10 Cool Accessories For The iPhone 8 And iPhone X
Time To Accessorize?
With the introduction of wireless charging for the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, a whole new set of accessories for the iPhone are hitting the market. So are adapters for fast charging of the devices, which is another new feature of the phones. Meanwhile, the glass-covered design and high price tag for the devices — particularly the iPhone X, which debuts Nov. 3 for $999 — means that protective cases are more important than ever with the upcoming iPhone releases.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus begin Friday, so in the following slides we've rounded up 10 top accessories for those devices and for the iPhone X.
Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad
One of the first Qi wireless chargers out of the gate for the new iPhones is Belkin's Boost Up. Users can charge their phone just by laying it atop the Qi charging pad, and Belkin said it will generally still provide a charge when the iPhone is in its case (the pad works with "most lightweight cases," Belkin said). Features include an LED indicator that confirms when the phone is charging, and the 7.5W device is faster than some of the other wireless chargers on the market, according to Belkin.
The Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad is available Friday for $59.99.
Mophie Wireless Charging Base
Mophie's Qi wireless charger for the new iPhones shares some key similarities with the Belkin charger, such as 7.5W charging and a circular design for the pad. It doesn't have an LED indicator. But, it does come in a smaller package: Mophie's version has a width of 3.82 inches versus the 5.5 inches of the Belkin charger. Thus the Mophie charger may be the better match for those who are buying the smallest of the new iPhones, the 4.7-inch iPhone 8.
The Mophie Wireless Charging Base is available Sept. 20 for $59.95.
Apple Fast-Charging Adapter
With all three of the new iPhones, Apple said getting a 50 percent charge is possible in just a half-hour. Doing this will, however, require buying two pieces of additional gear. First, you'll need a USB-C power adapter. Then, you'll need a cable (sold separately) that converts USB-C to Lightning (the connector on the iPhone). Plug all of these pieces together, and charging up should be a much quicker proposition than ever before with an iPhone.
Apple's 29W USB-C adapter is priced at $49, and the USB-C to lightning cable is priced at $35.
Spigen Neo Hybrid Crystal 2
So you're buying a new iPhone 8 — the gold one — and it's covered all over with glass. It looks great, but probably isn't going to hold up to a lot of mishaps. Spigen's Neo Hybrid Crystal 2 case aims to find that middle ground between showing off the golden glass look of your iPhone 8 and protecting it from shattering. The case is crystal clear but packs in a shock-absorbent layer, along with a rigid bumper frame, for protecting against the inevitable dropping incident.
The Spigen Neo Hybrid Crystal 2 is available for iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, and is priced at $29.99.
Caseology Legion Case
Caseology said its Legion case is a highly rugged option that doesn't add a lot of heft. The military design of the case is heavy-duty but still looks Apple-like (and doesn't hide the all-important Apple logo on the back of the phone, either). Worth noting: Caseology doesn't specifically say whether its case will work with wireless chargers.
The Caseology Legion case is available for iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and is priced at $13.99.
Nomad Rugged Case
We don't want to forget about the leather cases. Nomad makes a nice-looking one, and the case offers durability thanks to its integration of polycarbonate and a rubber bumper. Nomad promises protection against drops as high as 10 feet. Notably, the case is available for the iPhone X as well as the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
The Nomad Rugged case is priced at $39.95.
Apple Silicone Case
Here's a reliable go-to for your new iPhone. The stylish Apple-made silicone case offers protection for the back and sides of the phone, while also promising a snug fit. Best of all, perhaps, is a guarantee that the case won't interfere with wireless charging of any of the new iPhones.
The Apple Silicone case is available for iPhone 8 ($35) and iPhone 8 Plus ($39). The $39 version for iPhone X is not available yet.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 Headphones
So your current iPhone is at least a couple years old now, and it's time for an upgrade. But don't forget: You won't find a 3.5mm headphone jack on your iPhone 8 or iPhone X. Which means you may find yourself in the market for a good set of Bluetooth headphones very soon. Sennheiser's HD 4.50 is a set of wireless headphones with noise-canceling capabilities.
The Sennheiser HD 4.50 Headphones are priced at $199.95 on Amazon.
Zizo Bolt Case
For those who want to take zero chances when it comes to protecting their new iPhone, there's the Zizo Bolt Case. The case is military-grade compliant for drop protection (up to 12 feet), with both shock-absorbing and impact-resisting materials integrated. The case also comes with a screen protector, built-in kickstand and a heavy-duty holster clip.
The Zizo Bolt Case is available for the iPhone 8 ($24.99), iPhone 8 Plus ($24.99) and iPhone X ($29.99).
Apple AirPower
It's not arriving for at least a few months, but Apple is already starting to tout the AirPower, a wireless charging mat that can charge multiple devices at once. The AirPower mat uses the same Qi inductive wireless charging technology as the other wireless chargers on our list, but it's large enough to fit an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously, according to Apple's rendering of the device. As far as release date, Apple is only giving 2018 as a date for now.