The 10 accessories you need for your iPhone 16 | Digital Trends

This year’s iPhone 16 models represent a whole new ballgame for Apple’s iPhone lineup, with the standard iPhone 16 drawing closer than ever to the flagship iPhone 16 Pro. For the first time in three years, Apple isn’t leaving any of its iPhones behind on an older A-series chip, and all the latest bells and whistles, like the new Camera Control, are available across the board.

However, getting the latest iPhone is just the start. You’ll also want to — and in some cases need to — accessorize it. For most folks, the first step is protecting it in a good case. The new Camera Control button makes that trickier than usual, but the good news is that some case makers are already on it.

You’ll find a vibrant ecosystem of iPhone accessories beyond cases, updated for the 2024 models to give you faster wireless charging, high-quality audio on the go, keep you fit and connected, or even just help you keep track of your stuff. Here are our top picks for accessories that will complement any of Apple’s iPhone 16 models, from the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 to the powerful 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The best wall charger for iPhone 16

Anker 523 Nano Charger

By now it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that you won’t get a wall charger in the box with your new iPhone 16. However, while you can keep on using nearly any USB-C charger you have available, you might want to consider upgrading this year if you’re going with an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple has boosted the wired charging speeds of its Pro models, and while they didn’t get the rumored 45W speeds, independent tests have confirmed that they can hit around 31W. That works out to a 20% increase in charging speeds with a charger that can supply enough power.

Anker’s 47W Nano Charger will easily have you covered, thanks to its ability to deliver 45W of power to a single device. With a second USB-C port, you can also keep another device powered up along with your iPhone 16, although in that case the power is shared with 27W going to one port and 20W going to the other. That’s still enough to get your iPhone from dead to 50% in about 30 minutes while also juicing up an Apple Watch or a set of AirPods. As the name suggests, this little adapter is also surprisingly compact for the amount of power it puts out, thanks to Anker’s use of advanced gallium-nitride (GaN) technology.

The best wireless charger for iPhone 16

Apple MagSafe Charger

Even though it didn’t say anything official about faster wired charging, Apple is giving the iPhone 16 a boost in wireless charging speeds this year, supporting up to 25W charging over MagSafe. That’s a healthy boost over the 15W of previous models, and will let you charge any iPhone 16 wirelessly to 50% in about 30 minutes — provided you’re using the right charger and power adapter.

Sadly, there aren’t too many options yet other than Apple’s official MagSafe Charger, which has been re-released by the company in a 25W version. The good news is that it’s the same size as the older one, so you’ll have no problem finding any number of affordable stands, mounts, and other accessories made to fit the charging puck.

Just keep in mind that it’s hard to tell the new 25W MagSafe Charger apart at from the older 15W at a glance. Unless a MagSafe charger is explicitly labelled as 25W, it’s best to assume it’s using the older 15W speeds. That’s not a big problem, as the iPhone 16 is still compatible with all older MagSafe accessories, but you won’t get the fastest possible charging unless you’re using the newest MagSafe standard. You’ll also need to make sure it’s plugged into a USB-C power adapter than can deliver at least 30W.

The best item tracker for iPhone 16

Apple AirTag

Apple’s robust Find My Network offers support for a variety of different item-tracking tags and other accessories, but it’s no surprise that the company’s own AirTag is among the best. If the iPhone 16 is your first foray into the Apple ecosystem, consider picking up some of these to keep tabs on your keys, laptop bag, luggage, and more. A lost AirTag can report its location through any nearby iPhone or iPad that happens across it, and with a billion such devices roaming the world, it’s the largest crowdsourced item tracking network on the planet, making it much more likely your lost items will turn up.

However, AirTags aren’t just for things you may have left behind. Thanks to Apple’s Precision Finding feature, you can get specific directions to where a lost item is hiding in your home or office, so you’ll never again need to worry about losing your keys in the cushions of your couch. AirTags are available in single units or four-packs at a discount, and are powered by a single coin battery that lasts about a year. Thanks to their popularity, there’s also no shortage of ways to accessorize this accessory.

The best smartwatch for iPhone 16

Apple Watch Series 10

Whether you’re looking to keep track of your health and fitness or you just want an easier way to stay connected, the Apple Watch Series 10 is the perfect companion to your iPhone 16. While it wasn’t the 10th anniversary spectacular update that some predicted, Apple has still managed to give it a larger screen and make it significantly thinner and lighter than last year’s model.

This makes it more comfortable to wear and easier to read — especially from off-center, where it’s 40% brighter thanks to the new wide-angle OLED display — plus you’ll be able to see even more of your email and text message notifications and quickly respond with a few taps on the on-screen keyboard. The comprehensive array of health and fitness features are joined this year by a new sleep apnea detection algorithm that uses the accelerometer to monitor your sleep patterns and alerts you to this often-undiagnosed condition. Plus, while the Apple Watch is already great for a broad range of activities from running and hiking to swimming and skiing, this year’s model gets new Depth and Tides apps to make it even more useful for snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, and other shallow-water activities.

The best extreme smartwatch for iPhone 16

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Although the Apple Watch Ultra 2 didn’t get any meaningful hardware updates this year (unless you count its stunning new black titanium finish), that’s not a big problem as it’s still the best extreme sports smartwatch available. Plus, watchOS 11 brings some new goodies that put it almost on par with Apple’s new Series 10, while continuing to exceed it in ways that outdoor adventure enthusiasts will appreciate.

