When they already have the best phone on the planet, what do you buy an iPhone user this holiday season? We’re going to help you select the best iPhone gifts available.
If not a brand new iPhone (check out our iPhone Buying Guide if your budget stretches that far), then how about one of the many available iPhone accessories? Throughout the year we have tested and reviewed the best iPhone accessories from Apple and trusted companies, and we can recommend the best ones for the people on your list. We’d be delighted to receive any of these iPhone accessories as a gift.
If your loved one doesn’t own a case for their iPhone then this may be the best gift you can get them as it will share a bit of your personality while protecting their precious phone from knocks, drops, and everyday scrapes. if they already have a case, then buy them a new or better one. Just slipping on a new case can transform an old iPhone into something that feels brand new again. It’s even more satisfying than an iOS update!
We have tested the best cases for iPhone 15 and most of these are available for older models from the iPhone 11 up. So run through that list to see the widest range of cases you can select as a gift, and get one for yourself while you’re at it. If you’re shopping for someone who has an iPhone 12 or later, look for a MagSafe-compatible case as it won’t interfere with wireless charging. And if you own an iPhone 11 or earlier, beg Santa for a new one!
Pros
Casely has an enormous range of designer and colorful iPhone cases available for the iPhone XR, 11, and later. Most are available in either a flexible glossy Classic version or a more rigid and protective Bold version. Casetify is another maker of colorful iPhone cases and these can be customized with personalized text, colors, designs, and protection levels.
Pros
Many protective iPhone cases are big bulky things, but the Benks ArmorPro is deceptively slim, with metal buttons and a tough drop-resistant exterior. Other protective iPhone cases to consider include the Denali Snap from Zagg and the ultra-protective Rokform range.
Hands up if your iPhone has never run out of juice during the day when you are far from a convenient power socket. Yeah, right.
Apple used to make a special Smart Battery Case for the iPhone but stopped selling these when it added MagSafe magnetic wireless charging to the iPhone 12 and later. It then sold its own MagSafe Battery Case but stopped making these when it launched the iPhone 15. But fear not, as there are some great MagSafe power banks out there that clamp onto the back of your iPhone (12/13/14/15) and can recharge the phone for long enough that you can reach a power source.
Of course, Macworld has tested many of them and picked the best MagSafe power banks, but here are a few of our favorites.
Pros
This iPhone power bank uses MagSafe to magnetically stick to the back of your iPhone when you need a power boost. In our tests, it recharged an iPhone twice over with its 10000mAh battery capacity. Better still, it features its own built-in USB-C cable for charging up the battery pack or wired-charging the iPhone 15 family that has a USB-C port rather than Lightning. Using the cable rather than MagSafe will charge an iPhone 15 at an impressive 30W. MagSafe wireless charging is slower at 7.5W but it will still rescue a fading iPhone 12 or later—or you can supply your own Lightning cable (or USB-C for iPhone 15 users) and connect with a wire.
Pros
Similar in charging power to the Baseus Magnetic power bank—30W via the built-in USB-C cable for the iPhone 15 family—but without the wireless charging function. Users of iPhones earlier than the iPhone 15 will need to supply a Lightning cable. What it does boast over the Baseus is its battery-life percentage LED screen so you know how much juice the power bank has left in it before you head out. Available in black, white, green, and blue color options.
Pros
This MagSafe power bank charged our nearly drained iPhone to close on a full extra power refill. It also doubles up as a handy kickstand so you can watch a movie while your iPhone is recharging. It is available in pink, purple, black or white.
A charger sounds like a boring present but we think any iPhone users would be delighted to receive one of these beauties now that Apple no longer includes one in the box with new iPhones. And which iPhone users couldn’t do with at least one more spare charger at home or in the office—or a special one for travel?
An iPhone charger should be rated at least 20W, and we’d recommend 30W or better as newer iPhones can accept higher wattages than even Apple admits. A 30W charger can handle an iPad Pro and has just enough to power up even a 13-inch MacBook Air.
For more details and options, read our Best Picks roundup of the best iPhone chargers.
Pros
Measuring just 1.12 × 1.12 × 1.39 inches (U.S. model), the 30W Anker USB-C Nano Charger is the smallest 30W USB-C charger we’ve had in our labs for testing, and it weighs just 1.3oz (36g). The U.K. model is larger but also features foldable prongs and is equally incredibly light. It’s available in a range of pastel colors, including Misty Blue, Lilac Purple, Phantom Black, Aurora White, and Natural Green.
Pros
The tiny Ugreen Nexode 30W GaN Charger is slightly larger than the Anker Nano, but the difference is barely noticeable. Both U.S. and U.K. models feature foldable prongs. Choosing between this charger and the Anker Nano might come down to color choice and price. We can heartily recommend both.
While charging using a USB-C cable (USB-C to Lightning for older iPhones, and USB-C to USB-C for the iPhone 15 family) from your charger is the fastest way to charge an iPhone, more convenient is wireless charging. Since the iPhone 12, wireless charging has become more efficient and therefore faster with Apple’s MagSafe technology that magnetically clamps the iPhone more securely to the wireless charger.
You can buy a simple USB-C to MagSafe charging pad, like Apple’s $39/£39 MagSafe Charger or a third-party alternative, or a multi-device charger that includes a MagSafe charger for iPhone plus a charger for AirPods or Apple Watch.
For more details and options, read our Best Picks roundup of the best MagSafe wireless chargers.
Pros
If the person you are buying for owns an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, then a 3-in-1 charging station will tidy a desk or bedside table of cable clutter and keep everything nicely in place. The Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe is the best of the bunch, with a small footprint, certified fast iPhone and Watch charging plus a Qi charger for AirPods. The MagSafe charging pad is adjustable unlike most of its rivals.
If you prefer a 3-in-1 charging stand in white, consider instead the similarly priced and featured OtterBox 3-in-1 Charging Station.
Pros
If you don’t own an Apple Watch, but you do have some AirPods as well as your iPhone, then this 2-in-1 MagSafe charger is our favorite as it offers 15W MagSafe charging plus a Qi wireless charging pad for AirPods. It takes up very little space on your desk, too.
A cheaper option—although you’ll need a separate USB-C charger—is Anker’s $39/£39 PowerWave Magnetic 2-in-1 Stand, a great budget 2-in-1 charger for iPhone 12 and later. Its MagSafe charging is pegged back at 7.5W, compared to the fully certified 15W MagSafe chargers, but it is still highly recommended at the price.
Pros
A more compact 3-in-1 charger is Anker’s Cube, which can wirelessly charge your iPhone and Apple Watch as fast as Apple allows, plus power up your AirPods at the same time. it’s also so small that you won’t use up too much wrapping paper.
Pros
If you want to pick up your 3-in-1 travel charger and slip it into a pocket, the Journey SWIV is the lightest and neatest travel charger we’ve tested. It can fast-charge an Apple Watch but is a little slower at MagSafe charging (7.5W instead of 15W) but its beauty is its foldable portability.
If you thought that chargers might be a boring gift, I hope we’ve persuaded you otherwise. But how would you feel unwrapping a charging cable? I’d be delighted as you can’t own enough charging cables, can you? They are always handy. Sure, it’s not a pony or a new TV but it’s easier to wrap.
Older iPhones will need a USB-C to Lightning cable; check out our roundup of the best Lightning cables. Pair one of these with a USB-C charger, see above, for the fastest charging. An older USB-A to Lightning cable doesn’t support iPhone fast charging.
The iPhone 15 family now has a USB-C rather than Lightning port so you can use the same cable as you have for your MacBook. We have tested the best USB-C cables for iPhones and can recommend these as great little gifts.
Pros
No wrapping paper is going to look as good as this gift when unwrapped. It’s cute, it’s tough, and it is available in a range of super colors. It can charge up to 60W, which is more than enough for iPhone charging so could also be used for your USB-C iPad or MacBook.
