MagSafe charging to pass through fast enough to fully charge an iPhone 15 Pro Max quicker than competitors on the market. In addition to MagSafe charging support, the Do-it-all Stash Stand also features a zinc-alloy kickstand that is sturdy enough to support your iPhone in a usable position while you’re watching your favorite shows or playing your favorite games.  

Whatever your use case may be, the Stash Stand liberates your hands so that you can get more done while still enjoying your iPhone while also protecting it from drops, cracks and scratches.

Cloud Soft case with Stash Stand

A hard protective case isn’t for everybody, even when it’s as slim as the Do-it-all Stash Stand. For those of us that want a softer case that is visually appealing and capable of unobstructed fast charging, there’s the Cloud Soft Case with Stash Stand. The Cloud Soft Case from ESR features HaloLock technology and supports up to 1,200g of locking power from its built-in magnets. 

The Soft silicone provides a better feel and grip to your iPhone 15 while still providing military-grade protection. Meanwhile, the zinc alloy Stash stand provides ample protection for the camera lens and serves as an effective kickstand so that you can watch and scroll on your iPhone 15 while enjoying all the same MagSafe-friendly rapid charging that the Do-it-all Stash Stand has to offer.

Classic Hybrid Case with Stash Stand 

ESR offers a Classic Hybrid Case featuring both a Stash Stand and HaloLock technology for the all-new iPhone 15 Pro that protects your smartphone investment without detracting from its design. The Classic Hybrid Case for the iPhone 15 benefits from ESR’s MagSafe technology with, 1500g of holding force via built in magnets, so you can trust its safely secured during wireless charging. The built-in Stash Stand provides protection for the camera lens while also providing a useful stand for hands-free viewing and with a hinge that is lab-tested to retain its strength for more than 3,000 uses. 

The Stash Stand isn’t for everybody. If you prefer the sleek look of a clear acrylic case that is lightweight and protective but still want the benefit of ESR HaloLock technology with MagSafe certification, the Classic Hybrid Case or Air Armor Clear Case Set may be for you. The Classic Hybrid Case features HaloLock tech for a secure 1500-g magnetic lock with MagSafe accessories and provides full military-grade protection in a sleek, clear acrylic casing.

Armor Tough Case with Stash Stand

For more advanced protection, the Armor Tough Case with Stash Stand has a built-in magnetic ring that is 100% unobstructed for full MagSafe compatibility and provides 1,500g of holding force for all your MagSafe chargers and accessories. It also lets you enjoy stable hands-free viewing in portrait and landscape at any angle between 15° and 85°, giving you the perfect way to FaceTime or catch up on your favorite shows while you relax. Exclusively for the  iPhone 15 Pro Max, this case includes individual tempered-glass camera lens protectors. 

ESR’s Armorite screen protectors are tested to 3 military-grade standards, including a 110-pound pinpoint force test, a 10,000x scratch test, and a 4-ft ball-drop test. They are micro-curved to ensure full-screen protection of your iPhone, while individual HD Lens protectors help provide equal protection for your camera lens without affecting or distorting your iPhone’s photo quality. 

Level up protection with ESR

ESR MagSafe cases with Stash Stand for the iPhone 15 can level up the protection of your phone while still letting you make the most of what it has to offer. For additional protection, ESR Armorite screen protectors and privacy protectors can ensure the longevity of your new iPhone screen with military-grade scratch and drop resistance. You can rest assured you’re getting the most from your iPhone 15 while keeping it safe and secure with MagSafe-compatible cases and Armorite protection from ESR. 

Save 10% off your new iPhone 15 accessories with the code ESRPR10OFF! 

The best iPhone 15 Plus screen protectors need to be able to not only keep one of the best iPhones safe from harm but also need to work with your device and set up well. 

With your iPhone 15 Plus, you get a crisp 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display capable of a max of 2000 nits of brightness. This makes it fantastic to use at home or in that bright sun. As well as this, the brand new Dynamic Island is taken from the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Needless to say, this means that the iPhone 15 Plus needs a very specific type of screen protector to work for you. While some may prefer a super tough screen, others prefer something soft and more paper-like. We've rounded up a grouping of different styles for you to pick through. 

Here are the best iPhone 15 Plus screen protectors you can buy right now. 

Quick List

Q & A

Do I really need a screen protector on my iPhone 15 Plus?

Of course that's up to you, but we recommend it. On my own personal iPhone, I always get AppleCare+, I use one of the best iPhone cases, and I use a screen protector. The one time I went without a screen protector, I got ugly micro-scratches all over the screen, which I found quite distracting. When I worked at the Apple Store, I can't even tell you how many people came in with cracked screens, regretting not having protected their iPhone screens.

Will my old screen protector fit the iPhone 15 Plus?

Don't count on it. The iPhone 15 Plus is ever so slightly narrower than the iPhone 14 Plus, and it has the Dynamic Island. So any notch cutouts at the top will interfere with functionality. If you do have an old 6.7-inch screen protector lying around, you can try it. Depending how it's cut, it might fit alright. But if you're buying new, I'd suggest buying one made for the iPhone 15 Plus.

Which iPhone 15 Plus screen protector should I buy?

Any of the screen protectors in our roundup will work great, it really just depends on the features that matter most to you. But the OtterBox iPhone 15 Plus Premium Pro Screen Protector with Blue Light Guard stands out because it has so many great features for a simple slice of glass. People buy blue light blocking glasses; this screen protector is the same idea: blocking blue light which can interfere with sleep and possibly cause eye strain. The anti-microbial protection is a nice touch, we could all do with fewer germs on our devices (but please, remember to clean and disinfect your iPhone regardless.) Six-foot drop protection should cover most spills and bumps. Plus, the lifetime limited warranty means that you don't have to keep buying screen protectors for the same device.

If you own the best iPhone, you're going to need one of the best iPhone 15 Pro Max screen protectors to avoid any scratches or cracks. With a 120HZ Super Retina XDR display the front of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a gorgeous slab of glass that is easily prone to scratches. Adding a screen protector can not only help with scratches but also add some drop protection just in case your big investment drops to the floor. 

We've scoured the web and found the best iPhone 15 Pro Max screen protectors that money can buy. There are different options for everyone, no matter the budget, so find one that fits your criteria today and protect your smartphone before it's too late.

Quick List

Q&A

Do I actually need a screen protector on my iPhone 15 Pro Max?

Well sure, if spending half a day at the Apple Store getting a screen repair isn't your idea of fun or if you find tiny scratches all over the screen annoying. I ordered my iPhone 15 Pro Max with AppleCare+ and I'll be using one of the best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases along with a screen protector to protect my own personal investment.

Will my old screen protector fit the iPhone 15 Pro Max?

It depends on the exact screen protector and how particular you are about fit. The dimensions of the iPhone 15 Pro Max are slightly different than its predecessors, having shaved a couple of centimeters off the height and width. Additionally, the bezels have been reduced, which is only an issue if your screen protector has black edges. You can try an older model if you have it lying around the house, but if you're making a purchase, you're best off buying the correct size.

Which iPhone 15 Pro Max screen protector should I buy?