For example, you still get an incredibly bright display, with 3,000 nits that should make it easy to see even while hiking up a sunny mountainside, plus battery life that can run for up 72 hours between charges if you put it in low power mode. However, the best news is that it’s gaining Apple’s new sleep apnea detection, which won’t be exclusive to this year’s model — it’s coming to both of Apple’s 2023 wearables as part of watchOS 11. That means you don’t need to choose between this year’s elegant design or last year’s more rugged model to get the best sleep tracking available. The Apple Watch Ultra has also supported a Depth gauge since its inception, which makes sense as it’s one of the few dive-certified smartwatches on the market, so the addition of the Tides app in watchOS 11 just completes the set of water sports features.

The best earbuds for iPhone 16

AirPods Pro 2

Apple’s AirPods 2 may be two years old now, but they’re still going strong. They’re among the best wireless earbuds on the market, and their tight integration with iOS 18 make them the go-to choice for wireless earbuds for your new iPhone 16. You’ll not only get best-in-class active noise cancellation (ANC) and excellent transparency features but with recent updates you’ll be able to use adaptive noise cancellation that can automatically adjust to your surroundings, conversation awareness that will lower the volume of your music when you’re talking to someone, plus voice isolation to let you carry on a conversation in a noisy environment. There are even new gestures in iOS 18 that will let you answer or decline incoming phone calls simply by nodding or shaking your head.

Plus, Apple has another trick up its sleeve for its AirPods. Apple has embraced new regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that have opened up the field to over-the-counter hearing aids. As long as you’re running at least iOS 18.1 on your iPhone, you’ll be able to use them to take a hearing test and even have them double as hearing aids, in the U.S. at least. Like many health features, the situation is a bit murkier in other countries as Apple awaits approval by government regulators.

The best budget earbuds for iPhone 16

Apple AirPods 4

This year Apple introduced two new sets of its fourth-generation AirPods, differentiated only by the presence of active noise cancellation (ANC) on the higher-end version. However, we think the $129 AirPods 4 are the real sweet spot here, as they effectively replace the five-year-old AirPods 2 that were previously in that slot with something that’s fully modern with support for all the latest iOS 18 features.

Both sets of AirPods 4 get Apple’s latest H2 chip — the same one used in the AirPods Pro — which means they can support features like Siri head gestures for answering and ending calls and personalized spatial audio with head tracking, and voice isolation on phone calls. Naturally, the sound quality has been significantly improved overall, with richer bass and clearer highs, and Apple also promises that these are the most comfortable AirPods it’s made, thanks to a new design refined through the use of 3D photogrammetry and laser topography that mapped and analyzed thousands of ear shapes to create the ideal fit for most people.

The best case for iPhone 16

iPhone 16 Silicone Case with MagSafe

One of the biggest changes in this year’s iPhone 16 lineup is the new Camera Control, a capacitative touch-sensitive button on the right side of the iPhone that lets you quickly open the camera app to start snapping photos and videos and even adjust a whole range of settings by sliding your finger across it. It’s also a feature that’s required case makers to adapt to avoid blocking the new button.

While most cases simply leave a cutout for the Camera Control, Apple has taken a different approach by adding a sapphire crystal and a conductive layer that passes your finger movements through to the button on the iPhone. This not only offers more protection for that area of your iPhone 16 but it looks cooler too. Like Apple’s past MagSafe cases, it attaches magnetically with fun color-matched animations and supports full-speed MagSafe wireless charging. It’s also available in eight vibrant colors to complement the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro finishes.

The best power bank for iPhone 16

Anker 633 Magnetic Battery

This year’s iPhone 16 models have better battery life than ever, but it’s always a good idea to have a spare tank, especially if you’re someone who’s always on the go. Anker’s 633 Magnetic Battery is one of the most popular battery packs available for the iPhone, and for a good reason. With 10,000mAh of capacity, there’s enough to juice up even an iPhone 16 Pro Max with power to spare, and the strong magnetic connection and integrated kickstand let you prop your iPhone up for watching videos or joining FaceTime calls even while it’s still charging.

Since the Anker 633 isn’t MagSafe-certified, your charging speeds will be capped at the standard 7.5W of any Qi charger. However, that’s only a concern if you plan to use it in wireless mode. No magnetic battery pack offers fast wireless charging; even Apple’s own MagSafe Battery Pack only provides 5W of charging power when used as a standalone battery. However, Anker has another useful trick up its sleeve: if you’re in a hurry, you can use a standard USB-C cable to top up your iPhone at full 20W wired charging speeds, which should get you up to 50% in under 30 minutes in a pinch.

Satechi Magnetic Wallet Stand

Satechi’s Magnetic Wallet Stand is the ideal solution for someone who still needs to carry a few cards while being able to prop their iPhone up on the go. Using MagSafe-compatible magnets, it can be attached directly to the back of your iPhone 16 or through a MagSafe case. It folds flat when not in use, adding minimal bulk to your iPhone, and since it attaches magnetically, you can easily pop it off if it gets in the way.

However, where it really comes in handy is letting you prop up your iPhone in nearly any position in either portrait or landscape mode. The wallet hinge will open up to a 160-degree angle, letting you participate in FaceTime or Zoom calls, browse the web, or just enjoy your favorite YouTube videos or Netflix shows.