Smartphones today are getting smarter and smarter day by day. They can do almost everything you want them to. But, like any other gadget they too have their limitations. They are like guns but with limited ammunitions. Sure they do the job, but you can always use accessories to make them better. There is a long list of accessories which you can use with your smartphone to give it more power, protection and even added advantage. We tried to cover as many as we can. But, if you think we missed anything. Do let us know in the comments.
If you are planning to buy a new smartphone, don’t forget to check our comprehensive smartphone buying guide.
Essentials:
Power Banks:
The most essential thing for a smartphone is its battery. Without the battery, it would not run. With smartphones becoming slimmer and slimmer that too with a non-removable battery, power banks have become a must have accessories. Whether you are traveling or are just unable to find a power source, with a power bank you are always good to go. It gives you the extra amount of juice that you need and stops you from being a wall-hugger. There are four things you should keep in mind while selecting a power bank: Capacity, portability, connectors, and price. Here, what we think is the best power bank you can buy.
Mi Power Bank:
This is the best bang for buck power bank you can buy. It has a sleek design and packs 10400 mAh of power in its tiny aluminum casing. It has built in circuit chip protection which saves your phone from overcharging/discharging, LED indicators, and a fast charging port among many other features.
- Price to Value Ratio: 9/10
- Compatibility: Universal
- Features:
- Capacity: 10400 mAh
- Dimensions: 90.5 * 77 * 21.6 mm
- Weight: 250 gm
- Output Current: 2.1A
- Input Voltage: 5.1V
Cases and Screen-Protectors:
Some people hate them and some have to use them. Doesn’t matter which category you fall into, you can not deny that they add an extra layer of protection to your smartphone. With premium devices like iPhones and Samsung’s Note costing almost a fortune, it is better to use a case and screen protector. We can not help you with a product here, because of obvious reasons. But, you can have a look at our article (top ten cases for OnePlus 2) to get an idea for what you should look for while buying one.
Blu-tooth Earbuds/Headphones/Speakers.
Wireless technology has improved leaps and bounds with time. There are some good quality Bluetooth Earbuds, headphones and speakers out there which provide you with excellent sound quality and with enough charge to last you longer than you will need. So, let go of all the drama which comes with untangling the wires of your earphones whenever you take them out of your pocket with these Bluetooth Earbuds, headphones, and speakers.
Plantronics Backbeat Go 2
If you want a Bluetooth earbud with comfort, great audio quality and a normal price tag, check this one out. It has a sweat proof, durable design and gives you 4.5 hours of playback time on a single charge. It is overall a good product coming at an affordable price tag.
- Price to Value Ratio: 8/10
- Compatibility: Universal
- Features:
- Playback time: 4.5 hrs
- Carrying case: Not included.
JayBird X2:
What if you don’t want just a good set of earphones? What if you want the best? If you want the best Bluetooth earphones you should get JayBird X2. Yes, it is a costly piece of earbuds. But, it delivers what it promises. It is sweat-proof and delivers a hell of an audio quality. It delivers deep and warm bass with clear highs. The lows are boosted just a little so that balance is not destroyed. It has a sporty look. Being true to its looks, it is excellent for an extreme workout and running.
- Price to Value Ratio: 8/10
- Compatibility: Universal
- Features:
- Playback/Call time: 8 hrs
- Sport foam ear tips
- Sport Ear-fins
Plantronics Backbeat Sense:
This is a lightweight, on-ear headphone which delivers a good quality audio to your ears. It has a stainless steel headband, which gives it a neat look. A flexible band of rubber lines the headband to give it a comfortable feel. It has a micro-USB port for charging and 3.5 mm audio output jack. The left ear cup rotates and gives you an easy to use the volume control. It also has an LED indicating battery which comes in handy.
- Price to value ratio: 8/10
- Compatibility: Universal
- Features:
- Weight: 140 g
- Wireless support: Yes (330 feet)
- Battery Life: 18 hrs
UE Boom Bluetooth Speakers:
Although a little costly, it is one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy. It looks beautiful and delivers amazing sound for its size. It is portable and has water and stain resistant coating. The battery life will last you for almost 15 hrs of playback time. It is available in six different colours and each one is as beautiful as the other. It can sit horizontally or vertically. It has its own app for android and iOS and you can use the app to control your speaker. It also gives you the ability to pair two speakers to create surround sound. Logitech has just released the second version of the UE Boom and it enhances all the features the of the original UE Boom.
- Price to value ratio: 8/10
- Compatibility: Universal
- Features:
- Water and Stain resistant
- Playback time: 15 hrs
- Bluetooth: Yes
Wearables:
Smartwatch:
A smartwatch’s function is really simple. It saves you from the hassle of taking your smartphone out of your pocket every time you receive a notification. Yet, they do a lot more than that. They give you instant notification on your wrists, track your fitness, help you reply to the messages and much more. But, which one should you buy? Frankly speaking, there are so many good options out there that we could not pick one out. So, here are three smartwatches you should consider while buying one.
Moto 360 (2015 edition):
Moto 360 was one of the best android watches you could buy. The new 2nd generation carries on the legacy. It brings the beautiful stainless steel body in its classic flat tire design with minimal bezels. It now comes in two sizes: 42 and 46 mm. The best part about the new moto 360 is that it looks and feels like a traditional watch and not a smartwatch. That gives you a classy look. It will easily pass one day on charge even with ambient mode on.
- Price to value ratio: 8/10
- Features:
- Processor: snapdragon 400 (1.2GHz, quad-core)
- Battery size: 300 mAh (42mm)/400mAh(46mm)
- Storage: 4GB
- RAM: 512 MB
- Bluetooth: 4.0
- Double mike
- Water & dust resistant: (IP 67)
It is still not available in India and right now you will have to import it. But, it will be available soon, so keep an eye out.
Apple Watch
Although you can now pair an android wear device with your iPhone, apple watch is still the best smartwatch for an iOS device. It is highly customizable, looks good, has a decent battery life and is one of the best smartwatches for tracking your fitness. Also, it is the part of apple ecosystem, hence it gives you more control over your iPhone. You can even use this for their own payment services Apple Pay.
- Price to value ratio: 7.5/10
- Compatibility: iPhone 5 and up (running iOS 8)
- Features:
- Display: OLED (38/42 mm)
- Bluetooth: 4.0
- Wifi: Yes ( 2.4 GHz)
- Speaker/Microphone: Yes
- In built Heart-rate monitor.
Pebble time:
If you want a smartwatch you don’t have to charge every night, pebble’s new offering: the Pebble time is your best bet. It is compatible with both android and iOS. It has an e-ink colour display which will last you for about 7 days on a single charge. It provides you with push notification and music controls on your wrist. It is water-resistant too. It pairs with your smartphone using its own app. Pebble displays all your notification in a chronological order. It already has over 6500 application in its app store.
- Price to value ratio: 8/10
- Compatibility: iOS (8 and above), Android
- Features:
- Battery life: 7 days
- E-ink colour display
- Large app library
- Voice dictation for replying to messages
- Timeline views for notification
You can buy it here.
This wraps up our selections for best and essential accessories you can buy for your smartphone. If you like this article please share it and comment on it. We also have a brand new article on best accessories to give your smartphone cool extra features just coming up. It will be good to see some love for this article before that.
