Bought an iPhone 15 or 16? Try These USB-C Accessories First - CNET

Article updated on October 22, 2024 at 3:00 PM PDT

Our top accessories include everything from power banks to chargers to help you get the best out of your iPhone and that USB-C connector.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

If you got the iPhone 15 at a discount right as the iPhone 16 rolled in -- or you're planning to upgrade more than one generation to the new iPhone this holiday shopping season -- you're going to need a few new accessories. The most important change the iPhone 15 had from older iPhones is the shift to Type-C from the Lightning port, which may mean that you need some new iPhone accessories. The USB-C connector is a technological standard that's been included on nearly all mobile devices and computers -- not to mention, many Apple products -- for several years now.

Aside from USB-C charger upgrades, and other must-haves for a new iPhone (like a new case), there's a sturdy collection of "nice-to-haves" (which could include new wireless speakers or headphones). Check out our top picks below to find USB-C accessories that are compatible with the iPhone 15 and 16. This upgrade makes it easier to connect a host of devices to your iPhone, whether it's an external power source like a portable battery, external storage devices, wired headphones and any other compatible USB-C accessory you can think of.

The iPhone 15 line is the first to have USB-C charger ports on the phone itself, but Apple has been shipping cables with USB-C on the power source end for the past couple of years. Still have an old-school wall adapter with a rectangular USB-A port? That'll work with the addition of some cheap dongles (see below), but it might result in a slower charging speed. For the best experience, invest in a wall adapter with native USB-C ports with at least 20 watts of power or more. For under $20, we like the Anker 323, which offers a maximum of 33 watts of power and includes both USB-C and USB-A ports, for maximum flexibility. We charged an iPhone 14 Pro from zero to 57% in 30 minutes with this model; it should have no problem doing the same fast charging on the iPhone 15 series.

Pro upgrade: If you want an even more capable charger, step up to Anker's 735 charger. It's got an extra USB-C port and can handle charging up to 65 watts enough for most laptops.

People who bought this charger rated it 4.8 out of 5 on average. Reviewers were happy with the fast charging speed and mentioned that its compact size and folding prongs make it convenient for travel.

To be clear, your new iPhone 15 includes a 1-meter (3.3-foot) Apple USB-C cable in the box. You'll want some extra cables for other rooms in the house, or for traveling. Most recent generic USB-C cables should suffice, but we like these Anker cables, which are braided for high durability and rated for up to 100 watts of charging power. Even better, Anker gives you a two-pack of 6-footers for $16. That beats the $19 that Apple charges for its 1-meter braided cable (presumably the same one that ships with the new iPhones), and the $29 the company chargers for its Lightning to USB-C adapter. (Do yourself a favor and buy these cables instead of that adapter.)

Pro upgrade: If you want a cable that's fully rated for higher-wattage charging, faster data speeds and 8K video output, step up to the Anker 515 USB 4 cable instead.

The Anker 333 USB-C cables have an Amazon rating of 4.7 out of 5. People love the convenience of the 10-inch length, the durability of the braided cable and the fast charging speed. A few reviewers noted that these cables aren't ideal for fast data transfer, while a handful reported issues with using these adapters for iPhones. The latter could indicate this product doesn't work with every car with Apple CarPlay onboard

Adapters like this will let you plug a USB-C cable into a USB-A slot. (Your biggest challenge will be not losing them -- just leave them plugged into the slots on your PC or chargers.) Note that these aren't rated for bandwidth beyond USB 2.0, but they're good for charging or data transfer in a pinch. For instance, we just used one to juice up an Apple Watch charger (with a USB-C plug) from a USB-A wall outlet during a recent hotel stay.

These Syntech USB-C adapters have a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. These have been commended for their compact size, value and convenience over buying new charging blocks.

Like recent iPhones, the iPhone 15 series supports MagSafe charging -- Apple's take on the Qi wireless charging standard -- which lets you magnetically attach battery packs and other accessories to the rear of the handset. (In fact, Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 15 supports the emerging Qi2 standard, but the company hasn't specified exactly what that means in terms of charging speeds or wattage limits.) This Baseus magnetic battery pack isn't fully MagSafe compliant -- it won't charge the iPhone at full speed -- but for its sub-$40 price, it's a better buy than Apple's own, now-discontinued $95 battery pack, which has less battery capacity, requires a Lightning cord and lacks the built-in kickstand. If colors are your thing, this one has more options than the standard Apple White. It also has twice the capacity of the similar Anker 622 MagGo (which is a good choice if you want a lighter option).

With a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, the Baseus magnetic power bank won approval for its long battery life and how securely the magnet fits against a phone. People also loved the bonus features, which include a hidden kickstand and its digital battery percentage display.

Although you certainly can strap your phone to the top of your favorite console controller, it's not the most portable solution ever. There are a couple of gaming controllers designed to wrap around your phone so the buttons are on either side of the screen, and if you're looking for the best, what you really want is a Backbone. You can choose between Xbox and PlayStation button layouts with matching color schemes, and the grips couldn't be more comfortable for on-the-go gameplay. It's a little more expensive than using a standard controller, but it's much more compact, and you can actually charge your phone while you play thanks to the USB-C pass-through.

The Backbone One Mobile gaming controller has a rating of 4.4 out of 5. Reviewers like that it’s lightweight and how well it fits your phone compared to previous models. Some people didn’t like the sensitivity of the joysticks and some considered the grip to be too small. The fact that you have to remove your phone case to use was a point of friction for some.

One of the cool things USB-C brings to the iPhone 15 Pro series is the ability to connect to professional equipment for photography and videography. If you're interested in trying that out without spending an enormous amount of money, this field monitor looks to be a great place to start. You can connect the monitor to your phone via USB-C and get a waveform readout so you can correct it without having to move your phone. It's a relatively inexpensive way to try something new on your phone and a great way to dive deeper into the world of iPhone photography.

With a rating of 4.3 out of 5, the Feelworld FW568 V3's reviews touched on the great picture quality and lightweight feel. Reviewers wish there was a touch screen and didn’t like the fact that this product doesn’t come with a power supply. (Make sure you buy batteries if you order one.)

For a lot of folks, the big question with every new phone and new case is, "Can I use my PopSocket on this?" The great news is that when it comes to the iPhone 15, the answer will always be yes. All you need to do is make sure you have the right thing to connect your favorite PopSocket design to, which is why we recommend everyone pick up the new MagSafe Round. It's packed with magnets to ensure a sturdy connection either straight to the back of your phone or to any MagSafe case. If you're looking at a case that doesn't come with MagSafe, the Round comes with an adhesive ring of magnets you can stick to the inside and keep that sturdy connection. When you're ready to charge your phone, just pull down on the PopSocket and you're good to go.

Case option: Prefer a case with an integrated PopSocket? The company offers that for the full range of iPhone models.

With a rating of 4.6 out of 5, the PopSocket is praised for its strong magnet and ease of installation and removal. While many people loved the sleek and attractive design, others considered it to be a bit bulky.