If you’ve been lucky enough to receive a brand-new Apple iPhone in your Christmas stocking, you might now be thinking about what accessories to buy and which apps to download. There is plenty of choice out there and ensuring you have the right kit for your shiny new smartphone can be a little daunting. So, to help you out, Express.co.uk has rounded up our favourite cases, chargers, earbuds and apps and here’s top picks.
BEST CHARGER AND CASE
MagSafe Cable • £39
MagSafe Case • £49
Anyone who has unwrapped an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro this morning should definitely invest in a MagSafe charger. Every model in the new iPhone 12 range now includes this magnetic technology, which offers faster wireless recharging (and means you’ll never struggle to find the correct position on the wireless charging pad ever again!).
This £39 magnetic disk snaps to the back of the iPhone like an Apple Watch charger and pumps the battery with power with very little fuss.Alongside this new cable, there’s also plenty of MagSafe compatible cases which not only protect your prized possession but also allow for that easy charging to work without need to remove the iPhone from the case.
READ MORE: iPhone 12 Pro Max review: An Apple iPhone that’s truly worthy of its ‘Pro’ name
BEST PHONE ACCESSORY
Belkin 3-in-1 • £99
The Belkin 3-in-1 charger is something all avid Apple fans should have plugged into their walls. This nifty device not only wirelessly refills your iPhone, but can also power up your Apple Watch and AirPods all at the same time.
That means you don’t need endless cables cluttering up your desk. With Apple recently ditching the plug from its iPhone and Apple Watch packaging this is the perfect one-stop charging solution.
BEST FOR iPHONE 12
Apple Leather Wallet • £59
This is another neat accessory made just for the new iPhones. The leather wallet uses the MagSafe system to snap and stick to the device without fear of damaging it. You can they pop your bank or gym card inside and leave your bulky wallet at home. It comes in four colours including Baltic Blue, California Poppy and Saddle Brown.
If you’d rather not rely on magnets to keep your cards attached to the back of your iPhone, PopSocket’s PopWallet is a great alternative.
BEST IN-EAR HEADPHONES
Jabra Elite 85t • £219
Want some wireless earbuds for your new iPhone? Everyone seemed to launch wireless earbuds in 2020, but the mini music makers that impressed us the most were the Elite 85t from Jabra. These noise-cancelling buds are supremely comfortable to wear, sound amazing and offer easy controls so you never have to touch your phone. Unlike the AirPods Pro, Jabra Elite 85ts include a IPX4 rating against water damage, so you don’t need to worry about getting caught in the rain or sweating on the treadmill.
And if there is an issue, these buds comes with a two-year extended warranty against all water damage too. There’s also a comprehensive iPhone app, which lets you tweak the audio to your taste and the charging case can be topped up wirelessly (handy if you’ve just bought the Belkin 3-in-1 above)
BEST ALL-ROUND PROTECTION
Mous Case • From £18.99
The latest iPhones all include a Ceramic Shield finish on the touchscreen, which makes these devices around four times stronger than before. However, if you’re still worried about breaking your £800 iPhone then a case from Mous might be worth adding to your online shopping cart. This company has become famous for its insane drop tests with the firm’s CEO, James Griffith, recently dropping an iPhone from a hot air balloon onto a solid concrete runway with the device surviving without a scratch.
There’s plenty of designs to choose from with all of them keeping your phone crack-free – even if you’re prone to a severe case of butterfingers.
FAST CHARGING PLUG
Apple 20W charger • £19
Anyone with an iPhone 12 under the tree this Christmas might be wondering where the plug is. Apple has removed these little white charging bricks from its devices in a bid to cut down on electronic waste and that means you’ll need to buy one if you can find any lying around your home or shoved inside a drawer. Apple sells its faster-charging 20W plug for £19 but there are other manufactures including Juice, Anker and Belkin who also sell quick refilling plugs. If you don’t opt for these brands just make sure the plug you purchase is from a trusted store and that it carries the correct safety certificates as some cheap or fake chargers can be a fire risk.
BEST APPS
You might be wondering what best new apps to download and install from the millions found on the App Store. To lend a helping hand, Apple recently released its yearly list of top applications which include the best apps and games for its hugely popular smartphones
Coming in at No.1 for iPhone is Wakeout! which took the top spot for the best iPhone App of the Year. This app is aimed at helping people get moving no matter where they are or what they are doing with over 1,000 exercises and hundreds of routines designed in a variety of places.
If you love gaming then Genshin Impact was crowned the winner for best iPhone Game of the Year. This free-to-play role-playing game lets you explore the Teyvat, a vast world teeming with life and flowing with elemental energy.
Top Free iPhone Apps:1. ZOOM Cloud Meetings • 2. NHS COVID-19 • 3. TikTok • 4. WhatsApp Messenger • 5. Houseparty • 6. Instagram • 7. Microsoft Teams • 8. YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream • 9. Snapchat • 10. Facebook
Top Paid iPhone Apps: 1. Driving Theory Test 4 in 1 Kit • 2. Official DVSA Theory Test Kit • 3. Procreate Pocket • 4. The Wonder Weeks • 5. Forest – Stay focused • 6. TouchRetouch • 7. Facetune • 8. CITB Op/Spec HS&E test 2019 • 9. Dark Sky Weather • 10. AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch
