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The Apple iPhone 12 Accessories Essentials List

Upgrading to one of Apple’s new iPhone 12 models will undoubtedly be one of the biggest and most eagerly awaited purchase for many this holiday season. With a gamut of sizes and features available, from the iPhone mini with a one-hand friendly 5.4-inch display, to the Goldilocks dimensions of the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models, all the way up to the enormous flagship 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max equipped with their best camera system, there’s a phone for nearly everyone… alongside an entire world of accessories designed to complement Apple’s latest and greatest. Here are a dozen of our current favorites:

iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe \\\ $59
The new iPhone 12 models have a magnetic personality – literally. Inside each device is an array of magnets designed to securely attach with a variety of MagSafe accessories, including a single device charger and also one of these leather handy wallets that slap directly onto the back of the phone or onto an assortment of clear, silicone, or leather MagSafe compliant cases. Adding one on is like giving your iPhone the cutest little backpack.

Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless ANC Smart Headphones \\\ $399.95
Earbuds will always pale in comparison to an over-the-ear design like the stylishly executed Sennheiser Momentum 3 when it comes to sound fidelity, immersion, and the efficacy of active noise cancellation. The brand’s flagship wireless headset supports Bluetooth streaming via Apple’s AAC, or aptX and aptX LL support and up to 17 hours of playback, with supple and soft sheepskin leather to caress the ears to ease any physical fatigue (if you want to delve into the most serious expression of this audio brand, check out these $59,000 headphones). One extra cool feature is the “unfold and instant on” feature, which subtracts the need for a power button, keeping an Apple-ish uncluttered look.

Moment Mounts for MagSafe \\\ $19.99-$49.99
We’ve been longtime users and advocates of Moment’s catalog of iPhone-ography cases and lenses because they’re simply our favorite accessory while hiking and traveling. Their latest mounts are also an excellent investment for anyone who takes mobile photography and videography/vlogging seriously, with the entire line of tripod, shoe, wall, and car mounts designed to take advantage of Apple MagSafe and expanding accessorizing options. Gift or give yourself one with one of their MagSafe and Moment lens compatible cases for a sleek and lightweight setup.

Apple AirPods Pro
So we know we just mentioned earbuds come up short when it comes to active noise cancellation efficacy – and they do – but that doesn’t mean we don’t love the effortless compatibility of the Airpods Pro deliver. Seriously, if there was one iPhone accessory that we wish came with every iPhone 12 in-box, it would be the AirPods Pro (especially now that every iPhone comes sans any accessories beyond a Lightning-to-USB-C cable). Apple has successfully eliminated all the friction points related to connecting earbuds wirelessly, an open and shut case of simplicity delivering very balanced sound with a comfortable fit where previous Apple-designed earbuds disappointed. And the ANC is admittedly pretty good if you’re hoping to drown out the din of nearby conversations, passing traffic, or similar moderate level ambient noise.

Le Cord Recycled Green iPhone Lightning Cable
Apple continues to include a Lightning-to-USB-C cable – sans charger – with every iPhone, perhaps nudging users toward MagSafe wireless charging. But we still like to keep a charging cable connected to our laptop or desktop with a USB A to Lightning connection cable. This Le Cord is the only Apple MFI certified charge and sync cable with a braided textile sleeve made from recycled ocean fishing net plastics, and its durability has been tested for 15,000 bendings without damage.

Sandmarc Prolight Kit – RGB & Bi-Color
We know we’re not alone when we say our iPhone has become our primary photography device. But the difference between a good photo and great one is determined isn’t determined just by what you decide to shoot with as much as the availability of good light. This portable LED light kit is smaller than the iPhone 12 Pro, yet capable of turning flat looking photos into dimensionally interesting shots by glowing brightly and across various colors temperatures of 3000-6500K.

Apple HomePod mini \\\ $99
As much as we want to steer listeners toward the most dynamic and richest audio solutions, not everyone can justify spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to enjoy lossy streaming audio. For most people the HomePod mini will prove more than sufficient for enjoying a streaming source daily, with 360-degree sound and compact “place it anywhere” design. And because it was designed by Apple, the HomePod mini seamlessly extends the features of the iPhone without any hassle, expanding Siri and smart home functionality at its core for under a $100.

Native Union x  Maison Kitsuné Wireless Powerbank \\\ $119.99
If you travel or commute regularly, a powerbank is a great insurance policy to keep in your backpack, pocket, or purse for “just in case” 1% charge emergencies. Native Union and French-Japanese electronic music record label collaborated to adorn this pocket-sized wireless charging powerbank with enough juice to power up three devices at once and a super cute fox logo emblazoned across the dark green silicone and stone-finish texture case. There’s also USB-A and USB-C ports so you can come to rescue for anyone requiring a charge the old fashioned way.

Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector \\\ $13
Our friends over at Wirecutter crowned this screen protector the best glass layer for scratch resistance, all without hampering clarity, and for “the price of a movie ticket”. Also notable is unlike some other screen protectors, Spigen includes an easy to use application contraption ensuring the glass appliqué not only lines up properly, but also reduces the chances of bubbles forming across any size of the iPhone 12 family.

Belkin Car Vent Mount PRO with MagSafe \\\ $39.99
When Apple announced MagSafe we were most eager about the premise and promise of connecting our iPhone securely while driving using the magic of magnets. Belkin’s Mount Pro was the first to stake claim to this solution for iPhone 12 users with a mount equipped to work in both portrait and landscape mode. It also includes a nifty charging cable holder in the back.

Nomad Base Station Pro \\\ $199.95
Apple once promised us all “positionless wireless charging”, but alas their  AirPower never materialized. Thankfully the Nomad Base Station Pro picks up the baton and runs with 18 hexagonal charging points to deliver charging up to 3 devices at once. That judicious amount of charging points means you’ll never have to futz around to perfectly align your iPhone and Airpods like other wireless charging solutions, making this our favorite iPhone 12 wireless charging solution by far.

Endel \\\ Free
If there’s anything we all need in 2020, it’s more rest and relaxation. If you’re fortunate to have an Apple Watch to pair with your new iPhone 12, be sure to download Endel, an app designed to relax both body and mind using music. The app does this by syncing with Apple Health to create sounds in response to your body’s current state physically and mentally, alongside factoring in even the local weather to soothe you to sleep.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.