You don't need to carry a cable with this new iPhone power bank from Belkin. Photo: Belkin
Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K w/ Integrated Cable lets users charge their iPhone or other device without needing to worry about a separate USB-C cable. And it can juice up two devices at once.
Those who need more power can turn to Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro 3-Port Laptop Power Bank 20K.
Three models of increasing capabilities make up the new mophie powerstation plus line. Photo: Zagg/mophie
The new mophie powerstation plus ultra plugs directly into a wall, and built-in cables let it plug straight into your iPhone or Mac. But it’s no simple wall adapter — it’s also a 10,000mAh power bank.
mophie also introduced on Tuesday two more models in the 2024 powerstation plus line with a variety of features.
ButterFly SE makes the innovative travel charger more affordable. Photo: Twelve South
Twelve South’s new ButterFly SE powers up iPhone and Apple Watch like the original version, but at a lower price. The Qi2 charger version of the tiny travel changer is also more colorful.
★★★★☆
Chargeasap Connect Pro can juice up an iPad but also your old micro-USB devices. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Chargeasap Connect Pro is a charging and data cable with a built-in power meter and swappable magnetic connectors. It’s ready to power up a broad variety of devices at up to 100W, and iPhone at up to 27W.
The high-quality cable is 4.75 feet long, and it comes with three magnetic connectors. And with the meter, you always know how much current is flowing.
I tested it with my Apple devices, and a bunch of others, too. Here’s how it performed.
Your iPhone could have an analog Notes app in addition to the digital one. Photo: Moft
Moft is way beyond its fundraising goal for its new Moft Snap Flow iPhone stand, which snaps to the handset magnetically and unfolds to give you a little organizer with pen and paper. Having raised more than 13 times the funding goal of $10,000 on Kickstarter, the accessories company will most likely put the new Snap Flow into production. With nearly 2,400 people financially backing it so far, there seems to be an appetite for the old-school accessory.
But in the meantime, you can pledge for one on Kickstarter at 20% off through July 31. So who needs a Samsung-style smartphone stylus (or Apple’s Notes app), anyway?
Insta360 Flow Pro helps make more exciting videos. Photo: Insta360
Hold the Insta360 Flow Pro and walk around and the stabilizer always keeps your iPhone camera pointed at you or your subject thanks to Apple’s DockKit and Deep Track 3.0. It’s designed for content creators on the move.
The gimbal includes a selfie stick, tripod, power bank and tracking ring light.
Make charging your devices on the go easier with a wireless travel charger. Image: Cult of Mac
With the summer travel season in full swing, it’s time to think about keeping your Apple devices ready for the road. Here are some of the best wireless travel chargers for powering up your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time.
I’ve been a frequent traveler for many years, toting Apple devices across three continents. I’m happy to share my experience.
★★★★☆
Plugable 40W Dual USB-C Charger: Powerful enough to be useful, small enough to go anywhere Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Happily, powerful USB chargers keep getting smaller. The new Plugable 40W Dual USB-C Charger is the most portable one I’ve ever used, but it still puts out enough juice to keep a MacBook, iPad and/or iPhone going.
I went hands-on to test the capabilities of this affordable accessory.
★★★★☆
The Ikea Sjöss 45W is the best dual USB-C charger you can buy for cheap. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Plenty of power bricks with dual USB-C ports give you options for charging your Apple devices. But Ikea — yes, the company known for its DIY furniture — has a new offering that trumps them all from a value viewpoint. As you’ll find out in our review of the Ikea Sjöss 45W charger, it packs two USB-C ports and supports all popular fast charging standards.
The effective power adapter stands out for its super-low price, which significantly undercuts the competition. Below is our quick review of the Ikea Sjöss 45W USB-C charger.
OtterBox's new iPhone cases look like leather but haven't been anywhere near a cow. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The just-released OtterBox cactus leather iPhone cases give buyers the option to wrap their handset in a plant-based material rather than traditional leather. In my testing, the cactus-based material looks and feels somewhat similar to cow leather but not identical.
There’s a lot to like about OtterBox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather iPhone cases that are now available starting Monday.
iPhone cases from Case-Mate, OtterBox and Speck are included in the sale. Photo: Case-Mate
Amazon bargains site Woot! always brings the bargains on Apple gear and accessories. Now you have your pick of super-low prices on iPhone cases and other accessories, mixed in with some of the same for Android users.
And while the sale includes 85 items as of midday Wednesday, seven have sold out so far. The sale ends May 31 at 10 p.m. Pacific.
Apple and Star Wars come together in these new accessories. Photo: Casetify
Casetify partnered with Lucasfilm to release an exclusive collection of iPhone cases and other accessories in honor of Star Wars Day. It’s all about the Dark Side of the Force, with a range of styles featuring Darth Vader, the Death Star, stormtroopers and more.
These are limited editions so don’t procrastinate about ordering.
The 5,000mAh power bank can be used in the stand or separately. Photo: SwitchEasy
How many times have you rushed out the door with a battery pack for your iPhone, only to discover the battery is dead as a doornail? SwitchEasy’s 2-in-1 Portal solves that. This stylish MagSafe battery pack stand includes a portable power pack that is always charged and ready to go.
And we have a massive discount only for Cult of Mac readers. The Portal regularly costs $119.99, but we are dropping the price to $44.99. That’s more than 60% off, and an offer not found anywhere else. Heck, it’s a good deal just for the 5,000mAh rechargeable MagSafe battery.
With its Bang & Olufsen-inspired styling, Portal is great for your desktop or nightstand. And it ensures you always have portable power ready to go.
★★★★★
Enhance your video calls and content creation with the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro can hold up an iPhone, rotate and tilt to keep the camera focused on the user during video calls. It’s wish fulfillment for every TikTok or YouTube creator working alone. The same goes for anyone who’s frequently in video conferences.
I went hands on with the accessory and my iPhone 15. And wow, this thing is impressive.
★★★★★
Baseus Blade 2 is just the right shape to fit easily in a bag with your MacBook or iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank is loaded with great features, including two USB-C ports, 12,000 mAh of capacity, a max of 65W output and a built-in status display.
But what sets it part from the pack is its design. It’s slim enough to go easily into bags designed for MacBook and iPad. And it’s relatively lightweight, too.
I tested the Baseus Blade 2 with my gear. Here’s how well the accessory lived up to its promise.
On sale: Baseus is offering $30 off the regular cost. But the deal ends soon.
Have more fun gaming with the updated Backbone One iPhone game controller. Photo: Backbone
Backbone updated the Lightning version of its popular game controller for iPhone with new magnetic adapters, a reshaped D-pad, and more. The goal of the second generation Backbone One is “better, faster, and longer gaming,” according to the company.
It now matches the updated USB-C version that Backbone introduced in autumn 2023.
Belkin just launched one of the first multi-device charging stands with Qi2. Photo: Belkin
The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand with Qi2 offers 15W charging for iPhone and other Qi2-enabled handsets, fast charging for Apple Watch, and optimal charging for AirPods, too.
This third version of Belkin’s charging stand launched Tuesday.
★★★★☆
Say goodbye to virtual controls and hello to precise joystick and trigger inputs with GameSir X2s Type-C Mobile Controller. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The GameSir X2s Type-C Mobile Controller is ready to make your mobile gaming so much better. Wrap the telescope design around your iPhone 15 to be ready for your favorite RPG, FPS and other advanced games.
It boasts Hall Effect sticks and triggers in a familiar arrangement, but is always ready for you to pick it up and go.
I tested it with my iPhone 15 and had quite a lot of fun. It also works with Androids. And if you’re still rocking a Lightning-enabled iPhone, don’t feel left out — GameSir has a version for you, too.
The Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro can be your virtual cameraman, whether you're making a TikTok video or simply on a video call. Photo: Belkin
The Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro is the first-ever accessory to work with Apple DockKit. Using this tech, it can hold up an iPhone, rotate and tilt to keep the camera focused on the user during video calls.
After being announced CES 2024 in January, the accessory reached the market on Friday.
★★★★☆
Juice up your devices even when there's no power socket in sight with Belkin's wall charger and power bank. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A wall charger is useless when there’s no power socket handy. That’s why Belkin recently launched one that has a built-in battery so it’s ready to charge up your iPhone even when you’re off the grid.
Belkin BoostCharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K has a pair of USB ports and flip-out power prongs for maximum adaptability.
I put it through a series of tests with my iPhone 15 Plus, and it came through quite well.
★★★★☆
No, NexDock isn't a laptop that runs iPadOS. It's better. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
NexDock lets you easily add a 13-inch external screen, keyboard and trackpad to your iPad or iPhone 15 and make them even more useful. Plus, there are bonus features: The all-in-one accessory recharges the Apple device, and includes a microSD card reader and an additional USB-C port.
I tested the Nex’s NexDock for this review, and found it a great fit for iPad — and a somewhat problematic one for iPhone 15, though a third-party app helps. Here’s why.