Here’s how to make sure your new iPhone rings true in all the places you take it – these are Cult of Mac’s favorite, top-rated accessories for 2013.
EarPod Covers
Earskinz are a pair of silicone covers custom-made to fit Apple’s EarPods designed to add grip to the slick surface and to make them stay in your ears. If you don’t have the ideal ear shape that Apple was designing for — and seriously, who does? — these are definitely for you. They also help by shutting out ambient noise for better sound and allowing you to listen at a lower volume.
The EarSkinz not only keep your headset in place, but the slight extra thickness forms a pretty decent seal in my ears, let you walk through busy city streets listening to podcasts and audio books with the sound at a reasonably low level. Both our reviewers can’t imagine using their iPhones without them.
Buy from: EarSkinz
Bumper Case
There’s no point in obscuring the beautiful line of your iPhone 5 or 5s with a clunky case: go for the AL13 Ultrathin bumper, a precision-cut aluminum number that shows off the design of device while providing some additional protection. The bumper case comes in a gorgeous metal box, cushioned with black foam, with a design aesthetic that matches the AL13 itself.
The material of the bumper case is metal, transmits vibrations from the iPhone a bit more than other rubber or plastic cases. That’s not a bad thing when it’s in a pocket, but set it on a glass or metal table and you’re going to hear it.
Ultimately, unless you own nothing but glass tables, the AL13 is a delightfully simple, minimalist, elegant design for an iPhone 5 case, and provides just enough protection while allowing the gorgeous design of the iPhone itself to shine forth. While $80 might be a bit on the steep side for many of us, for those to whom design matters, it’s a small price to pay for such a well-crafted and delightfully Apple-like iPhone case.
Buy from: design by m
Armband
The Armpocket i30 is perfect for walking, running, hiking, and pretty much any physical activity that requires easy storage of and access to all models of the iPhone 5 (and older versions too!) when pockets aren’t an option. The i30’s storage is generous without being too bulky, providing three separate sections to hold stuff in place via a pocket in front and a strap on the back.
The problem with many armbands that I’ve used over the years is twofold, reviewer Rob LeFebvre notes. If the armband is too small, it only holds an iPhone without a case and nothing else. Two, unless it’s cinched incredibly tight on a bicep, the weight of the phone tends to bounce while running, making the whole concept less than useful. The Armpocket i30 armband is a fantastic little iPhone 5 holder that solves both of these problems.
Buy from: Armpocket Web Store
Screen protector
Screen protectors are the best way to keep your device’s display in great condition, but applying them is a pain in the butt. Enter Tru-Fit which comes with its a film applicator, which is essentially a plastic frame the shape of your iPhone. You place the film inside the frame, then clean your iPhone’s display using the included microfiber cloth.
Unlike other screen protectors, the Tru-Fit also comes with a sticky sheet that you can use on your front of your iPad’s display to ensure you’ve removed any dust and debris, and to prevent anything from settling on it while you’re getting the protector ready. It’s durable, anti-glare and has a terrific grip. The anti-glare version is available for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 4 models – but not for the iPhone c.
Docking Station
If putting together those Lego sets hasn’t left you completely exhausted, the HiRise is the docking station for you.
Twelve South’s HiRise for iPhone and iPad mini, is a combination dock and stand that looks great, is made of solid materials, fits both an iPad and an iPhone at the same time, works with cases, and best of all, will almost definitely work with all future iterations of iPhone and iPad that have a Lightning connector.
It also works with most cases, so you don’t have to dance the on-off fumble every time you need a charge. One caveat: putting it together. While beautifully packaged, the HiRise comes disassembled, like something you’d buy from IKEA. The screws didn’t want to fit, the hexwrenches were so small that they hurt my fingers to use, and even after I put the HiRise together, the two arms were very slightly crooked from one another.
“Once the HiRise is put together, I don’t have a single complaint about it. But I never want to put one together again,” says reviewer John Brownlee.
