Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Mobile accessories that would make great gifts
With the holiday season approaching, it’s time to take stock of what your loved one has, and what they need. Chances are they have a smartphone, but are they getting the most out of it? It’s possible there’s something missing that could further enhance the joy they get out of their most used electronic device.
With that in mind, here’s our roundup of great accessories you can give to your loved one that will take their mobile experience to the next level.
Looking for even more great gift ideas?
Get them a high quality self-stick
If your loved one is a hard core selfie taker – don’t judge, we know some of those folks – then the Fugetek FT-568 Professional High End Alloy Selfie Stick is for them. This is made from materials strong enough to extend out to 50”. Interchangeable phone mounts make sure you get the right fit for your phone, or swap in your DSLR for extra high def selfies…which may or may not be a thing. The Bluetooth remote connects with multiple devices so there’s no need to repair as you swap out phones.
Even better, it’s only $18, making it a very affordable yet useful gift.
- See also: Best selfie sticks for smartphones
Give the gift of a battery charger that also can plug in for even more juicing up
An accessory for a smartphone has to provide convenience and enhance your day-to-day use of your smartphone. It can’t get in the way. Which is why, while there are bigger and faster power banks out there, the Heloideo portable charger is our pick for this entry. This power pack has all the cables you need built in – AC adapter, USB Type-A and USB Type-C. Of course, you’ll want to make sure their phone takes USB Type-C.
The 5,000 mAh battery should be good to keep the phone topped off, or to give it one or two full charges. All in a price that’s under $40.
- See also: Best portable battery chargers
Bring their sound to the next level with a good bluetooth speaker
Sometimes, you just want to listen to your music with something other than the tinny speakers that come in your phone. A Bluetooth speaker can be just what the doctor ordered for a party, or even a car that’s not Bluetooth enabled. The Archeer 25 W Bluetooth Speaker (A320) gives you great audio with a decent bit of bass in a small package. The Bamboo wood finish and cloth back looks really great.
The speaker is a bit heavy, but it’s also really loud with 25 Watts of thumping sound. It also comes with a carrying bag, USB cable, 3.5 mm audio cable, and an 18-month warranty. All of that for just $60.
- See also: Best Bluetooth speakers
Headphones make great gifts too
In ear monitors are great for the walker, jogger, hiker, or commuter as they offer great sound and isolation in a small package. The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Wireless Headphones offer just that and more. The ergonomic around-the-neck design is comfortable when they’re in and when they’re not. They also connect to up to 2 devices at once – for the phone and the laptop. Sennheiser is one of the biggest names in sound, and backs these up with a 2-year warranty.
At $135, these aren’t the cheapest pair but they are very high quality and yet still don’t completely break the bank.
A telephoto camera lens kit will stand out, no doubt
Smartphone cameras are so good today it’s hard to justify having a point and shoot camera. But the problem with smartphone cameras is they don’t zoom very well. The Lingwei Telephoto lens kit upgrades your smartphone with up to 18x optical zoom, bringing you as close to the action as you want to be, with the best camera that you have. The Lens kit even comes with a tripod for extra stabilization, a carrying pouch, and a cleaning cloth. This is the sort of item that everyone wants, but no one will buy for themselves.
Take their productivity to the next level with a Bluetooth keyboard
No one wants to tote around a laptop with them everywhere. On the other hand, not everything is just a quick one sentence email. So what’s the solution? A Bluetooth keyboard solves a lot of problems in that regard. If you’re on the go a lot, and you need to bang out some serious writing, then the Microsoft Universal Keyboard is your solution. The appropriately named universal keyboard connects to any Bluetooth device, and can even connect to two different devices and switch between them with the push of a button. The keyboard itself folds in half for easy storage and keeps things nicely out of the way.
Make charging faster and easier than ever with a wireless pad
Wireless charging has been around for a long time, so there are a lot of accessories to choose from. Now that Apple has adopted wireless charging as well, it will almost certainly bring the concept into the mainstream. Anker is one of the leading brands in smartphone accessories. The Anker wireless charging pad is a good buy in the sub $30 range. It supports fast wireless charging with an additional wall outlet, but by itself is does a great job at charging up your qi devices with a slim, low profile and attractive package.
For your cyclists friends: a bike mount
On the go doesn’t always mean being on a plane, train, or automobile. Sometimes, you’re a pedal pusher, and when you are, you want to be able to reply to that important text. Actually, don’t do that. Seriously, don’t. But for things like directions, Enkeeo has a great solution for you. The Enkeeo bike mount offers a quick and solid connection to your handlebars that’s easy to install. The mount itself rotates for portrait or landscape viewing. The mount grips your phone securely on either side with a clamp, plus includes four silicone slings to grab all four corners of phone.
JOBY GorillaPod Tripod
There are times when you need a tripod for your phone. Maybe you’re taking a family portrait or you want to keep your phone steady on a close up. The nice thing about a phone is that its light, so heavy duty isn’t going to be a requirement. Plus, you won’t always have a nice stable surface to set your phone. Enter the JOBY GorillaPod. This flexible tripod is tiny, so it stores well – it can be tossed into a bag when needed, or even hung from the bag without you noticing it. Plus, the bendable legs allow you to mount it to almost anything – a railing, a tree branch, almost anywhere. Its super convenient and, pardon the pun, very flexible. It’ll work almost anywhere.
Mpow Smartphone Car Mount
Ideally, we should all keep our phones in our pockets when driving. But, since most of us don’t, a good car mount can be hard to come by. Mpow has a good solution, using the CD Slot in your car radio. Insert the mount and twist a bolt to expand the jaws, locking it into place. The phone is perfectly secure and removable when and if you ever decide to use that CD player again. This particularly nice since there is no adhesive involved, so nothing to clean up if you decide to sell your car.