Waiting for your iPhone 16 to arrive? Here’s a list of accessories to add to your shopping cart so you’re ready to go on day one.
It’s that time of year again! Preorders have just opened for Apple’s latest iPhone 16 lineup, and the first of the new iPhones will be landing in stores (and in customers’ eager hands) next Friday. As fun and exciting as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are, there’s more to buying a new iPhone than just the phone or even the case you plan to wrap around it.
With all four iPhone 16 models featuring a new Camera Control, it can be trickier to find the right case. Fortunately, many of the usual suspects have you and your iPhone covered, with cases designed specifically to handle the extra button so you can snap your best pictures without worrying about the case getting in the way.
Beyond cases, there’s also the vibrant ecosystem of iPhone accessories, updated for the 2024 models to give you faster wireless charging, high-quality audio on the go, keep you fit and connected, or even just help you keep track of your stuff. Here are our top picks for accessories that will complement any of Apple’s iPhone 16 models, from the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 to the powerful 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Anker 523 Nano ChargerThe best wall charger for iPhone 16
By now it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that you won’t get a wall charger in the box with your new iPhone 16. However, while you can keep on using nearly any USB-C charger you have available, you might want to consider upgrading this year, as it looks like Apple may have finally boosted the wired charging speeds of the iPhone 16 lineup. Apple doesn’t usually talk about wired charging speeds, but recent regulatory filings suggest that at least some iPhone 16 models could be capable of charging at speeds of up to 45W, matching Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Either way, Anker’s 47W Nano Charger will have you covered, thanks to its ability to deliver 45W of power to a single device. With a second USB-C port, you can also keep another device powered up along with your iPhone 16, although in that case the power is shared with 27W going to one port and 20W going to the other. That’s still enough to get your iPhone from dead to 50% in about 30 minutes while also juicing up an Apple Watch or a set of AirPods. As the name suggests, this little adapter is also surprisingly compact for the amount of power it puts out, thanks to Anker’s use of advanced gallium-nitride (GaN) technology.
Apple MagSafe ChargerThe best wireless charger for iPhone 16
Even though it didn’t say anything official about faster wired charging, Apple is giving the iPhone 16 a boost in wireless charging speeds this year, supporting up to 25W charging over MagSafe. That’s a healthy boost over the 15W of previous models, and will let you charge any iPhone 16 wirelessly to 50% in about 30 minutes — provided you’re using the right charger and power adapter.
Sadly, there aren’t too many options yet other than Apple’s official MagSafe Charger, which has been re-released by the company in a 25W version. The good news is that it’s the same size as the older one, so you’ll have no problem finding any number of affordable stands, mounts, and other accessories made to fit the charging puck.
Just keep in mind that it’s hard to tell the new 25W MagSafe Charger apart at from the older 15W at a glance. Unless a MagSafe charger is explicitly labelled as 25W, it’s best to assume it’s using the older 15W speeds. That’s not a big problem, as the iPhone 16 is still compatible with all older MagSafe accessories, but you won’t get the fastest possible charging unless you’re using the newest MagSafe standard. You’ll also need to make sure it’s plugged into a USB-C power adapter than can deliver at least 30W.
Apple AirTagThe best item tracker for iPhone 16
Apple’s robust Find My Network offers support for a variety of different item-tracking tags and other accessories, but it’s no surprise that the company’s own AirTag is among the best. If the iPhone 16 is your first foray into the Apple ecosystem, consider picking up some of these to keep tabs on your keys, laptop bag, luggage, and more. A lost AirTag can report its location through any nearby iPhone or iPad that happens across it, and with a billion such devices roaming the world, it’s the largest crowdsourced item tracking network on the planet, making it much more likely your lost items will turn up.
