Summum Aeterna, a prequel to 2022’s Aeterna Noctis, riffs on a Dead Cells-style genre fusion, mixing roguelite elements into the tough Metroidvania structure of its predecessor for a game that doesn’t pull its punches. The result feels rough around the edges but it’s hard to deny that the gameplay feels pretty great.
Enemies hit hard, frequently gang up on you, and will almost assuredly send you back to the hub dozens of times before you manage to successfully complete a run. And while Summum Aeterna primarily demands dexterous skills to overcome its toughest challenges, you do have something to show for each failed run. You, of course, lose most of the upgrades you snagged while out and about, but every run will see you gaining currency and crafting materials that you can then reinvest into things like better stats and starting weapons. This meta-progression system thus ensures that you’ll always be making progress, even when you lose time after time.
When I was working on my MFA in Game Design, I referenced Urbz: Sims in the City in a meeting with my thesis advisor, and he asked if I had played the console or the handheld version. I was confident that I’d played the console version growing up. I could recall the memory quite clearly—sitting against a study pillow on my childhood bed with the controller’s too-short cord pulled taut against the GameCube across the room, furiously speeding through the game in an attempt to finish every goal before Hollywood Video’s three-day rental period elapsed.
It’s hard to explain the cognitive dissonance I felt when my advisor started talking about in-game material that was completely unknown to me, that was certainly not what I remembered playing but had an eerie sameness to it, like the game I knew but in an alternate reality.
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.
Full Void, a narrative platforming puzzle game from London indie studio OutOfTheBit Ltd, wears its love of cinematic platformer classics on its sleeve. Bringing along core gameplay ideas from early entries in the genre, it mixes in some modern influences and introduces a few new ideas of its own.
You play as a hoody-up teen on the run, lugging a backpack with a computer in it as you trek through desolate cityscapes in knee-patched jeans. You are hunted by evil robot monsters, tracking you down with their menacing stop-light eyes and scuttling about on spidery legs. As atmospheric as it is, quite why this is happening takes a while to become clear. Nonetheless, the threat of your pursuers feels real and lends significance to the companionship of a small robot helper you encounter later in the game. Flashback cutscenes suggest this robot was developed by your mother before things went bad, bringing a satisfying element of vengeance to the story.
After a packed Direct, are you ready for a big weekend of gaming? We sure are! Welcome back to another edition of What Are You Playing. Before we dive into our Switch plans, let’s take a look at the highlights from this week on Nintendo Life.
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.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is arriving on the Nintendo Switch next month. If you’re still searching around for a physical deal and happen to be located in the US, you might want to check out Target’s offer.
Nintendo’s latest entry in its Nintendo Switch Online-exclusive Battle-Royale-style series — which includes Tetris 99, the dearly departed Super Mario Bros. 35, and the soon-to-be dearly departedPAC-MAN 99 — returns a fan-favourite racer to a Nintendo console for the first entry since 2004’s Japan-only F-Zero Climax.
F-Zero 99 takes all the high-octane Formula-Zero action of the original SNES game and adds online multiplayer with up to 99 players battling it out across a variety of racing modes. It’s an addictive and complex game, and you’ll need all your wits about you if you want to climb the ranks and make it to the podium.