Any of the screen protectors mentioned here will be great; just choose the one with the features you need most. If I'm making a recommendation, I'll recommend the OtterBox to anyone. It offers 6-foot drop protection, resists cracks and scratches, plus it has lots of bonus features. I love the blue light reduction since blue light is known to interfere with sleep when using devices before bed (though I'm really trying to cut back on that!) The anti-microbial technology is certainly a nice added touch, but of course, you still need to clean your iPhone! Plus the limited lifetime warranty means that you won't have to keep buying screen protectors if this one gets damaged.

CASETiFY accessories are popular with iMore staff: we’ve previously included them in many accessory roundups and reviewed CASETiFY iPhone cases, such as their Impact Case, Leather Case, and Mirror Case. Bold and colorful, they help an iPhone stick out from the crowd — often flying in the face of Apple's own demure handset stylings. So what makes the company, as at home with glitter-filled cases as it is cult anime collaborations, tick?

I recently had the opportunity to meet some of the CASETiFY team at their office in LA and learn more about the company, and to find out more about what makes CASETiFY products stand out in a crowded market.

"We really go out of our way to provide a canvas for self-expression," explains Beatrix Wong, the head of New Markets and E-commerce at CASETiFY. 

"That means a lot of different things, such as partnering with hundreds of artists that come up with unique designs. It also means providing customization options as well as different colors. We’re like a candy shop where consumers can find anything they could imagine. Most other tech accessory brands limit themselves to easier, monocolor offerings that facilitate their operations.”

I asked about how they conjure up so many different designs, whether they outsource all of the designs to artists or utilize an in-house design team. 

“It’s a combination of both," says Wong. "On the one hand, we have a very strong team of talented designers that come up with a lot of the choices and customization options that you see in our platform. 

"We also invite hundreds of recognized artists and creatives such as David Shrigley, Krink, and many others, to contribute their own designs to our platform in exchange for a commission. It’s a great way of supporting their art too. We also work alongside the creative teams from the hundreds of IPs we collaborate with in the CASETiFY Co-Lab program for the drops that have become so popular!”

The Co-Lab program, which is a partnership with artists, is a big part of CASETiFY’s appeal. Your iPhone case can basically be an art print you carry around with you. Wong explained how the artists are paid for their work. 

“Co-Labs at CASETiFY can be thought of as IPs. We have our own business agreements with the likes of Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Disney, and others. When it comes to artists that are interested in contributing their designs to our platform, we have a program called 'CASETiFY Artists' where they can provide their designs in exchange for a set commission per purchase. This has become a new stream of income for some of the artists, as well as a sign of recognition for being a part of our creative platform of self-expression.”

Branded partnerships that CASETiFY has with popular IPs like Disney, Marvel, Barbie, One Piece, and many more, make up a huge part of the business. But though the sheer number of branded cases may make getting the licenses seem easy, it's anything but.

“Our yearly calendar for the Co-Lab program is absolutely bustling," says Wong. 

"We receive requests from our fans to collaborate with so many different IPs that we look at it with at least one or two years' perspective. It’s a very complex process that involves business negotiations, but at the forefront, an intense detailed creative vision and execution that is able to truly bring a storyline to life that fans care about. 

"We mostly collaborate with fashion houses, movie celebrities, big franchises such as Star Wars, animation, and basically any organization you can think of that is part of popular culture. One of our earliest and most successful Co-Labs was with DHL!”

So, what makes a CASETiFY design a CASETify design? 

“When it comes to our Co-Labs, we never simply ‘slap a logo on a case’. Every drop is carefully brainstormed from a creative perspective with the authors of the IP and we take the approach of ‘bringing a story to life’ through all of our designs that fans can fully resonate with. 

"At the end of the day, we are doing something very serious, which is bringing to actual life (in the sense of physical products) stories that mean the world to many people out there. We want to make sure we deliver justice to the awesomeness of the plots, songs, and content each story represents, blowing our fans minds and even challenging the notion of how a tech accessory should or could look like when made in collaboration with shows, movies, and pop culture,” she responded.

Wong told me about current trends CASETiFY is seeing, as well as what they predict is going to be big in the future. 

“When it comes to collaborations, this year we have seen the strongest interest in our Evangelion drop. We know how iconic this anime is and we went above and beyond to make the collection truly special," enthuses Wong. 

"There are character accessories, Eva robot cases in the original colors represented in the series, as well as the masterpiece of the collection, the AirPods case in the shape of an EVA-01. We see it as a limited edition collectible accessory, not necessarily something that would be used every day, but more for special occasions or as a fan display. 

"We even built a 5-foot tall version of it and displayed it in one of the most iconic districts in Tokyo. It was truly special for fans and tremendously popular amongst all of our consumers. Big anime collaborations are for sure a strong trend we are seeing this year, but it’s far from being the only one. With the launch of our accessories for the Galaxy Z Flip5, we have seen consumers starting to have a strong preference for sleek cases in bright colors. The trend of foldable phones is here to stay and we’ll keep investing in the best protective, but also stylish solutions for them.”

Obviously a case needs to be more than just attractive. I asked Wong to tell me about how CASETiFY cases are tested for durability. 

“We take testing very seriously," reassures Wong. "There are three metrics that are especially important. One of them, for example, is the Military Grade Standard level test. 

"There are a series of predefined tests that end up resulting in a certain level, which we follow in our phone cases. They involve withstanding a high number of falls from different angles and altitudes. For instance, our Bounce Case, one of our most protective cases, was tested to withstand over 156 drops on all angles and falls from up to 21.3 feet in a single drop. The test results determined a 6x Military Grade Standard.”

I recently wrote about the accessories you’ll be able to buy for Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro. CASETiFY is amongst the companies that have announced accessories for this as yet unreleased product. I asked Wong how CASETiFY’s accessories might improve upon the Apple Vision Pro experience. 

“The accessories we have planned for the Apple Vision Pro will improve the product in two ways," Wong predicts. 

"For instance, as one of the most premium products from Apple and its apparent weight, we do see the need for protection from any and all falls. As with most tech accessories, we are confident that consumers will also be on the lookout for accessories that make it look great and premium, which we feel our upcoming collection will definitely be able to deliver.”

The one major criticism that I have about CASETiFY’s cases is that they are quite expensive. While certain models are cheaper on Amazon, if you want the full selection of CASETiFY cases, you’ll have to order directly from CASETiFY. Wong defends the company's pricing model, discussing how it ensures fair pay for its artist collaborators.

“There are cheaper alternatives in the market, but the price that CASETiFY has considers everything that goes into making a great product that consumers will definitely be satisfied with," says Wong. "We work with artists, we collaborate with great IPs, we develop proprietary materials that the case is made out of, we also upcycle plastic from old phone cases donated by our users and make new ones, which can be fully customized and are made to order. 

"While we know it has a premium positioning in the market, the general feedback we get is that it’s a worthwhile purchase. As per Amazon, all prices in our Amazon store are consistent with the ones in our website. That being said, we have a small and seasonal amount of Amazon-exclusive products that have their own unique price.” 

Note that there are some CASETiFY knockoffs out there — I’ve seen them in the wild. But genuine CASETiFY products come with a QR code in the packaging for verification.

With the iPhone 15 lineup and new Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 styles coming out this month, we’re looking forward to what CASETiFY is releasing to protect and enhance Apple’s latest designs. At the very least, we know they won't be boring.

