Buying new video games, hardware, and accessories for your preferred console doesn’t need to make a massive dent in your wallet. In fact, deals happen all the time for items like these, so you can save money while investing in your favorite hobby.
TL;DR – Our Favorite Video Game Deals
These sales even occur outside of events like Prime Day, Black Friday, or publisher events like Nintendo’s eShop sale in the summer or PlayStation’s Days of Play. And while we’ll always keep you up to date on those sales and what’s included in them, here, we’ll provide you with year-round deals that are worth taking advantage of. Whether you play on PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or PC, you’ll find the very best deals listed below.
Buy 1, Get 1 Free Sale at Amazon
Right now, you can save on a wide variety of video games at Amazon thanks to their buy 1, get 1 free sale. This includes the likes of Street Fighter 6, Sonic Frontiers, and so many more.
How to Avoid Xbox Game Pass Price Hike ($44.99 for 3-Months of Ultimate)
By securing 3-months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $44.99, you can actually avoid the Game Pass price hike. We recommend securing your current subscription for as long as possible. You can stack up to a maximum of 36 months of Game Pass, meaning you have the option to accumulate 3-month subscriptions up to 12 times.
Admittedly, this approach might put a strain on your wallet, totaling $539.88 if you purchase the 3-month package from the link above. However, when you compare it to the new cost of Game Pass Ultimate for 36 months at $16.99 per month, amounting to $611.64, you’ll realize you’re saving $71.76 on your subscription for the next three years. Otherwise, secure your membership for at least a year to lock in at least some savings overall.
Could your PS5 use more storage? Prices have been plummeting since Sony started letting people upgrade their SSDs. Right now you can get a TeamGroup T-Force A440 Pro 1TB for $53. It’s hard to beat the recent Prime Day we had, and this doesn’t match the best 1TB deal at $50 during that sale, but it’s pretty close.
The best Steam Deck SD card should be fast, reliable, and be as future-proof as possible. Therefore, you’re going to want to opt for the latest in SD card tech, which is a micro SDXC UHS-I U3 A2 V30 memory card. That’s a lot of random letters, so to save you a bit of time we’ve left our top suggestions and deals here for your convenience.
Tears of the Kingdom Is On Sale Right Now (Save $15)
This is an excellent price for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, saving you $15.19. It’s available at Walmart for $54.80. Make sure to jump on this offer quickly, though, as prices fluctuate all the time. You can also pick up Dying Light 2: Stay Human for Xbox Series X at a discount on Amazon for just $30, 50% off its usual price of $59.99. Check out even more deals below.
If you’ve been looking to pick up a power bank to use with your favorite devices, you can never go wrong with options from Anker. To see even more excellent power bank options, check out our picks below.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Official Guide for $27 (Save $18)
With these, you’ll have a detailed overview of Hyrule, a helpful walkthrough to get you through the game, and much more. Not only that, but they have gorgeous covers as well, especially the Collector’s Edition. The Standard Edition has an MSRP of $29.99 but is on sale for $18.79, and the Collector’s Edition normally runs for $44.99, but you can get it for $26.92. Plus, if you want to complete the set, the Breath of the Wild guidebook is also down to just $23 right now as well.
With how expensive gaming is getting in 2023, we’re trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We’ve got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as Switch and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand new offers. If you’re trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.
Major spoiler warning, folks! We’re going to be discussing the final moments of Lies of P’s story. You’ve been warned.
Lies of P, the fairytale-inspired soulslike based on Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio is here, but it’s never too early to speculate on the franchise’s future…especially since that future has already received its first potential details in the form of a shocking post-credits scene at the conclusion of developer Neowiz’s puppet-filled adventure.
After credits have rolled, a final cutscene shows one of the game’s principal characters, Paracelcus, speaking to an unknown woman on the phone, reporting on the outcome of the dramatic events in the city of Krat. After what sounds like some shady scheming between the two, Paracelcus vows that he “will find her, for sure. Another key of ours: Dorothy.”
We’re then shown a brief shot of Krat, still in ruins, while the unmistakable legs of none other than Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, complete with striped socks and ruby slippers, walks along before stopping to click her heels three times.
The implication here is that Lies of P seems to be the kicking off point for a series that will reimagine various children’s storybooks as dark and creepy video games.
But many questions remain: Will they all follow in the footsteps of Lies of P and retain their soulslike formula? What was Dorothy doing walking around Krat anyway? And will the follow-up be called Lies of D?
We’re likely in for a long wait before we have any concrete answers. For now, we can at least all enjoy that Lies of P’s soulslike success, which we had high praise for in our review.
It seems like Microsoft is preparing for a mid generation refresh of the Xbox Series X and S consoles for release during August and October 2024, respectively.
