8 iPhone Accessories You Didn't Know You Wanted

Introduction

Some accessories solve problems you did not know you had, and this batch of iPhone gear leans hard into that category. A water bottle that syncs with your phone, a case that mounts to nearly any surface, tripods at every size, a grip that keeps MagSafe intact, and a pocketable SSD enclosure: here is what each one actually does well, and what to check before buying.

LARQ Bottle PureVis 2: The Water Bottle That Talks to Your iPhone

This may be the first water bottle designed to talk to your iPhone, sending hydration reminders and tracking how much you drink. That alone would be a gimmick if the rest were not so complete: UV purification built into the bottle is designed to eliminate 99.9999% of contaminants like E. coli and salmonella, and it now pairs with a Nano Zero filter straw that also filters out lead particles and chlorine. It is a dual-action system for safer sipping.

It keeps liquids cold for up to 24 hours, and the large rubber loop makes it comfortable to carry even though it is not the lightest bottle around. You can remove the straw entirely if you prefer, and charging has finally moved to USB-C. LARQ also offers a water quality checker for the US that visualizes what your home tap water contains, which helps you decide whether the filtration actually matters for you.

If you drink from public fountains, travel often, or simply want hydration tracking without disposable bottles or separate filters, this is one of the few bottles that does it all.

Magbak Elite Series iPhone 16 Case: Mount It Anywhere

Magbak built its reputation on magnets, and the Elite Series for the iPhone 16 has plenty of them. Combined with the included Mag Strip Mount that sticks to most surfaces, or a car mount that holds through rough terrain, this is one of the best cases we have seen for placing your phone almost anywhere, without the bulk you would expect.

The basics are covered too: clicky flat buttons, a thick front lip, a spacious cutout for the new Camera Control, and a fold-out kickstand that survives the poke test without tipping over. The soft-touch rubber finish feels great and still slides smoothly in and out of pockets, and the case is rated for drops over 6 feet thanks to thick padded corners.

The extras are where it gets fun: a hidden pop-out finger loop, a pinky cushion for long scrolling sessions, swappable colors, and packaging that includes a screen protector with the installer built into the box.

Craftgeek 60-Inch Tripod: Full Size, Pocketable Enough

This tripod from Craftgeek stretches to 60 inches, tall enough for full-body shots, TikTok dances, or pretending to walk away casually while the camera rolls. The included phone mount adjusts easily between landscape and portrait, and the legs are among the most stable we have tested thanks to additional extendable feet.

It doubles as a shorter tripod, includes a detachable remote for group photos you would rather not be in, and the selfie stick mode is the real crowd-pleaser, with several attachment points for going full influencer setup in the wild. It folds down small and light enough to stash in a bag’s bottle pocket for quick access, and it is light enough that nobody complains about carrying it.

Kenu Stance Plus: Mount Your Phone on Anything

The Kenu Stance Plus is best described as an octopus leg for your iPhone. A metal body, rubber feet, and multiple hinges combine with MagSafe to let you hang your phone off table edges, wrap it around trays or fences, rig it as a car mount in the vents or even an old CD player slot, or build your own grip handle for shaky hands.

As a desktop stand it is arguably the best of the bunch: there is almost no viewing angle it cannot hit, and configuring it each time feels like building with Lego. The trade-offs are honest ones: added weight from that chunk of metal on the back of your phone, and some bulk, though it folds flat enough for a pocket.

Ulanzi MA30 Tripod: Speed and Portability First

For dads and uncles who occasionally photograph birds, the Ulanzi MA30 is the lighter, more convenient carry-everywhere tripod. Everything folds into place quickly, MagSafe keeps your phone locked in frame, and the triple-feet design with a sturdy hinge offers a wide range of angles without sliding around.

The rubber feet grip the table well, and you can get creative: fold the legs in for extra selfie reach, balance it for smoother shots, or reach into awkward spots. It sits low when you need it to, and the best part is how fast it transforms from tripod to folded clip-on stand, so you always have a stand or emergency selfie stick wherever you go.

O-Snap Grip: Thin, MagSafe-Friendly Grip and Stand

The O-Snap Grip is so thin it is almost intimidating to use, but after weeks of testing with a finger stuck in it daily, it held up and stayed surprisingly comfortable. It doubles as a phone stand that passes the poke test, and since it is slimmer than your camera hump, your phone actually stops wobbling on the table.

The rotating design works one-handed, ending the hand cramps of repositioning between orientations, and the selling point is grip without losing MagSafe: magnets built into the grip give you an even stronger mount on top of your phone. It uses semi-permanent double-sided tape, but it has been removed and re-stuck repeatedly on the test unit without issue. It ships in a premium metal finish with several colorways, and is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter with early-bird discounts from a maker with a solid track record.

DuckBuddy MagSafe SSD Enclosure: Overkill in the Best Way

This one is for serious videographers shooting at the highest quality. Roughly the size of a pair of AirPods, this MagSafe SSD enclosure extends your storage up to 2 TB using tiny M.2 2230 drives, so you are not lugging a full-sized hard drive. With 10 GB/s transfer speeds it doubles as general storage for other devices too; a 12 GB file transferred in under 15 seconds.

MagSafe mounting means it rides on the back of your phone without dangling, and if it gets knocked off or unplugged, the built-in power supply cuts power safely so you do not lose or corrupt files. The metal body with generous ventilation handles the heat from those speeds, and it feels fairly durable, though no storage device should be tossed around.

DuckBuddy MagSafe Wallet Case: Wallet, Stand, and Then Some

If you want a wallet that does more than hold cards, this one folds out into a phone stand at almost any angle. The mostly plastic construction leans aesthetic with a fake carbon fiber look that genuinely works, and the folding door hides your cards when not in use, held by fairly strong magnets that survive a firm shake test.

Pop the door open and the stand gains height, handy for avoiding the double-chin angle on calls. It holds up to five cards, which may be enough to ditch a separate wallet, and the leather-feel back keeps your phone scratch-free. The sharper edges are noticeable in hand, but the magnetic door, large finger cutouts, reinforced areas, and extra colorways show real thought about how the thing gets used daily.

Buying Advice

Pick by your actual bottleneck. If hydration and water safety are the issue, the LARQ bottle covers filtration, tracking, and insulation in one device. For mounting flexibility, the Magbak case and Kenu Stance Plus cover surfaces and odd shapes respectively. Content creators should match tripod to use case: the Craftgeek for full-size setups, the Ulanzi MA30 for quick everyday shots. The O-Snap Grip suits anyone who wants a grip without losing MagSafe, and the SSD enclosure and wallet case round out storage and everyday carry.

Conclusion

None of these are strictly necessary, but each one earns its place by doing a job well: cleaner drinking water, a phone that sticks where you need it, better framing for photos and video, and storage that travels on the back of your phone. Match the accessory to the habit, and the want turns into genuine value.