The best iPhone 15 screen protectors vary quite a lot depending on your specific use case. The iPhone 15 is one of the best iPhones right now, partially down to that gorgeous screen. With a Super Retina XSR OLED display, capable of a peak of 2000 nits of brightness, it's fantastic both indoors and out in the sun. However, even just cosmetic scratches will cause your iPhone to lose some of its shine. 

Before committing to a screen protector, you need to figure out what you are looking for. Do you want your screen to be extra private when you're in public? Are you looking for more of a softer feel on it? How about something super tough? For all three preferences, there is a good protector out there to keep your screen safe. 

If you want to keep your display away from harm, here are the best iPhone 15 screen protectors right now. 

Quick List

Q & A

Do I really need a screen protector for my iPhone 15?

You do you, but we do recommend a screen protector on your iPhone 15. You'll also probably want a great iPhone 15 case. While it might seem counterintuitive to protect your glass with more glass, screen protectors do give you some breakage protection and they most definitely prevent the otherwise inevitable microscratches all over your screen. Swapping out your screen protector is easy, spending half a day at the Apple Store for a screen replacement is not.

Will an older screen protector work with the iPhone 15?

Maybe, or maybe not. While the iPhone screen has been 6.1 inches diagonally for several generations, there have been subtle changes. The bezels have gotten smaller, so if you have a screen protector with black edges, you may end up obscuring part of the screen. Some older screen protectors have notches for the iPhone's notch, but now you're getting the Dynamic Island. A notched screen protector would interfere with it. Your best best is to get a screen protector made for the iPhone 15.

Which iPhone 15 screen protector should I get?

Any of the options on this list will serve you well, but I highly recommend the ZAGG InvisibleShield. The quality is excellent, it's stronger than most, and it's easy to install. Best of all, if it does pick up scratches over time or even suffer some serious damage, ZAGG will send you another screen protector for as long as you have your iPhone 15.

Nobody likes losing their luggage at the airport and it's even worse when not one, but two different airlines manage to do it for you. So when that exact thing happened to Winston Sih, it was lucky that he had an AirTag to call upon.

The story goes that Sih was supposed to make his way from Chicago to Toronto earlier this month when he was diverted to Washington by United Airlines. Following another delay, he was sent to Toronto on another flight — but his suitcase never made it.

As you've probably guessed, the bag remained in Washington, which was bad enough. But then things got worse and might have remained that way if it wasn't for one intrepid AirTag.

AirTag to the rescue

Speaking to DailyHive, Sih said that United Airlines then put the missing bag on an Air Canada flight bound for Toronto.

"Because of the confusion and the airlines not coordinating who was supposed to drop the bag off at Sih’s home, it was taken off the baggage carousel at Pearson," the website explains. From there, the bag just waited. And waited. But there was nobody there to collect it.

Then the runaround started.

"When he tried to contact the airlines to let them know he still hadn’t received his bag, they told him that, according to their systems, it was still in Washington," DailyHive reports. But thanks to the AirTag, Sih was able to confirm exactly where the AirTag was.

Despite numerous promises and conversations with United Airlines and Air Canada staff, the bag never materialized at Sih's home — so he took matters into his own hands and went to collect it with his iPhone 14 in hand.

"Luckily he found an Air Canada staff member who authorized him to be escorted to the secured baggage hall," DailyHive continues. "Sih used his iPhone 14 to locate his bag 'thanks to [the] AirTag,' he added."

Who knows what would have happened if it wasn't for that little AirTag.

If you're looking for the best portable battery packs for iPhone, you will need to find the right one for you. Maybe you're looking for the highest amount of mAh possible, maybe you want it to charge magnetically, or maybe you want something that can be carried around super easily. That's where iMore comes in. We are here to sort through the huge range of portable battery packs and pick out a few for you to choose from. 

Our best choice right now is UGreen's 25,000mAh power bank, as it combines value with charge capacity but the ESR HaloLock has a really smart design for magnetically charging, and Apple's own battery looks the best out of the whole list. 

Here are the best portable battery packs for iPhone right now and what sets each of our choices apart from the other. 

Quick list

Back to top^

Picking the right portable battery pack for your iPhone

A portable power bank is the best way to ensure your iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, or any of the other best iPhones keeps going until the end of the day. There's nothing worse than being caught in a precarious position with a low battery. Luckily, there are many portable battery pack options to choose from, so you always have backup power on hand. 

UGreen's 145W power bank is our current top pick. It's a larger battery pack, but that's because its big charge capacity makes it so. That trade off allows you to fast charge an iPhone up to five times along with some power to spare for your other smaller devices like AirPods, while a fully-charged 25,000mAh max capacity is enough for a MacBook charge, too.

If you have an iPhone 12 or newer, you can take advantage of MagSafe charging with Apple's compact MagSafe Battery and leave the cables at home. The Apple MagSafe Battery is a nice compromise between power and portability. It's compact and super easy to use — no cables needed. Just pop it onto the back of your iPhone and go. If you don't have an iPhone with MagSafe capability but you do have wireless charging (iPhone 8 or newer), you can still use this charger, it just won't stick to the back.

Whether you're looking for something that's capable of charging both your iPhone and your MacBook, need versatility in your ports, or want a great MagSafe option, these are the best portable battery packs for iPhone. 

Once upon a time, math teachers everywhere relied on the phrase “You won’t always have a calculator in your pocket!” to justify why you needed to cram the Pythagorean theorem over the weekend. They were wrong. So wrong, in fact, that we all don’t just have calculators in our pockets at all times but high powered, hand held super computers capable of gaming, streaming music, watching videos, and so much more. The downside is that smartphones require a lot of battery juice to keep them going. With so much of our lives taking place online and in the palms of our hands these days it's next to impossible to just sit your phone down somewhere and wait for it to take 8-10 hours to charge.

There’s been a lot of great advancements in charging technology including bumping up chargers to output 15W of power in an effort to speed things along, but even at that output many official MagSafe chargers can still require 8 hours to fully charge. The problem, then, is the generated heat from the act of charging your device. As the temperature of your device rises the ability for it to charge wirelessly becomes throttled. Continuing to use the phone while it is charging, especially for CPU-intensive apps like watching videos, can make matters even worse.

ESR, a leading brand in mobile accessories which has been around since 2009, has two new products that address this MagSafe throttling. The new ESR 25W 3-in-1 Charger, the ESR 100W 6-in-1 Charging Station, and the ESR 15W Car Charger all include MagSafe and ESR’s new CryoBoost technology. The new CryoBoost feature on these three chargers combines Apple’s MagSafe functionality with a unique cooling system to lower the temperature of the device being charged so that it can sustain maximum charging speeds for longer, effectively lowering the time it takes to fully charge your favorite devices even when they are in use. So, where other MagSafe chargers might slow down, ESR’s can speed along to a full charge. Let’s take a closer look at what ESR’s MagSafe approved line of Cryboost charging stands and car mount have to offer.

25W 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe + CryoBoost

For lightning fast MagSafe charging, the 25W 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe and CryoBoost technology can power up your favorite Apple devices in a snap and look good doing it. The small, sleek stand is made from polycarbonate, ABS, and aluminum alloy with a white finish that blends in exceptionally well among your other Apple accessories on a desk both at home or work. With a sleep-friendly Dark charging mode that turns off status lights, the 25W 3-in1 Wireless Charger can even find a place on your bedside table as it will quickly and quietly charge your devices without interrupting your nighttime routine.