According to leaked documents from the FTC, the upgraded Series X console is codenamed Brooklin and is digital-only, similar to the current Xbox Series S. Instead of a rectangular console, Brooklin is shaped like a cylinder. As for its specifications, the documents lists that it boasts 12 teraflops with 4K resolution with 16GB of RAM. Additionally, it will have 2TB of storage, which is generous considering that the console is digital-only.
Microsoft also seems to plan to market the new console’s sustainability. The documents note that it reduces PSU supply by 15% and has a new low-power standby mode that is 20% of the current iteration’s standby mode. Furthermore, the console comes in 100% recyclable packaging.
The Xbox Series S also looks like it’ll be receiving a mid-generation refresh too. Its codename is Ellewood and offers 10GB of RAM. According to the leaked documents, Microsoft is planning on announcing Ellewood and Brooklin simultaneously around summer 2024, which indicates that it could be a Summer Games Fest reveal.
The leaked timeline also notes that Ellewood is scheduled to launch at the end of August 2024, while Brooklin will launch at the end of October 2024. Both will launch at the same price as their current Series X and S counterparts: USD$300 and $500 respectively. Microsoft’s reasoning for the two-month release gap between the consoles is that Ellewood would have its own “moment” to shine before Brooklin takes over the holiday timeframe.
Microsoft also seems to have a new Xbox controller in the works, codenamed Sebile. Notably, it features an accelerometer inside for gyro support. It’s scheduled to be announced during Q4 of fiscal year 2024 and launch at the end of May 2024 for USD$70.
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He’s been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety. When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey
Lies of P is now available on Game Pass just a tiny bit earlier than originally planned.
It was scheduled to hit Game Pass as a day one release tomorrow, but Xbox’s VP of games marketing Aaron Greenberg confirmed in a post on X/Twitter a couple of hours ago that it’s now available on the service.
The release, though, has been a little confusing. The release date was largely marketed as Sept. 19, but it hit Xbox consoles and Steam this morning. The PlayStation version, however, is still scheduled to release tomorrow (or rather, midnight tonight).
Wake up, P 🦋
Battle for survival in a dark retelling of the classic Pinocchio tale. Lies of P launches tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/mE07PQYUWJ
Of course, plenty have already gotten their hands on Lies of P, with those who ordered the Deluxe Edition getting access on Sept. 15. Basically, maybe release dates have been the real lie all along.
Lies of P is a dark take on Pinocchio, where the player steps into the shoes of “P, a puppet created by Geppetto, in the plagued city of Krat where you must navigate a web of lies and secrets and fight deadly puppets.”
IGN gave the game an 8/10, with Travis Northup writing in his review that it “might not branch out particularly far from its soulslike inspiration, but like a marionette controlled by a skilled puppet master, it plays the part extremely well in a wonderfully dark fantasy world.”
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Now that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have been released, there’s never been a better time to get one of the cheapest iPhones. Because the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 are still available, you can get an incredible deal on last year’s tech, without paying this year’s prices. While these older phones won’t have all the fancy tech of Apple’s latest lineup of phones, they’re still more than powerful enough to get you through all of your daily routines. And, with Prime Day 2 quickly approaching, you can save even more cash.
iPhone SE
The iPhone SE is the absolutely cheapest iPhone you can buy new at $429, making it one of the best iPhones to buy. Despite rocking an old design that’s been around since the iPhone 6, this handset features Apple’s latest A15 Bionic chip. That means this phone is lightning-fast, can play every Apple Arcade game with ease, and will connect to 5G networks. The only things that hold back the cheapest iPhone are its small 4.7-inch screen, singular 12MP wide-angle camera and it doesn’t feature MagSafe, though you can still wireless charge this device.
iPhone 14
The iPhone 14 is about a year old now, but it’s still a powerhouse of an iPhone. The phone starts with 128GB of storage, and is powered by the incredible Apple A15 chip. Because of this package with a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, there isn’t a single app that won’t be blown away by the iPhone 14. The best part is that Apple is still selling this phone new, which means you can pair it with Apple Care+, ensuring you don’t have to worry about cracking your screen or the phone getting stolen. Purchasing that option will make it a little more expensive, but it’s totally worth it for the peace of mind, especially if you don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars down the line to replace the phone if you drop it on concrete – we’ve definitely been there.
iPhone 13 Mini
If you want the latest and greatest from Apple’s newest iPhone 13, just get yourself the mini version for $599. The iPhone 13 Mini is a bit smaller than Apple’s other handsets with only a 5.4-inch screen, but if you have smaller hands you might find having a more compact handset to be beneficial. It still packs Apple’s latest A15 Bionic chip, 5GB, plus a 12MP wide and 12MP ultrawide camera for the best iPhonegraphy.
iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 might be running last year’s A14 Bionic chip, but this phone processor still offers plenty of power. In fact, almost everything about this $599 phone is nearly as good as the latest model including the 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display, plus its 12MP wide and ultrawide cameras. You also still get the modern iPhone creature comforts of 5G connectivity and MagSafe.
iPhone 11
If you haven’t jumped on the 5G bandwagon just yet, the iPhone 11 might be a great handset for you. For $499 you get a phone with a still very capable A13 Bionic processor and fantastic-looking 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display. You also get two 12MP wide and ultrawide cameras capable of recording 4K 60fps video. The rounded design might be a bit older, but it’s easier to hold for some who dislike the boxier design of the latest iPhones.