Pros
Cables are by definition awkward things to carry around. They get tied up in knots all by themselves, are a unsightly nuisance, and are tricky to store. This thin 3.3-foot (1m) USB-C cable is retractable so will slip into a drawer or pocket without dangling around getting in the way. You can buy it in black, white, purple or blue and is rated to support 100W so it can be used to charge your MacBook, too.
An affordable alternative is the Cable Matters Short Retractable USB C Cable available in a two-pack. Its 60W rating is more than enough for an iPhone or iPad (but not a newer MacBook Pro).
Pros
Another range of colorful USB-C cables is available from Anker. These are also tough and ready to charge anything from an iPhone 15 to a MacBook Pro.
Aside from the gift ideas listed above, there are some great stocking stuffers available for smaller budgets.
Pros
If your iPhone stops charging via its cable, it’s understandable to think it’s old and broken and you’ll have to rely on wireless charging or just buy a new one. What is more likely the reason that your wired charging isn’t working is a dirty charging port or duff cable (see above). Stick your iPhone in your pocket and it inevitably attracts dust, fluff, and lint. Clear out the port (very gently!) and cable-based wired charging should return. This iPhone cleaning kit has more than you need to keep your iPhone and cables clean, and is available for iPhones with Lightning ports (any iPhone before the 15) and for iPhones (from 15) and iPads with a USB-C port.
Quick tip: if you need to clear out the accumulated fluff from your iPhone’s port you can use a small wooden cocktail stick with utmost gentleness. But a cocktail stick does not make much of a gift, does it? And this cleaning kit offers a whole lot more.
Pros
Belkin’s AirPods Cleaning Kit is a safer way to clean your AirPods than soap and a cotton bud. There’s no nice way of saying it but AirPods can get messy—that is yellow and waxy after spending time in your ears for a few hours. Follow the gentle cleaning process to safely remove dirt and earwax from your AirPods.
Pros
Apple’s AirTag is a great Bluetooth tracker that is easy to use and syncs wonderfully with the iPhone’s Find My app. You can buy just one or a pack of four. You can add it to a keyring or other accessory: check our Best AirTag Accessories roundup, so there are lots more gift ideas there too. If you want a tracker for your wallet or something that requires a flatter tracker, we like the Chipolo Card Spot.
Pros
Touchscreen phones are modern wonders but are less useful when you are using gloves. And sometimes we humans need gloves or our fingers freeze. The iPhone’s capacitive touchscreen is coated with a material that can store electrical charges and it requires either a finger or a special stylus to make a proper connection. Most normal gloves get in the way of this, but specialized touchscreen gloves include materials that allow a gloved finger to work with the iPhone screen.
There are many touchscreen gloves available and our sister site Tech Advisor has tested the best touchscreen gloves. Some of our favorites are from Dutch design firm Mujjo, which also makes some rather lovely leather iPhone cases. At the time of writing, these were on sale at discounted rates. The Single-Layered and Leather Crochet Touchscreen Gloves are for moderately cold climates (30° F/-1C). For colder temperatures, check out the touchscreen gloves with eTip from North Face, such as the North Face Montana Ski Gloves (Men/Women).
Where do you keep all these accessories when not in use? Over at sister site Tech Advisor, we have tested the best tech organizer bags and there should be one that’s a perfect gift, whether as a desk tidy or for travels.
Pros
Available in a range of colors, the Tripped Tech Traveller is a premium, medium-sized tech bag that’s as happy next to your desk or in your tent as it is in your suitcase or backpack. It boasts multiple compartments and is tough enough for travel—made from tough 900D Polyester with weatherproof YKK zippers, soft protective padding, and a leather handle and zipper pulls. There are two internal pockets (one mesh so you can see what’s inside) for extra security for your most valuable kit, such as SD cards or a mini SSD. One external side pocket is big enough for your phone or whatever else you need fast access to. In the center, there are nine different-sized, divided, tight pockets for cables and small devices.
Pros
We also love this tech case that is very well organized and will open flat so you can easily see all your cables and gadgets at a glance. If you know a friend who carries a lot of gear with their iPhone, there’s no better gift.