The 3-in-1 Wireless charger is certified by Apple and utilizes powerful magnets to securely hold your iPhone in place—either in portrait or landscape mode—while it rapidly charges, allowing you to continue to watch videos, take calls, and answer important messages even when it's charging. Unfortunately, CPU intensive apps can lead to throttling charging speeds when you’re using your phone while charging but ESR’s MagSafe charging stand with CryoBoost technology is capable of keeping your phone below 98°F, preventing throttling while charging. This allows you to cut down the charge time on an iPhone 14 Pro to as low as 3 hours and 2 minutes when using apps or just at 2 hours when charging an iPhone 14 Pro to 100% while not in use.

The 25W 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe and CryoBoost from ESR is compatible with Apple iPhone 14/13/12 series smartphones as well as AirPods Pro/3/2, and the Apple Watch series of devices and is certified MagSafe by Apple so you can be assured that your devices are charging in the fastest, safest way possible. The MagSafe + CryoBoost 3-in-1 charger will retail for $119.99 and is available now on Amazon.

15W Car Charger with MagSafe + CryoBoost

Unfortunately, the need to charge your iPhone doesn’t always occur when you are at home or at work. Sometimes, you need to be able to charge on the go. Being on the road doesn’t stop you from wanting to charge your iPhone quickly and efficiently, however. The 15W Car Charger with MagSafe and CryoBoost from ESR can let you fully unlock the power of wireless charging without throttling while still featuring ESR’s Apple certified MagSafe technology, giving you high speed power output in a snap right in your vehicle.

Like its larger homebound alternative, the 15W Car Charger from ESR is made of Polycarbonate and ABS with strong magnets that are certified by Apple to be MagSafe, and it is available in a modern dark gray that will blend in nicely with most vehicles’ interior color palette. The charger’s built-in cooling fan and heat dissipating CryoBoost technology will keep your iPhone at a respectable temperature so that you can charge an iPhone 14 Pro to 100% in just 2 hours and 5 minutes even when continuing to use navigation apps during charging. Thanks to Apple certification, ESR MagSafe with CryoBoost chargers have unlocked full charging potential, allowing your phone to charge to 100% whereas other MagSafe devices stop at 94%. 

The 15W Car Charger with MagSafe and CryoBoost tech will retail for $105.99 and is available now on Amazon.

100W 6-in-1-Charging Station with MagSafe + CryoBoost

There’s no such thing as having one device that needs to be charged these days. ESR hasn’t forgotten about the power users with a multitude of devices and that’s why they’re currently running a campaign on Kickstarter for the upcoming 6-in-1 Charging Station. The 6-in-1 Charging Station lets you keep all of your devices together and neatly utilizes MagSafe technology combined with CryoBoost so that they can make the most of the rapid charging features currently available. Your iPhone, MacBook, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Magic Trackpad/Mouse are all compatible with the 6-in-1 Charging Station.

ESR’s charging station takes advantage of smart power distribution to automatically adjust power allocation depending on which devices are being charged, giving you the peace of mind that your devices will be ready to go when you are. The certified Apple MagSafe magnets are safe but powerful so that you can enjoy tap and go charging for your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods while the built in Gallium Nitride technology for high speed charging of your MacBook and iPad via the built in USB-C ports. 

The 6-in-1 Charger is built using polycarbonate, ABS and aluminum alloy in a sleek white color so that it looks good alongside your Apple products as they charge. Pre-orders for the 6-in-1 Charging Station with MagSafe and CryoBoost from ESR are live now via Kickstarter with prices starting as low as $143 with units expected to begin shipping out in October.

Why choose ESR MagSafe chargers with CryoBoost

As previously mentioned, ESR was founded in 2009 and has maintained since that time that the company’s mission is to make tech easier to use. It doesn’t get much easier than simply tapping your device to a magnetized charger. The inclusion of CryoBoost technology, however, allows users of all types to harness the power of fast charging while overcoming throttled charge speeds without any extra technical knowhow. Not only is it easier to charge your iPhone with ESR’s charging stations thanks to MagSafe functionality, it's more efficient as a result of CryoBoost, as well. 

And for iMore readers, ESR is making its new chargers not just cooler but also cheaper. With coupon code “ESRPR10OFF”, you can save 10% on the ESR 15W Car Charger with MagSafe + CyroBoost or 25W 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe + CryoBoost on Amazon until the end of August.

The Scosche BoomCan MS (MagSafe Speaker) might be the accessory you never knew you needed. Roughly the size and shape of a hockey puck, this Bluetooth speaker is easy to slip into a bag when you want to take your tunes to go. 

I take this to the preschool where I work for our "dance parties" when I want to ramp up the volume a bit. Snap it on the the back of your best iPhone and it doubles as a stand. Buy two of these and place them on opposite sides of your room (or desk, or couch) for stereo sound. 

The sound may not be as rich as high end speakers, nor as loud, but it's nice to have this speaker (or perhaps two.)

Scosche BoomCan MS: Price and availability

The Scosche BoomCan MS is available at Scoshe's own website as well as big box stores and sites like Amazon and Walmart. It retails for $50 but can frequently be found on sale for about $42. There are two available colors: black and white.

Scosche BoomCan MS: What I like

When I carry a speaker to school or wherever I might want to play music, I don't want to lug around a big heavy speaker. I like that the Scosche BoomCan MS is feather-light and tiny and fits just about anywhere. I could even stick it in a pocket. 

The MagSafe feature is pretty cool, and sets this speaker apart from most. If you have a MagSafe-compatible iPhone (and handset from the iPhone 12 lineup forward) and MagSafe-compatible case, you can plop it onto the back of your iPhone. It makes a handy kickstand so you can prop up your iPhone as you're playing your music or watching videos. If you have an older phone, no worries: the speaker pairs with iPhones as far back as the iPhone 6 lineup. You just wouldn't use the MagSafe feature. You can also pair it with just about any smartphone on the market, it's not exclusive to iPhone.

Another cool feature of the Scosche BoomCan MS is that you can actually pair two of them to the same iPhone for stereo sound. I did pair two of the speakers to my iPhone and tested them with a number of songs that are known to be good for testing stereo speakers. I was impressed at how well they did. I don't claim to be an audiophile, but they do effectively deliver stereo sound and fill the room with sound.

I like that the speaker is IP67 rated, meaning that it's resistant to water and dust so you can bring your tunes poolside or to the beach and not worry about it getting splashed. Technically you could submerse it up to three feet under water for half an hour with no adverse effects, though I didn't test that. You can get up to five hours of playtime off of a single charge.

Scosche BoomCan MS: What I didn't like

Pairing one speaker was easy, but pairing two was a bit fiddly. I had to reset, unpair, and re-pair them several times before I got them to pair together properly. But perhaps that's just me. Also perhaps on me: I managed to break off and lose the cover that fits over the USB-C charging port. A small thing, but it's a build quality issue.

The issue I read the most complaints about in online reviews is the sound quality and volume. You're not going to get a high-end audio experience with these, though for me they were sufficient. You're not going to get these loud enough for a big party, or outdoor event. I don't imagine serious audiophiles purchasing something like this. The Scosche BoomCan MS isn't crazy expensive but it's not very cheap, either. You're paying for its specific features: MagSafe compatibility, ultra-portability, and ability to pair for stereo sound.