Where to buy refurbished iPhones
While a brand new iPhone can be expensive, you can save quite a bit of money by buying a refurbished device. Apple has its own official store for refurbished iPhones, and they’re covered by an extensive guarantee. But even if you don’t want to buy directly from Apple, you can easily get a refurbished iPhone from online tech retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Kevin Lee is IGN’s SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.
Pokemon: TCG players and collectors can now preorder the Scarlet & Violet – 151 Elite Trainer Box (see it at Amazon). It includes a whole lot of cards and goodies, and it’s set for release on September 22, which happens to be this coming Friday. That’s not far away.
The Scarlet & Violet 151 expansion includes all of the 151 original Pokemon. You can see the cards that have been revealed so far here. A few other items from the expansion are also up for preorder, including a booster bundle and more. But the main attraction is the elite trainer box, which comes with more than just cards. It also includes dice, card sleeves, and more. Read on for a full rundown of what to expect.
Scarlet & Violet – 151 Elite Trainer Box Contents
Want to know what comes in the box? Here’s the full rundown:
9 Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—151 booster packs
1 full-art foil promo card featuring Snorlax
65 card sleeves
45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
A player’s guide to the Scarlet & Violet—151 expansion
6 damage-counter dice
1 competition-legal coin-flip die
2 plastic condition markers
A collector’s box to hold everything, with 4 dividers to keep it organized
A code card for Pokémon Trading Card Game Live
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on (long inhale) Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and the social network formerly known as Twitter.
Ty “Tyleniphe” grew up playing franchises like World of Warcraft and Diablo. From slaying boars with friends to extensively studying the lore within Diablo 2, many of Ty’s gaming memories revolve around these moments. And now, Ty holds the title of the world’s first blind player to fully complete Diablo 4 independently.
As the accessibility movement grows across the gaming industry, studios are actively incorporating features and design practices that benefit disabled players. Not only do these accessibility tools remove potential barriers, but they also allow individuals like Ty to challenge themselves without belittling their experiences. And with a suite ofaccessibility options and designs like screen reader support, high quality audio, and audio cues related to gear, blind and low vision players are able to successfully navigate the world of Diablo 4.
Speaking with IGN, Ty discusses the importance of accessibility for blind/low vision players, the ways in which Diablo 4’s settings and gameplay aided his experience, and his proudest achievements when becoming the first blind player to complete the game without sighted assistance.
Why Accessibility Matters
Ty’s visual disability, “optic nerve atrophy, caused by hydrocephalus” affected his eyesight at a young age. And since many games lacked proper accessible features and designs for blind and low vision players, his capability to play relied extensively on support from others. While he appreciated the support from loved ones, he ultimately had to learn how to create his own solutions to the inaccessible obstacles in each title.
“My journey into gaming started when I was six years of age,” he says. “I was in the hospital post-surgery and had woken up and didn’t have vision anymore. My friend brought their Nintendo 64 to the hospital because he really wanted me to play Mario Party and Super Smash Bros. and we somehow made it work. For example, he’d tell me where elements were placed in the game, like ‘You’re on the left side of the platform and Donkey Kong’s over on the right side, so you need to move the joystick to the right,’ Then it was listening for the auditory feedback of the characters as they moved, jumped, and attacked.”
Despite the solutions created by Ty and his friends, games had yet to devote time and resources to developing extensive accessibility menus and inclusive designs. His reasoning for becoming familiar with the lore of Diablo 2 was partly due to immense interest, and partly wanting to spend time with friends. But because the gameplay was too inaccessible for blind and low vision players, Ty was unable to properly navigate or target enemies.
Without accessibility features or design practices like enhanced audio, Ty couldn’t complete basic encounters or leave zones. Even when learning the lore, his friend needed to read passages and excerpts to him. It wasn’t until years later that he noticed a significant shift in the accessibility of these games, thanks to both a better industry understanding of accessibility, and a willingness to actively include disabled voices in the space.
“I think in gaming the ‘man on the moon’ step forward for accessibility was the Last of Us Part 2 a few years ago,” he says. “Then I think we saw another leap forward with God of War Ragnarok and I feel that Diablo 4 has taken it to the next level. Is it perfect? No, but there is a clear and obvious commitment to equity and accessibility with the Diablo team, including not just frequent accessibility fixes, but also inclusion of alt-text on images from key leaders and surfacing of accessibility fixes in patch notes.”
Battling Hell’s Forces
Ty’s achievement of becoming the first blind player to beat Diablo 4 by himself is only possible because of Blizzard’s attention to detail on accessibility. Aside from the options that blind and low vision individuals can activate within accessibility menus, the game is intrinsically designed to benefit both able-bodied and disabled players. While screen reader support is crucial, Diablo 4’s sounds bring the world to life and allow disabled players to successfully navigate each zone. Enemy attacks, loot, and even background noises within specific zones help to accurately conceptualize what’s happening on the screen. For blind and low vision players, these inclusive designs are crucial for dismantling barriers that options cannot.
I’ve now gotten about six or seven different blind folks through [Lilith’s Lament] independently just walking them through the process.
“An example of implicit mechanics that really stands out in my mind is ‘Lilith’s Lament,’ where a lot of blind players were saying ‘There’s no way that you can get within the protection dome that Vigo is spawning because there is no indication,’” he says. “The indication is when Vigo shouts. If you center his voice within the audio, you’re within the protection dome. His shout is not explicitly an accessibility feature. It’s purely dialogue, but because of the directional nature of the audio, blind people can use the announcement in conjunction with their cognitive map of the arena to stay alive. I know this works because I’ve now gotten about six or seven different blind folks through it independently just walking them through the process.”
Ty explains that it takes “about three or four joystick taps before you exit the dome,” a mechanic that he had to learn through trial and error. But rather than be dismayed by this obstacle, disabled players ultimately want to be challenged. If a boss or encounter is particularly difficult, it should not be because of inaccessible barriers. Even navigation was designed to ensure that blind and low vision players could travel without immense accessibility difficulty. Sounds like the Rogue’s ability Puncture or their ability to scatter knives enable Ty to determine his location based on the echoes of his character’s projectiles. And when exploring larger zones, the map allows individuals to place markers that actively explain when someone enters a new area.
“The pin placement and subzone announcements are key,” he says. “As I’m building my cognitive map of the game’s world, hearing each sub-zone’s name helps me keep track of which areas I’ve been to, and what may be next. When you reach the pin-drop, it says ‘You’ve reached your destination,’ which is another indication. Dropping the pin a second or two in the direction of where you want to go can create an artificial breadcrumb trail.”
Without these features and designs, Ty’s independence would be limited. They not only allow him to successfully complete a campaign, but also allow him to make Diablo 4 an entertaining and rewarding experience throughout all stages.
Proudest Achievements
Rolling credits on any title is a satisfying conclusion after spending hours completing objectives and overcoming challenging obstacles. For Ty, being the first blind player to beat Diablo 4 without assistance is a feat he will always remember. Yet, his varying playthroughs afforded numerous opportunities to take pride in his accomplishments. All of which were possible because of accessibility and his lived experiences as a disabled individual.
“I think the most difficult part – and something I’m most proud of – was the Andariel fight,” he says. “The Andariel fight was tough because there’s an AOE attack that Andariel uses if you stand too far back, and if you stand too close, she whips you with her chains and throws you into the sandstorm and you can’t hear. After I died probably 13 or 14 times, I ended up asking my friend for help, and he very nicely reminded me that I wanted to do this on my own without sighted help. What I ended up doing was I turned down the music – at the time I had it at 100% and I turned it to 0.
“And then for Andariel, the trick is to stay up close. When you’re close, there’s no need for her to push you towards the sandstorm, so she’s not going to affect you as much with the AOE. When she whips her chains at you, because of the way the sound design has been done, you can hear where they are at and where they are coming in from. You are able to avoid them based on timing. Also, when you are close enough to her, the effects of getting blasted around is less impactful. And with the sound low enough, you can also hear the health indicators for when your health bar gets low. At that point you can use a potion.”
Disabled people are natural problem solvers. Living in a world that still isn’t designed to meet their needs requires them to create solutions to specific barriers. While Diablo 4 includes a bevy of options for blind and low vision players, Ty’s answer to this specific challenge necessitated a greater understanding of the game. But beyond a single encounter, Ty’s ingenuity and knowledge of accessible options and Diablo IV’s designs let him complete content that even sighted players struggle with.
“My proudest moment is shared between two events this season,” he says. “First, completing the World Tier 4 capstone – level requirement of 70 – with my Rogue at level 54. The second was captured on stream, completing a Tier 46 nightmare dungeon with, at the time, my level 72 Rogue. A Tier 46 nightmare dungeon has monsters which are level 100. I did not think I would be able to do it yet, but I thought it would be a fun joke for the stream. I did it though and am now determined to see how far we can push. Next on the bucket list, and the only two remaining seasonal objectives, uber Lilith and a Tier 100 nightmare dungeon.” (Note – at the time of publishing, Ty successfully beat uber Lilith).
I did not think I would be able to do [a Tier 46 nightmare dungeon] yet, but I did…and am now determined to see how far we can push.
Ty’s accomplishments are indicative of the gaming industry’s commitment to highlighting and supporting disabled voices. It’s a shift that he has personally witnessed since his days bonding with friends over older Blizzard games. Disabled people want to be included. They want to have the same gameplay conversations as their able-bodied peers. And as developers continue to implement and innovate accessible tools, Ty can celebrate his victories with other blind and low vision individuals.
“What I think is really cool is that we’ve got a Discord with over 60 blind people, and you look through the discussion and we’re not arguing about whether the game is playable or not,” he says. “We’re sitting here arguing about ‘Is Bone Spear better than Blood Lance?’ We’re arguing about ‘Do the malignant hearts grant too much power?’ It’s cool because we’re having those discussions just like everybody else – it’s a notable shift.”
Unity has apologized for the “confusion and angst the runtime fee policy” it announced last week has caused and has revealed it will be “making changes” to it.
Unity took to Twitter/X to share the news, saying it has been talking to a number of people inside and outside the company and is planning on changing course to the controversial policy. While it didn’t share any details on what those changes may be, it did promise another update will arrive in “a couple of days.”
We have heard you. We apologize for the confusion and angst the runtime fee policy we announced on Tuesday caused. We are listening, talking to our team members, community, customers, and partners, and will be making changes to the policy. We will share an update in a couple of…
“We have heard you,” Unity wrote. “We apologize for the confusion and angst the runtime fee policy we announced on Tuesday caused. We are listening, talking to our team members, community, customers, and partners, and will be making changes to the policy. We will share an update in a couple of days. Thank you for your honest and critical feedback.”
The Unity Runtime Fee Policy is set to go into effect on January 1, 2024, and would charge $0.20 per install for any game with more than 200,000 installs. This obviously raised a lot of eyebrows as the term install in today’s day and age is a bit hard to pin down. For example, will devs get charged for multiple installs from those who install, uninstall, and re-install their games? Even though there is no charge to the consumer after the monthly fee, do Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus installs count?
Unity tried to clarify the policy, saying it will only count “net new installs” on any devices starting January 1 and devs would not be paying fees on re-installations, “fraudulent” installs via botnets and the like, trial version, web and streaming games, and charity-related installs. Unity also claimed that “90 percent of customers will not be affected by this change.”
Although the iPhone is one of the best smartphones on the planet, you may also want to pick up a few accessories to upgrade its performance and design. From sleek phone cases to gaming controllers and durable screen protectors to wireless earbuds, there are boatloads out there that can improve or extend the smartphone’s use.
For example, it doesn’t come with earbuds or a wall outlet charger in the box anymore, so it might be a good idea to pick up some smartphone essentials when you get a new Apple smartphone. You can already preorder the iPhone 15 if you’re hoping to get a next gen model.
TL;DR – These are the best iPhone accessories to buy in 2023
With so many fantastic smartphone accessories, it might be tough to know where to start. We rounded up the best attachments and add-ons to help you get the most out of the mobile device. Scroll down to check out our picks, below:
1. Apple AirPods Pro (second generation)
Best Wireless Earbuds for iPhone
It’s no surprise that the Apple AirPods Pro are the best wireless earbuds. They feature excellent and rich audio for music and podcasts, top-of-the-line noise-canceling to block out ambient and background noise, and they sync seamlessly to the iPhone via iOS and Apple Keychain. These earbuds also have spatial audio features that make listening to your favorite music an immersive experience. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro are designed to compliment the Apple smartphone, while they perfectly match its style and premium build quality. These are the very best AirPods you can buy right now.
With the launch of the iPhone 15, you can aslo get the AirPods Pro with USB-C charging if you want it to mesh with the rest of your devices.
2. Smartish Slim Case
Best iPhone Case
The iPhone is an expensive and delicate piece of tech. Although it’s prone to shattering if dropped, we recommend wrapping your phone in a lightweight, yet durable case – like the Smartish Slim Case.
Made from tough hard plastic and rubber, this case features cushioned corners that absorb and disperse impact away from the phone itself to prevent cracking, if dropped. It’s also designed with raised bumpers, so the display won’t sit flush with a flat surface when faced down. Meanwhile, the Smartish Slim Case is made with MagSafe built-in for wireless charging and other accessories.
It comes in nine colors and styles, including black, blue, transparent, purple, and more. There are plenty of great iPhone cases to choose from, depending on what you’re looking for.
3. Anker USB-C 736 Charger
Best Wall Charger iPhone
Equipped with two USB-C and one USB ports, the Anker USB-C 736 Charger is a workhorse with 100-watts of power inside of it. Although the iPhone caps out at 30 watts for charging, this charger will still juice up your device a little bit faster than a standard wall charger – which caps out at 20 watts. Considering that it doesn’t even come with a wall charger anymore, it might be a good idea to pick up one that’s speedy and can support fast charging for up to three devices, including a MacBook and a pair of AirPods, at the same time.
You can take a look at our guide to the best USB-C chargers for more options.
4. iOttie Velox Magnetic Dash Mount
Best Car Mount for iPhone
It’s illegal to hold and use your iPhone while driving. It’s a major distraction from the road. However, you can use your Apple device hands-free, if it’s mounted on your car’s dashboard or windshield. The iOttie Velox Magnetic Dash Mount attaches to your car with a strong suction cup, while its powerful magnets keep your device in place to use in either landscape or portrait modes. It’s even a wireless charger too, so your device will get some juice via your vehicle’s cigarette lighter.
5. Apple AirTag
Best iPhone Tracker
If you want to keep track of your belongings, the Apple AirTag is fantastic for any iPhone user. Pair one of these small circular pieces via Bluetooth and then attach it to a few of your things, such as keys, handbag, wallet, and others. Now, if your items go missing, then you can find them with the Find My app and your Apple device. You can even enable your AirTag to emit a loud and sharp noise to lead you to its location.
It’s a great accessory to have, especially if you keep losing your things around the house.
6. Ferilinso Screen Protector
Best iPhone Screen Protector
Made from tempered glass, the Ferilinso Screen Protector will keep your device’s display and rear cameras scratch-free and pristine, so it won’t experience much wear-and-tear. It’s also shatterproof and durable to help prevent your phone from cracking because nobody likes to scroll through TikTok with spiderweb cracks on the display.
The Ferilinso Screen Protector comes in a three-pack, while it also comes with a mounting frame and cleaning kit for installation.
7. Apple MagSafe Charger
Best Wireless Charger for iPhone
Although there are cheaper options out there, the Apple MagSafe Charger is still one of the best because of its sleek hockey puck design and very strong magnet system to keep the device in place when charging. In fact, according to some five-star Amazon reviewers, it’s so strong that you can dangle your smartphone from its charging cable when attached.
Meanwhile, even if it doesn’t have MagSafe built-in, it’s still a great wireless charger for the iPhone 8 or newer.
8. Anker USB-C to Lightning Cable
Best Charging Cable for iPhone
While there’s no shortage of cheap iPhone cables, the Anker USB-C to Lightning Cable is one of the best charging cables – thanks to its 6-foot length for versatility, braided-nylon design for durability (it won’t fray after a few weeks of use), and its very affordable price at $12. The cable is also MFi-certified, so it gets Apple seal of approval for use and safety.
It also comes in four colors, including black, silver, blue, and red. If you’re planning on getting the new iPhone 15 or 15 Pro, however, you should be fine with just a regular USB-C cable.
9. Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
Best Battery Pack for iPhone
If you’re out-and-about and can’t get to a wall outlet to charge your phone, or you just don’t want to attach a charging cable to a power bank, the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is a quick solution to get more juice out of your phone. It securely attaches to the back via MagSafe, so it can get charged up and you can use the device at the same time.
And when it’s not slapped to the back of an iPhone, you can also use the battery pack as a standalone wireless charger for a pair of AirPods or even an Android phone. If the device supports wireless charging, then it can be juiced up with the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack.
Pro tip: Add a fully-charged Apple MagSafe Battery Pack to your iPhone at the beginning of the day when both are at 100% capacity. This will greatly extend your overall battery because the smartphone will pull power from the battery pack first until it’s drained and then it will pull power from the mobile device itself. It’s almost as if you’ve doubled its battery life for the day.
10. Apple Watch Series 8
Best Smartwatch for iPhone accessory
The Apple Watch Series 8 isn’t so much as an accessory, but rather a companion and one of the best smartwatches overall. With 41mm and 45mm options, Apple’s smartwatch is one of the best ways to perform brief and basic functions on your mobile device without actually pulling out the mobile device from your pants pocket or purse.
While it’s a GPS, a heart rate monitor, a fitness and sleep tracker, a timepiece, and more, Apple Watch models has the ability to receive phone calls, send text messages, navigate your music, and other tasks from the convenience of your wrist. Simply pair the Apple Watch to an iPhone for an enhanced mobile experience.
Making sure your iPhone is juiced is important, especially if you’re far away from a wall outlet. If your device is out of battery life, then you can’t use it. However, with a portable power bank, like the Belkin 10,000 Portable Charger, you’ll always have a backup supply of juice when you need it.
At over 8 ounces in weight, this portable power bank is small enough for a backpack, purse, or even a pants pocket, while its dual USB and single USB-C ports make it possible to charge up to three devices simultaneously. Overall, it can give you up to an additional 40 hours of juice.
Compatible Apple iPhone: iPhone 6s or newer | Material: Plastic | Price: $100
For all the gamers out there, the BackBone One Mobile Gaming Controller is one of the best ways to play your favorite games. Once you slide your mobile device into the controller and plug it in via the phone’s Lightning port, you can start gaming with the Apple Arcade, Steam Link, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Remote Play, or Backbone apps. You can even plug in peripherals like a gaming headset and charging cable.
The Bose SoundLink Flex is a portable speaker that syncs via Bluetooth. Once synced, you can stream your favorite music and podcasts with clean and rich audio quality in which Bose is known. Meanwhile, its premium and durable design is waterproof, so it’s safe enough to keep in your shower (if that’s your thing).
It’s also ideal for gathering with friends and family at the beach, at the pool, on picnics, around the campfire, and many other places. The Bose SoundLink Flex features up to 12 hours of battery life per charge, while it comes in four colors, including black, carmine red, stone blue, and white smoke.
Let’s face it, the iPhone gets really, really dirty. And since you touch it all day and even press it against your face when making phone calls, it’s a good idea to clean it every once and a while. Ecasp Cleaner Kit comes with just about everything you need to keep your device clean and working fantastically. It’s a multi-tool set to clean the display, Lightning port, edges, and more.
Meanwhile, the kit is also good for cleaning a pair of Apple AirPods, an Apple Watch, an iPad, and Lightning cables.
What to Look for in iPhone Accessories in 2023
Since the iPhone is so popular there are thousands upon thousands of attachments and add-ons to go with Apple’s smartphone. While it’s good there are so many to pick for your phone, it may seem daunting to go to Amazon, search for a “phone case,” and get a long list of cases of various shapes and sizes from a number of different companies and brands at a wide range of prices. It’s overwhelming to scroll through it all to say the least.
However, we put this handy buyer’s guide together to give you a better idea of what to look for in accessories. Ahead, you’ll find our recommendations and things to consider to get the most out of your Apple mobile device.
Functionality
With so many accessories to select, you should consider what issues you’re experiencing with your iPhone.
If you want a better listening experience, then perhaps you’d like a pair of wireless earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro. Maybe you’d like to share your music with family and friends, then an excellent portable Bluetooth speaker like the Bose Soundlink Flex is something to consider for your next group outing to the beach or cookout at the park.
Want to extend your device’s battery life? Maybe a battery pack like the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack or portable power bank like the Belkin 10,000 Portable Charger might do the trick to give you that much needed extra juice when you’re far away from a wall outlet.
Moreover, with the release of the iPhone 12 in 2020, Apple started to remove accessories, like a wall charger and earbuds, from packaging for environmental concerns. It’s likely that you already have these items, while you could just reuse them from older pieces of tech laying around in your home. However, you can certainly pick these up at Amazon too.
Since there are so many different types of accessories for the iPhone, there’s a solution waiting for you when an issue with your device arises.
iPhone Compatibility
There are nearly 40 iterations of the iPhone (so far) since its initial release in 2007. With so many different types of Apple’s smartphone out there, it’s important to make sure the accessory you’d like to pick up is compatible. After all, no iteration is the same. For example, a phone case for the iPhone 12 won’t fit or match with the iPhone 14 – and vice versa.
Apple or Third-Party Options
From wireless earbuds to phone cases and battery packs to charging cables, Apple makes their own accessories. While these are guaranteed to work, their price tag might be too high and their styles might be too few for some shoppers.
However, there are great third-party companies, such as Anker, Belkin, and others, that make phone attachments and add-ons that are inexpensive, varied in style, and sometimes, even better than the ones from Apple. In some cases, these third-party companies even work with Apple directly to make sure they are safe and work well.
Just be warned, there are also a number of terrible third-party manufacturers that make ultra cheap peripherals that might damage or fry your iPhone altogether. The best way to avoid these brands is to closely read Amazon shopper ratings for bad reviews and low scores. If you want to go the extra mile, use web browser extensions like FakeSpot to identify all of the baddies.
Price
Prices range widely with accessories from as low as 10 cents for a cheap-o phone case (it actually costs a lot more to ship than this item itself) to a whopping $6.3 million for a diamond-encrusted phone case. It really depends on the accessory itself and your budget.
For most people, you’d want to find items in the $10-$200 range, but go over more if the accessory has a lot of use and functionality like an Apple Watch Series 8.
At the end of the day, there are a lot of iPhone accessories, but that means you have a lot of options for a solution to enhance your experience.
As I veer off-road towards a long-abandoned gas station, my heart skips a beat. Was that… a person? No, I tell myself, it couldn’t be. I kill the engine. Shutting the car door and walking sheepishly down the once unassuming dirt road, I clutch my crowbar tightly as my mind begins to race. While I’ve spent the last half an hour happily scouring abandoned cabins along the forest, this quiet summer night didn’t seem eerie, just still. Now as I sneak through the trees just a few feet further down from where I was moments ago, that sense of calm evaporates, overtaken by a creeping unease.
