The Twister Group (US & Canada) · Articles
Phone Accessories Worth Having
Phone Accessories Worth Having
TECH · UNITED STATES
Phone Accessories Worth Having
Cases and protection, screen protectors, cables and chargers, and what to skip
Phone accessories range from genuinely protective to entirely decorative, and a small number prevent the repairs that actually happen.
Cases
Most drop damage is to the corners and the screen edge. A case with reinforced corners and a raised lip around the screen and camera prevents the majority of it.
Very slim cases protect against scratches rather than drops. A drop-tested rating to a stated height is more informative than the thickness.
Screen protectors
Tempered glass is cheap, replaceable and absorbs impacts that would otherwise crack the screen. Fitting is easier with the dust stickers supplied and in a steamy bathroom, where dust settles.
Check compatibility with the fingerprint sensor if your phone has one under the display.
Cables
Most cable failures happen at the strain relief where the cable meets the connector. Braided cables with a reinforced collar last considerably longer.
For fast charging above 60 watts you need an e-marked cable rated for it, and a charge-only cable caps speed whatever the charger does.
Chargers and power banks
Buy from established brands with proper safety markings. Counterfeit chargers with inadequate insulation between mains and output are a genuine fire and electrocution risk.
Power banks must travel in hand luggage rather than the hold.
What to skip
Anything claiming to boost signal, extend battery chemically or block radiation. Phone-mounted lenses are usually worse than the phone's own camera.
Protecting the phone itself
Water resistance degrades with age and after any repair, so do not rely on it indefinitely. Keep the charging port free of pocket lint, which is by some distance the most common cause of charging problems.
Heat degrades lithium batteries fastest, so avoid leaving a phone on a dashboard or charging under bedding.
Buying accessories
Buy cases and screen glass for the exact model, since camera cutouts change between generations and even between variants. Cheap cases and stands are fine; cheap chargers and cables genuinely are not.
Wireless charging and stands
Wireless charging is slower and generates more heat than a cable, which matters for battery life over years. It is convenient for a desk and a poor choice for overnight.
Check any case is compatible with wireless charging and with magnetic attachment if you use either of those.
Recycling
Old cables, chargers and accessories should go to an electrical recycling point rather than into household waste.
Mounts
Handheld phone use while driving is illegal in most countries. A mount positioned so it does not obstruct your view, with the destination set before you move off, is the only safe arrangement.
WHERE TO BUY
Ready to shop The Twister Group? Use the link below to visit the official store.
→ Shop The Twister Group — official site
Visit this site
Visit store