Scosche BoomCan MS: Competition

The obvious competition in the "little Bluetooth speaker that you can pair for stereo sound" department is the small but mighty HomePod mini. They really aren't the same thing; the HomePod mini is a Siri-enabled smart speaker and not particularly portable. The HomePod mini is also about twice the price, and the sound quality is better.

I reviewed the compact, portable Marshall Emberton Bluetooth speaker which is fantastic-sounding device. It's not as tiny as the Scosche BoomCan MS, and it costs about triple. The Marshall does offer about 20 hours of playtime, about four times as much as the Scosche. Marshall speakers are more for serious listeners than something like the BoomCan.

Scosche BoomCan MS: Should you buy it?

You should buy it if ...

• You want a tiny portable Bluetooth speaker
• You want to pair two speakers on one phone
• You want MagSafe functionality

You shouldn't buy it if ...

• If you want very powerful sound
• If you want a very inexpensive speaker
• You don't need its specific features

Scosche BoomCan MS: Verdict

The Scosche BoomCan MS is a specific speaker for a specific audience. I'm probably the exact target group for it. I want something tiny and easy to carry around, I love that it connects with a second speaker for stereo sound, and I'm all about MagSafe accessories. I enjoy music but I'm no serious audiophile; I'm not looking to make my house shake. I'd take this speaker anywhere: the schools I work in, the pool, the beach, wherever. I don't worry about it getting wet, or dust getting into it, since it has the IP67 rating. 

If you don't care about MagSafe, or you have no intention of buying two to pair for stereo sound, then you might just be better off buying something cheaper. The BoomCan works just fine with older iPhone and other smartphones as well, but why pay for MagSafe compatibility you'd never use? On the other end of the spectrum, if you are serious about sound quality and have high standards for your speakers, you're better off investing in a higher-end setup. 

But maybe you're like me, and you want a handy little speaker that you can snap onto your MagSafe-compatible iPhone and use as a kickstand. You want the ability to pair it with a second speaker for stereo sound. You want a waterproof and soundproof speaker small enough to pop into any bag. In that case, the Scosche BoomCan MS is right up your alley.

Magnetic battery packs are all the rage right now and it's never been easier to charge your iPhone. Just slap the battery pack right onto the back of an iPhone 12 or newer and it'll automatically start charging as if by magic. And now Anker's 633 MagGo battery pack is available for a steal, too.

The 633 MagGo battery pack would normally sell for almost $80 but you can pick one up for your own iPhone charging needs right now and pay just $54 — more than a $25 saving.

Anker 633 MagGo Battery Pack just $54

• Best MagSafe portable batteries for iPhone

Thanks to a whopping 10,000mAh built-in battery this Anker 633 battery pack can charge an iPhone 13 Pro from empty to 100% 1.8 times. The battery pack itself can use its USB-C Power Delivery port to charge the iPhone if you need a speedier top-up, and you even get a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box for charging the MagGo battery pack from a wall outlet.

As if that wasn't enough, the 633 MagGo has a secret weapon — a built-in kickstand that makes this a charging stand of sorts. You can use it on the go when watching content or you just want to be able to see the notifications roll in while charging.

Remember that this, like all of the iPhone Prime Day deals, is unlikely to last for long. Order your Anker 633 MagGo battery pack now if you want to be sure of locking that special price in.

I've been writing about Apple for over a decade, and spent over a year working as a Product Specialist in an Apple Store. I pride myself on being able to recommend the best Apple products for any individual person, according to their needs. Friends and family often come to me for recommendations when they're ready to buy a new Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Apple Watch. I find out how they use their technology so I can make my best recommendation. I might recommend more expensive or less expensive options, depending on individual use cases. But I almost never recommend that anyone buy technology that is more than a year old – With one exception.

Why AirPods?

Choosing the best earbuds for you depends on many factors, such as how you see yourself using them, what features you need, and what your budget is like. I've tested dozens of headphones and earbuds in my time as a tech reviewer, and my favorite of all is the AirPods lineup, no matter which model you choose. What makes AirPods stand out to me is the "automagic" device switching.

The AirPods mystique

I wanted to purchase AirPods ever since the original AirPods came out, during which time I was working in the Apple Store. We literally couldn't keep them on the shelves. Even months after release, we'd restock the AirPods daily and sell out within hours. I tried them in the store, I knew they were great, but couldn't justify the three-figure price tag when I had perfectly good earbuds at home. The AirPods 2 came out in 2019, by which time I was back in the tech writing world, and I wanted those even more. Our AirPods 2 review pointed out improvements like the updated H1 chip, faster pairing/switching, lower latency, wireless charging case, and more. Still, that price tag.

If you can get a good price on older AirPods ...

In 2022, I finally bought my first pair of AirPods, the AirPods 2. At that time, they were already three-year-old tech, and so the price had come well under $100 and I snagged them on Prime Day for about $90. From the moment I put the AirPods 2 in my ears, all other headphones were dead to me. They sound good, or good enough for me as I'm not a major audiophile or music aficionado. That magical device switching saved me the hassle of going into the settings every time I switch from my MacBook to my iPad to my iPhone. Other features like easy setup and FindMy make them even more special to me.

Now in 2023, the AirPods 2 are over four years old. But I'd still argue that if you don't need Active Noise Cancellation of the AirPods Pro, or the Spatial Audio, water resistance, better in-ear fit (for some) of the AirPods 3, then the AirPods 2 are still a worthwhile purchase today. If you can get a good price, they are a particularly good option for teens or anyone who tends to lose wireless earbuds.

What about AirPods 3?

I don't own the AirPods Pro 3, but our reviewer loved them, citing the price as being the most problematic issue. So, if the price comes down, now's a great time to jump on them. They definitely offer some great features over and above the AirPods 2, while still coming in cheaper than the AirPods Pro 2.

I've got to go Pro, should I get the AirPods Pro 2?

Obviously when Apple gives anything the Pro moniker, it's going to represent a more sizable investment. While the AirPods Pro 2 are the current model, they are coming up on a year old and it's likely we'll see a new model soon. Should you still get them now, if you can get a good price, or it better to hold out and see what is coming down the pike? Well, that's the age-old question, isn't it? I'd never let a friend buy the iPhone 14 now, with the iPhone 15 likely to be announced soon, but I feel differently about the AirPods 2. I recently got some myself and was just blown away. In addition to all of the AirPods features I've become accustomed to and spoiled by, the AirPods Pro 2 Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode are incredible. If you can get a good price on these, I'd go for it, unless you're holding out for the upgraded audio sure to come on the next model.

Don't rule out an older pair of AirPods

Once you've decided on the features you want, I'd recommend you grab the AirPods with those features when you can get a good price on them. While I generally avoid buying older tech as a rule, AirPods are an exception. The quality of this lineup is excellent, and as long as you don't lose or break them, you should be able to enjoy them for many years to come.

Urban Armor Gear, or UAG, makes some fantastic accessories for Apple products. UAG is an iMore favorite brand — I reviewed the U by UAG Silicone Strap for Apple Watch, UAG Civilian Series iPhone case, UAG Plasma iPhone Case, UAG Monarch iPhone Case, UAG Plyo iPhone Case, and we've included UAG products in countless accessory roundups.