When I sat down to play Pacific Drive at WASD, I mistook it for an atmospheric walking simulator. In reality, Ironwood Studio’s forest opus is something far more sinister. Part survival game, part narrative-led horror, you may recognise Pacific Drive as “that weird nightrider car game from E3”. Yet while the slightly beat up set of wheels took centre stage in all the trailers, this first-person project isn’t really a charming vehicle-first romp but an adventure where your car is the only thing keeping you from an early grave.
Inspired by a slew of different horror novels and the folk tales that whispered their way around the Pacific Northwest, this first-person adventure sees you attempting to uncover the mysteries surrounding a particularly cursed looking area of forest. Set in the once idyllic scenery of the aforementioned Pacific Northwest, you find yourself navigating the ever-changing dangers of the Olympic Exclusion Zone, seeking shelter from its extreme weather, radiation poisoning, and a series of increasingly inexplicable happenings, all by hiding inside your trusty four-wheeled companion. You have to gather as much information and loot as you can on each run to the Zone before getting the hell out of there.
At first I was tasked with making a few repairs to generators within the zone, tracking down the required scrap to do so, and what I initially assumed was a fairly linear path suddenly unfolded into a gargantuan forest. As my surroundings felt increasingly alien, I found myself backing slowly towards my car’s blinking indicator lights.
Where Bloober Team’s Blair Witch pitted the player against supernatural horrors with a loyal Alsatian by your side, Pacific Drive sees you form a similar bond with your sweet ride. Driving is functional yet unremarkable, and an iPad-style sat-nav is used for navigation. It feels good, glancing away from the road to the map in real-time, as you attempt to figure out your bearings and reach the next destination. It’s details like this that make the rusty station wagon feel like just as important a character in this story as you are, and you’ll need to take care of it.
Each run feels entirely different and it’s in this unpredictability that I find myself reminded of Kojima’s P.T
This is done in a garage, which you can set up as a base of operations. When you return from trips to the zone you can repair and modify the vehicle, improving how it handles and making it feel your own. It’s also during these bits of downtime where you prepare yourself, both mentally and literally, to head back into the creepy exclusion zone.
From what I’ve played so far, each run feels entirely different and it’s in this unpredictability that I find myself reminded of Kojima’s P.T. Silhouettes flicker in the darkness, piles of scrap metal move inexplicably towards you, and if you’re really unlucky, you may even find yourself caught up in the sentient lightning zone storms, which obliterate anything and everything in their path.
Unlike many of its survival peers, Pacific Drive has a strong story weaved throughout. As you roam the silent outskirts looking for working generators, a pair of overly talkative survivors natter away on the walkie talkie. While their requests and observations initially feel distracting, there’s a moment when I stumbled upon a collection of eerily-posed mannequins – the silence was ominous, and I wished those distant companions would call me back to help ease the tension. I’m told that as I continue exploring, there will be answers that explain all of these baffling occurrences, slowly revealing what went on to distort this once peaceful place and the origins of the secretive ARDA organisation whose footprints are all over the eerily abandoned area.
Pacific Drive also has a surprisingly complex crafting system. Armed with a tool named a scrapper, it makes short work of radios and other mechanical or electrical devices, stripping the once-prized possessions down to their core parts in order to mash together vital new contraptions. Lockers can be prised open, fuel can be syphoned from hastily abandoned cars, and there’s a welcome sense of believability to how the rules of this world operate, authentically selling the eerie survivor fantasy.
It’s this quiet commitment to realism which makes it all the more unsettling when Pacific Drive’s supernatural occurrences rear their paranormal head. As I gleefully strip a cabin of its owners’ worldly possessions, a chunk of rock suddenly and violently lurches into the air, before dropping to earth with an almighty THUMP. It scares the life out of me, and as I brandish my trusty crowbar, I soon realise this gravity-defying occurrence seems to be stuck on some kind of loop. Is this the aftermath of a zone storm occurrence? A glitch? Or an eerie warning from the very land itself? I don’t find out during the demo, but I want to know more.
Overall, I left my short time with Pacific Drive eager to return. Even in WASD’s bustling convention hall I found myself completely caught up in the strange, ethereal atmosphere of the Olympic Exclusion Zone. There’s more than a whiff of Remedy Control’s ‘new weird’ aesthetic to Pacific Drive, and a pleasing sense of variety to its ever changing and consistently threatening landscapes. On paper Pacific Drive borrows from a number of other easily identifiable games, yet each individual gameplay element meshes together to create an experience quite unlike anything else. The recent decision to delay the game to early 2024 to provide extra polish is a smart one too, and I can’t wait to return to this inevitably even more twisted vision of the Pacific Northwest, although this time, I’m not putting my crowbar down.
