Bought a New iPhone 15? Try These USB-C Accessories First

To be clear, your new iPhone 15 includes a 1-meter (3.3-foot) Apple USB-C cable in the box. But you'll want some extra cables for other rooms in the house, or for traveling. Most recent generic USB-C cables should suffice, but we like these Anker cables, which are braided for high durability and rated for up to 100W of charging power. Even better, Anker gives you a two-pack of 6-footers for $16. That beats the $19 that Apple charges for its 1-meter braided cable (presumably the same one that ships with the new iPhones), and the $29 the company chargers for its Lightning to USB-C adapter. (Do yourself a favor and buy these cables instead of that adapter.)

Pro upgrade: If you want a cable that's fully rated for higher-wattage charging, faster data speeds and 8K video output, step up to the instead. 

Amazon customer sentiment

The Anker 333 USB-C cables have an Amazon rating of 4.7 out of 5. People love the convenience of the 10-inch length, the durability of the braided cable and the fast charging speed. A few reviewers noted that these cables aren't ideal for fast data transfer, while a handful reported issues with using these adapters for iPhones. The latter could indicate this product doesn't work with every car with Apple CarPlay onboard

Adapters like this will let you plug a USB-C cable into a USB-A slot. (Your biggest challenge will be not losing them — just leave them plugged into the slots on your PC or chargers.) Note that these aren't rated for bandwidth beyond USB 2.0, but they're good for charging or data transfer in a pinch. For instance, we just used one to juice up an Apple Watch charger (with a USB-C plug) from a USB-A wall outlet during a recent hotel stay.

Amazon customer sentiment

These Syntech USB-C adapters have a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. These have been commended for their compact size, value and convenience over buying new charging blocks.

Like recent iPhones, the iPhone 15 series supports MagSafe charging -- Apple's take on the Qi wireless charging standard -- which lets you magnetically attach battery packs and other accessories to the rear of the handset. (In fact, Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 15 supports the emerging Qi2 standard, but the company hasn't specified exactly what that means in terms of charging speeds or wattage limits.) This Baseus magnetic battery pack isn't fully MagSafe compliant -- it won't charge the iPhone at full speed -- but for its sub-$50 price (with the Amazon instant coupon), it's a better buy than Apple's own, now-discontinued , which has less battery capacity, requires a Lightning cord and lacks the built-in kickstand. And if colors are your thing, this one has more options than the standard Apple White. It also has twice the capacity of the similar  (which is a good choice if you want a lighter option).

Amazon customer sentiment

With a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, the Baseus magnetic power bank won approval for its long battery life and how securely the magnet fits against a phone. People also loved the bonus features, which include a hidden kickstand and its digital battery percentage display.

Though you certainly can strap your phone to the top of your favorite console controller, it's not the most portable solution ever. There are a couple of gaming controllers out there designed to wrap around your phone so the buttons are on either side of the screen, and if you're looking for the best, what you really want is a Backbone. You can choose between Xbox and PlayStation button layouts with matching color schemes, and the grips couldn't be more comfortable for on-the-go gameplay. It's a little more expensive than using a standard controller, but it's much more compact, and you can actually charge your phone while you play thanks to the USB-C pass-through.

Amazon customer sentiment

The Backbone One Mobile gaming controller has a rating of 4.3 out of 5. Reviewers like that it’s lightweight and how well it fits your phone compared to previous models. However, some people didn’t like the sensitivity of the joysticks and some considered the grip to be too small. The fact that you have to remove your phone case to use was a point of friction for some.

One of the cool things USB-C brings to the iPhone 15 Pro series is the ability to connect to professional equipment for photography and videography. If you're interested in trying that out without spending an enormous amount of money, this field monitor looks to be a great place to start. You can connect the monitor to your phone via USB-C and get waveform readout so you can correct without having to move your phone. It's a relatively inexpensive way to try something new on your phone, and a great way to dive deeper into the world of iPhone photography.

Amazon customer sentiment

With a rating of 4.3 out of 5, the Feelworld FW568 V3's reviews touched on the great picture quality and lightweight feel. Reviewers wish there was a touch screen and didn’t like the fact that this product doesn’t come with a power supply. (Make sure you buy batteries if you order one.)

For a lot of folks, the big question with every new phone and new case is, "Can I use my PopSocket on this?" The great news is that when it comes to the iPhone 15, the answer will always be yes. All you need to do is make sure you have the right thing to connect your favorite PopSocket design to, which is why we recommend everyone pick up the new MagSafe Round. It's packed with magnets to ensure a sturdy connection either straight to the back of your phone or to any MagSafe case. If you're looking at a case that doesn't come with MagSafe, the Round comes with an adhesive ring of magnets you can stick to the inside and keep that sturdy connection. When you're ready to charge your phone, just pull down on the PopSocket and you're good to go. 

Case option: Prefer a ? The company offers that for the full range of iPhone models.

Amazon customer sentiment

With a rating of 4.6 out of 5, the PopSocket is praised for its strong magnet and ease of installation and removal. While many people loved the sleek and attractive design, others considered it to be a bit bulky.