The U by UAG Lucent Power Battery with Kickstand is going with me on my next vacation. Not only does it top off a low battery on your best iPhone, but it works as a kickstand in both landscape a portrait mode. It has a strong MagSafe connection, but if your iPhone doesn't have MagSafe, you can use it as a wireless charging pad or charge the phone via cable. Plus, it's darn cute, and comes in both neutral and fun colors.

U by UAG Lucent Power Battery with Kickstand: Price and Availability

The UAG battery is pretty easy to find at your typical big box stores and websites. You can go to UAG's own site or get it on Amazon, Walmart, or NewEgg. It sells for about $60 everywhere, though you may find it on sale at times for less. You can choose from four colorways: Deep Ocean (blue), Marshmallow (white), Orchid, and black.

U by UAG Lucent Power Battery with Kickstand: What I like

First of all, I like the look and feel. I've tested a number of portable battery packs and very few of them come in colors other than black and white. The plastic exterior is smooth to the touch and the metal kickstand adds a classy look. But we don't buy battery packs just for their looks. This one works, and while it does get a little bit warm to the touch while charging up my iPhone 14 Pro, it doesn't get hot like some others that I've tried do. It's lightweight and compact, which makes it easy to slip into a bag or pocket. The U by UAG Lucent Power Battery with Kickstand weighs half a pound and measures 4.13 x 2.62 x 0.5 inches.

The 4000mAh power pack is also easy to use. Charge it up via its in/out USB-C port. You'll see all four battery indicator lights light up to let you know when it's fully charged and ready to go. Turn it on with a touch of the button and snap it onto the back of your MagSafe-compatible iPhone (from the iPhone 12 lineup or newer.) Be sure that if you use a case, you're using a MagSafe compatible case.

If you have a non-MagSafe device (or case,) you can still use the battery pack as a wireless charging pad or use a USB-C to Lightning cable instead. 

You'll know the battery's power status based on how many of the battery indicator lights are on. In my testing, it took about 2 hours to get my iPhone 14 Pro from 30% power to 90%. In the first 30 minutes, I got a 26% increase in my iPhone's battery.

The kickstand is a nice touch. It's quite sturdy and can be used three ways: as a phone grip (perfect for taking selfies,) a horizontal kickstand for watching videos, or a vertical kickstand for FaceTime, surfing the web, and other activities. It can be opened to and used at a number of angles, all the way up to 180 degrees (completely flat.) Because of the kickstand, it makes a great MagSafe charging stand while traveling. You'll be able to take advantage of StandBy mode in iOS 17.

U by UAG Lucent Power Battery with Kickstand: What I don't like

Since this is just a moderately-powered 4000mAh battery, you're not going to get multiple charge-ups out of it. I was able to get just over 60% of my iPhone 14 Pro's battery charged up before the battery pack ran out of juice. Depending on which model iPhone you have, you may be able to get a little more or a little less. 

A little quirk I noticed: the battery pack turned off when my iPhone got to about 80%, even though the charger hadn't yet run out of power. A press of the power button turned the charger back on and it continued charging my iPhone again until it ran out of juice. It happens consistently. I'm not sure if that's a flaw or a feature (possibly a side effect of iPhone's smart charging feature suite, intelligently holding power delivery back until it's needed), as I didn't see it mentioned in the literature. I do believe that the intension is to protect your iPhone's long-term battery health. The charger does get warm (not hot) with use, which is an indication that using it frequently is not great for your iPhone battery's health.

U by UAG Lucent Power Battery with Kickstand: Competition

The obvious competitor is the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack. As mentioned in our review, it's also compact and lightweight but not as powerful as some larger chargers. Apple's MagSafe battery is even smaller than UAG's, physically, and offers even less power (about 1500mAh.) Apple's battery is more expensive than UAG's.

You can go larger, for example with the Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K Wireless MagSafe Battery, which offers 5000mAh of power and is cheaper than UAG's battery pack. The Ampere Jetpack is a good affordable option, too. It's a matter of whether you want a more portable or a more powerful option. Keep in mind that neither of these competitors have a kickstand, nor do they come in fun colors.

U by UAG Lucent Power Battery with Kickstand: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You want a battery pack that charges wirelessly, via cable, or MagSafe
• You want your battery pack to have a kickstand/grip
• You want fun colors

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You want a high-power battery pack
• You need to charge multiple iPhones (or one iPhone multiple times)
• You want the slimmest possible option

U by UAG Lucent Power Battery with Kickstand: Verdict

In terms of sheer power, the best portable battery packs for iPhone that you can buy will be larger standalone chargers. The MagSafe battery options are more for convenience and topping off an iPhone that's getting a bit low in power. The U by UAG Lucent Power Battery is great for what it is: a compact and portable battery pack with a bonus. It snaps onto the back of your MagSafe compatible iPhone and has a kickstand/grip so you can use your iPhone in multiple ways while it charges. Even if you don't have a MagSafe compatible phone, you can still charge it wirelessly or even plug in a USB-C to Lightning cable. It's a great-looking little battery that will give you just the juice you need to get through even the busiest day.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has told people to go out and buy themselves an AirTag if they want to be able to get their car back when it's stolen. The suggestion comes amid spiraling auto theft rates in the city.

Apple's AirTag is generally accepted to be one of the best Bluetooth item trackers around, but it was never intended to be used to help locate a missing vehicle. That isn't stopping the NYPD from telling people to use the little tracker that way.

To help drive the point home a New York nonprofit is even handing out 500 free AirTags to car owners in an attempt to ensure fewer cars go missing for good.

"Grand larceny auto continues to drive up crime in the city"

Vehicle theft in New York City is up 13% this year according to reports by ABC7NY and AppleInsider. With almost 4,500 vehicles reported stolen so far, drivers are looking for ways to get their wheels back even if they can't stop them from being stolen in the first place. In the Bronx alone 24% more vehicles have been stolen this year compared to 2022, but AirTags are the answer according to the NYPD.

"Your phone will be alerted. You know someone's in your car who's not supposed to be, and/or it's stolen," NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell reportedly said. "You call 911 as fast as you can. You tell the officers involved 'I have an AirTag,' and they will immediately with citywide apprehension apparatus will start putting that tag citywide."

The nonprofit, Association for a Better New York (ABNY), has donated 500 AirTags to help people find their stolen vehicles.

It isn't just the NYPD that's figured out AirTags can help them find stolen vehicles. Police in the UK made a similar suggestion last year. However, the NYPD itself found itself on the receiving end of an AirTag after Apple's tracker was used to track the whereabouts of one of its own cars.

Recently, I went on vacation with my wife to New York, and of course in these modern times, one of the first things you pack, is a power bank for your phone, tablet, and gaming handheld to keep everything charged up.

Usually, I’d carry a huge power bank the size of a Steam Deck, with loads of USB ports so I wouldn’t have to worry about charging all our devices and their differing connection standards. But once I upgraded to the iPhone 13 Pro in 2021, discovering MagSafe led me to buy a bunch of accessories for it.

From having a charger on my desk in the office and a holder so I can use its camera for the Continuity feature in macOS, to a holder in our car, it was a much better way of taking care of the iPhone without needing it to be clamped or plugged into something.

However, I recently bought a MagSafe Battery Pack which also acts as a stand. and while I would previously use an iPad to watch TV Shows and Movies on the plane or train, this is one time when I kept it in my bag, and used my iPhone to do this instead, thanks to this MagSafe accessory. From this moment on, it became one of the best accessories I’ve bought in recent years.

It floats!

Yiisonger's 10,000mAh is a MagSafe portable charger that you can buy for $39.99 / £34.99 from Amazon in a variety of colors – to match my Sierra Blue iPhone 13 Pro, I picked blue.

It has a USB C port to keep it juiced up, and there’s even an extra USB-A port should another one of my devices need some extra battery charge. Pressing a button on the left will start charging the iPhone, but it will do it automatically anyway if you snap a MagSafe-compatible iPhone to the stand You can get one and a half charges from 100%, so you can get a lot out of it in one go if needed.

It folds!

But what I really love about this, is that you can fold out a part of it from the back, making the portable charger stand up. So if you have something nearby, such as a shelf if you’re shaving, or a table, you can simply place it there, have your iPhone snap to it in a portrait or landscape view, and watch a YouTube video.

When we were on the train to the Airport, my iPad was packed away in another bag down the carriage, so instead, I loaded up YouTube, placed it on the MagSafe charger, and watched some videos.

It was ideal, and as the battery was hovering around 40%, it was charging the iPhone at the same time. The real test, though, was on the plane.

We were late to check in for the flight, so we managed to get some seats in the middle of the plane, which meant I was cramped in the middle, so having a 12.9-inch iPad Pro sitting on the folded-out tray was going to be a challenge.

It turned out it was - it barely fit, and there was no privacy, so I had the constant paranoia that someone was going to be watching with me.

Fortunately, I had downloaded a bunch of videos from YouTube, as being subscribed to its Premium service allows me to do that, so I was ready for this eight-hour plane journey. I packed the iPad away, and not only did I have some space and privacy back, but I could also have a drink sitting beside the iPhone as I watched many gaming retrospectives.

MagSafe-ing it up

It’s amazing how something so simple can improve upon so many situations for when you need your iPhone to be placed in certain ways. It’s scenarios like these that have convinced me that going for the bigger iPhone 15 Ultra this fall is only going to improve using this MagSafe charger more thanks to its bigger screen. It’ll be like having an iPad mini, but with the 120Hz ProMotion display and 5G when needed.

While my wife currently has an iPhone 11 that doesn’t have MagSafe, she’s already said that she’s interested in buying the same charger when it’s time to upgrade, as it’ll help when she’s on the train for visits to the office for her job.

The beauty though, is that we’re only three years into MagSafe being a thing. We could soon see other accessory makers, or Yiisonger again, bring out more powerful battery packs for future iPhones, or different MagSafe accessories that you didn’t think you needed before.

So for me, I’m MagSafe all the way - and I wish my wallet all the luck in the world once more of these ingenious accessories are brought out to make these situations even easier for me.

A woman whose Range Rover was stolen during a break-in at her home was able to lead police to her SUV thanks to an AirTag left in her purse.

The Range Rover was stolen along with the woman's purse, a Gucci baby changing bag, and other accessories. But the thief hadn't bet on there being a tracking device inside.

The thief was arrested after the AirTag was used to locate the vehicle and the other items stolen during the robbery.

Lost and found

A Daily Record report details how thief Daniel Kerr was working on a building site in Scotland when he broke into the woman's house, stealing the accessories and SUV in the process.

"The Apple AirTag led police to an Airbnb flat where construction worker Daniel Kerr had been showing off the vehicle to colleagues," the report says, "A £1,200 Gucci baby changing bag and other designer accessories, including the purse, were also recovered."

AirTags were designed to help people locate missing keys and other items, but have since been useful in other ways. A missing dog was found thanks to an AirTag, while this isn't the first time that a stolen car was recovered thanks to Apple's item tracker.

The AirTag story hasn't always been a positive one, however. AirTags have been used to stalk women and property, with Apple making changes to the Find My network in an attempt to try and keep people safe. AirTags will alert people if an unknown tracker travels with them for a specific length of time, for example.

Apple's item tracker is far from the only game in town, of course. There are plenty of AirTag alternatives on the market from the likes of Tile, Chopolo, and Samsung. Unlike the AirTag, accessories from those companies can often be bought in multiple colors and form factors.

Whether you are a diver, casual swimmer, or just a very dedicated swimmer, grabbing yourself one of the best waterproof iPhone cases will allow you to take the best shots while you're underwater. 

Thanks to an excellent camera, and paired with some really great software, the iPhone is an incredibly capable photo taker and water does some interesting things to the lens, that make it super fun to shoot on. Given water is so beautiful, it only makes sense you'd want to grab a couple of shots of it in motion. Though the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro are water resistant, it's not worth risking such a precious device when you can keep it as protected as possible. 

With that in mind, here are the best waterproof iPhone cases out there. 

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The iPhone 14 might be able to talk to satellites and call for help if you need it, but you might not have to rush out and buy Apple's best iPhone just to save your life.

That's because a new accessory from Motorola and Bullitt is designed to slip onto a keychain and connect to any iPhone (or Android phone, if you really must) and then act as a satellite intermediary. The result? You're always online, no matter where you are. Or at least, so long as there's a satellite above your head.

As Apple's iPhone 14 marketing is quick to point out, that can be very handy in situations where you don't have cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity yet need to call for help. But the Motorola Defy Satellite Link goes further. Unlike the iPhone satellite implementation, this one allows for two-way text messaging as well.

Reaching for the stars

In a press release for the new product, Bullitt says that the accessory is "especially relevant to all of us who have ever found ourselves outside of traditional messaging coverage." The system's two-way messaging feature works via a special app that's available for download on iOS and Android, and anyone who receives a message from it will get an SMS asking them to download the app themselves.

The hardware itself fits on a keychain and is designed to be as rugged as you'd expect for an accessory built to save lives in remote areas. That means that it's IP68-rated and has a 600mAh battery that's said to provide "sufficient battery life for multiple days of use." There's also a physical SOS and location check-in button, meaning you don't necessarily need your phone to call for help.

How does it work? "The device then connects directly to geostationary satellites 22,300 miles above the earth," Bullitt says. It isn't immediately clear how easy it is to actually connect to them, however — Apple's iPhones guide users through the Emergency SOS via Satellite connection process to ensure a solid link has been made.

None of this is going to come for free, though. The unit on its own costs $99 / €119 / £99 while a bundle that includes one year of subscription to the Essentials Messaging service will set daredevils back $149 / €169/ £149. That includes 30 two-way messages per month as well as the SOS Assist functionality. As for availability, expect to see this thing ready to go by April 2023, we're told. Apple also charges for its Emergency SOS feature, but offers two year's free with an iPhone 14 purchase, beyond that we don't know how much it will cost. 

A Melbourne, Australia woman says that she was the victim of a stalking attempt thanks to Apple's AirTag item tracker — and the stalker was someone she knew very well indeed.

Apple's AirTag item tracker is designed to help people find their keys, wallets, and other items when they lose them. But its high-accuracy location-finding capabilities have also led to the AirTag being used in ways that it was never intended to be. And stalking women is unfortunately one of those ways.

The woman says that she was alerted that there was an unknown AirTag following her, only to find out that it had been hidden in her car by her boyfriend of six months.

Hidden tracker

“I got a notification that an AirTag was tracking my location,” the woman told 7NEWS.com.au. “I was doing some shopping throughout the day and I continued to get the notifications, but I had no idea where they were coming from.”

After looking for the AirTag in her car and being unable to locate it, the woman confronted her boyfriend who initially denied any knowledge of the tracker. He later confessed to using the AirTag to track her movements after she threatened to contact the police about the incident.

The woman later found the offending AirTag — it had been hidden in her car's wheel.

“I felt so violated and I was in a state of shock,” she told the news outlet. “It just blew my mind that someone I trusted so much could do something like this.”

While there are plenty of AirTag alternatives on the market, what makes Apple's tracker so popular is its accuracy. The Find My network on which it runs is massive, using iPhones and other devices to help it locate AirTags and other compatible Bluetooth trackers.

Unfortunately, it's that accuracy that also makes the AirTag so popular among those looking to use it for nefarious purposes.

Bowers & Wilkins has introduced next-generation true wireless earbuds to take on the Apple AirPods and similar products. The Pi7 S2 and Pi5 S2 offer minor updates over their predecessors, including better battery life and user experience. 

Available in various colors, the devices are priced to target different audiences, although most of the features carry over from one to the other. The Pi7 S2, the British audio brand's new earbuds flagship, comes in three new premium finishes, including Satin Black, Canvas White, and Midnight Blue. The Pi5 S2 is available in Cloud Grey, Storm Grey, and Spring Lilac. Later this year a Sage Green version gets introduced. 

Both earbuds offer five hours of listening time between charges. Additional battery life is available through the charging cases; 16 hours for the Pi7 S2 and 19 hours for the Pi5 S2. 

A lot to love

The Pi7 S2 supports Qualcomm aptX Adaptive, which allows for high-resolution music transmission from compatible streaming services and devices. It's enabled by 24-bit/48kHz wireless transmission between each earbud. The result is a high-resolution audio experience not seen on most products. The Pi7 S2 also offers Adaptive Noise Cancellation paired with six microphones, three in each earbud. 

The Pi5 S2 features 9.2mm bespoke Bowers & Wilkins in-house drive units alongside a high-frequency "balanced armature" driver. The Pi5 S2 supports CD-quality playback and user-selectable noise canceling with ambient pass-through. In addition, it includes two microphones in each earbud for high-quality phone calls. 

You can begin purchasing the new Pi7 S2 and Pi5 S2 in-ear earbuds today, January 25, through the Bowers and Wilkins website and at select retailers. The Pi7 S2 is priced at $399, while the Pi5 S2 launches at $299. 

MagSafe changed how I use my iPhone, especially when it comes to wireless charging. Snap-on MagSafe chargers and stands add a world of convenience, and this little battery pack from SWIO is the perfect example. It's small and compact with plenty of power, and the built-in folding stand is the icing on the cake. 

While the latest iPhone models, like the iPhone 14 Pro, have lots of built-in battery life, there are always those days when it's just not enough. So for long travel days or those fateful mornings when you realize you forgot to plug in the charger the night before, a handy portable charger can make all the difference. The SWIO Portable Charger is small enough to throw into any bag or even your pocket to snap it onto your MagSafe-compatible iPhone in a pinch. 

SWIO Magnetic Portable Charger: Price and availability

While SWIO is a fast-growing brand specializing in charging products, it's still only available on Amazon and the official SWIO website. Right now, it's going for $56 on Amazon, but you can save $6 if you buy it directly. For an even better deal, buy the baby blue version on the SWIO website for only $40, but if you want the standard black colorway, it'll cost about $50. 

SWIO Magnetic Portable Charger: Battery pack with a kick(stand)

I've focused on a MagSafe battery pack since Apple released its sleek white model for the iPhone 12. However, our iMore reviewer noted that the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack seems a bit pricey, and I agree. For that reason, I chose a more affordable option. In fact, the SWIO battery pack is more affordable and has a built-in stand, which you won't find on the Apple version. Initially, I didn't see the convenience of this feature, but now I've learned to appreciate it fully. 

More important, of course, is the charger's ability to charge up the iPhone in a pinch, which it does pretty well. The MagSafe magnets are strong and reliable; the battery pack snaps on and stays on, so you don't have to worry about misalignment or detachment. Once it's attached, you press the 'on' button, and it immediately begins charging until you take it off. Although SWIO claims 15-watt wireless charging, I think it charges a bit slower than the best MagSafe Charger from Apple; regardless, it charges fast enough to be effective when you need it.  

One nice touch is that if you need faster charging, you can connect a Lightning cable to the USB-C port on the device, and it will charge up the phone much more quickly. It will charge up most iPhones 1.5 times, so it's more than enough to charge your iPhone from start to finish, along with another wired device simultaneously, such as AirPods or Apple Watch. 

Finally, I want to touch back on the built-in stand. This is a convenient add-on I wouldn't expect on a standard battery pack, but it's surprisingly handy, especially during travel. This makes it easy to charge up while you watch videos and play games on the iPhone comfortably on long plane or train rides. The stand works magnetically and folds back down when you don't need it.

SWIO Magnetic Portable Charger: Taking its sweet time

The main problem with any wireless charger is that it charges more slowly than a wired connection. The SWIO charger is no exception. When the iPhone is connected via MagSafe, it will take almost three hours to charge up to 100%. This is pretty standard for most wireless chargers, especially the portable kind, but it's good to keep in mind. The nice thing about this battery pack is that it does offer faster wired charging if you connect the iPhone with a lightning cable. This is not as convenient, but it is faster. 

The 10,000mAh battery within the SWIO Portable Charger also takes over three hours to charge up, which is quite a long time if you're in a hurry. So make sure you charge this up ahead of time and keep it charged for those last-minute charging emergencies. 

SWIO Magnetic Portable Charger: Competition

Although the most obvious competition here is the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, the price is hardly comparable. A more equivalent comparison would be the Ampere Jetpack we reviewed more recently. The battery pack by Ampere does not have a built-in stand, but it does come a few dollars cheaper than the SWIO model. The JetPack is also a little more compact, but with only 5,000mAh, its battery will barely charge an iPhone 14. This one might fit smaller budgets, but if it's battery power or an iPhone stand you want, then the SWIO is likely the better choice. 

SWIO Magnetic Portable Charger: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if... 

• You need a powerful battery pack that comes in a small package.
• Your iPhone is MagSafe-compatible.
• You need a folding iPhone stand as well.

You shouldn't buy this if... 

• You're expecting a super fast charge.

When it comes to the best portable battery packs, MagSafe compatibility has become a necessity, in my opinion. For anyone with a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, a portable charger like this will make it easy and convenient to charge on the go. It's also great for those who enjoy streaming or gaming on the iPhone while you travel since it doubles as an iPhone stand as it charges. Of course, a MagSafe wireless charger will not charge as quickly as wired charging, but this power bank also has a wired charging port if needed. 

Considering the SWIO Magnetic Portable Charger's attractive price point, you can't beat it for value. It has a powerful battery, convenient MagSafe compatibility, and a built-in iPhone stand, all at about half the price of the Apple Battery Pack. It's a pretty good deal if you ask me.