Accessory Reviews

Picking up a few accessories helps your tech feel more like your own and can help it last longer, too. While slapping a phone case on your new smartphone might feel like an offense, you’ll probably be happy you did it. And as more smartphones adopt wireless charging, and ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of proprietary Lightning or USB-C adapters, we’ve committed to finding the best accessories to make your life easier with these changes.

Verge Score

Oakley Meta HSTN Limited Edition review: a polarizing choice

Great for outdoorsy folks. Everyone else, get the Ray-Bans.

Victoria SongJul 31

Thomas RickerJul 24

Torras iPhone case review.

The Torras Ostand case made me a kickstand convert and the Ostand Q3 Air improves upon on it in every way that matters. The MagSafe-compatible iPhone case offers better protection and improves the kickstand to make it more durable and useful without sacrificing pocket-ability. Too bad the price is nearly double at $65.99 / €56.95

Check out the images and captions below for my quick review.

<em>The metal kickstand and hinge briefly click into place at 90-degree intervals as you rotate the assembly, making it easy to find the most stable orientation.</em>

<em>It strikes a good balance between protection for my iPhone 15 Pro and pocket-ability. </em>

<em>The kickstand can hold your iPhone when using <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23440538/apple-macos-continuity-camera-how-to-use">Apple’s continuity camera feature</a> during video calls</em>.

<em>The 18N MagSafe-compatible magnet is strong with “fourth-generation airbags” in all four corners. It has an 8ft drop rating.</em>

<em>That N52 magnet creates some interesting mounting possibilities. </em>

<em>Torras’ buttons are springy and easy to locate, and actually improve the feel over no case at all.</em>

<em>The case uses scratch-resistant materials that offer good grippiness as well.</em>

<em>Importantly the case rises 1.4mm above the phone’s glass display to protect it from falls.</em>

<em>The lip rises 1mm above the camera array</em>.

<em>All my USB-C cables fit through the case’s opening, but the bulkiest connectors (like the USB-C cable that came with my MacBook charger) need a push.</em>

<em>The case fits Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max.</em>

<em>Torras includes replacement buttons in the box if you’re not feeling this Miami Dolphins color scheme.</em>

<em>That hinge feels solid and has held up to blowing sand and dust without issues... so far.</em>

1/13

The metal kickstand and hinge briefly click into place at 90-degree intervals as you rotate the assembly, making it easy to find the most stable orientation.

Verge Score

The battery-powered Starlink Mini is here

PeakDo’s LinkPower makes the ultra-portable dish ultra convenient.

Thomas RickerJul 23

Verge Score

Anker Nebula X1 review: home theater, anywhere

The projector produces an unbelievably bright, vivid image for a portable all-in-one.

Thomas RickerJul 20

Verge Score

The Loop Micro is my new favorite bicycle phone mount

Metal, miniature, and mighty.

Thomas RickerJul 4

Peak Design Pro Tripod review: a leg up over the original

Reviews

Peak Design Pro Tripod review: a leg up over the original

Vjeran PavicJun 17

Norbauer Seneca review: a $3,600 luxury keyboard for the keyboard obsessed

An elegant weapon, from a more civilized age.

Nathan EdwardsJun 15

Dbrand’s Killswitch is the best case scenario for the Switch 2

Tech

Dbrand’s Killswitch is the best case scenario for the Switch 2

Cameron FaulknerJun 13

Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pro Controller is pro enough for me

Tech

Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pro Controller is pro enough for me

Cameron FaulknerJun 10

Verge Score

Vivo’s telephoto extender makes the world’s best phone camera better

Just be prepared for some funny looks.

Dominic PrestonJun 8

Verge Score

BougeRV water heater review: hot showers to go

A luxurious battery-powered shower for you, the dog, and those dirty dishes.

Thomas RickerMay 24

A lofi journaling kit for the digital age

The best pen, paper, and printer for effortless travel journaling.

Thomas RickerMay 14

Adidas’ 3D-printed sneaker review: What are those!?

Climacool are surprisingly comfortable, predictably polarizing.

Thomas RickerMay 10

Verge Score

EcoFlow Wave 3 review: a portable A/C and heater that’s better in every way

This highly efficient heat pump improves upon a winning but niche formula.

Thomas RickerMay 1

Kuxiu’s ‘world first’ solid-state power bank costs more but lasts much longer

The S2 costs up to 60 percent more, but it’s safer and can be cycled 1,000 times before battery life starts degrading.

Thomas RickerApr 26

Verge Score

BougeRV’s electric wagon is the uphill king and downhill menace

For bougie people that hate to sweat.

Thomas RickerApr 16

Thomas RickerApr 2

Quick review of Peak Design’s Outdoor Sling.

It can be used on its own but I found it to be the ideal companion to PD’s Outdoor Backpack I reviewed. Detach the padded cross-body strap and the $59.95 2L Outdoor Sling can be secured to the shoulder straps of the backpack where it acts as a chest pouch for quick access to a wallet, keys, drone, phone, glasses, and compact camera. Another advantage the Peak Design ecosystem of bags, packing cubes, and accessories that are designed to work together.

<em>It makes for very quick access to things like a selfie drone.</em>

<em>Its two liter capacity holds a lot. PD also sells a 7L version.</em>

<em>A rear pocket is great for carrying trail snacks for me and my dog.</em>

<em>The long zip cords make them easy to use with gloves.</em>

<em>A closer look at the custom weatherproof zippers from Peak Design.</em>

<em>The gear loops on the Outdoor Sling make it easy to attach using the gear and sternum straps already included with the Outdoor Backpack.</em>

<em>Securing the sling to the backpack shoulder straps.</em>

<em>The sling hangs loosely across the chest so I still used a sternum strap to keep the backpack’s shoulder straps taut on long technical walks.</em>

<em>A closer look at the gear loop on the sling shown attached to the cross-shoulder strap it ships with.</em>

<em>It works as a traditional sling, too.</em>

<em>It can also be thrown over the </em>back.

<em>Peak Design uses an “Ultralight Terra Shell™ 210D” ripstop exterior fabric that’s weatherproof, 100 percent recycled, and Bluesign approved.</em> <em>It’s very lightweight at 177g (0.39 lbs).</em>

<em>The sling’s cross-body strap has a buckle for easy open and close.</em>

<em>The cross-shoulder strap length can also be adjusted at the bag itself with these locking buckles. It also allows for waist-carry if that’s how you roll.</em>

<em>Yes, it has a (plastic) key lanyard.</em>

1/16

It makes for very quick access to things like a selfie drone.

Verge Score

Want to feel like a spy? Stick a smart chip in your manicure

Impractical party trick? Most definitely. But if you’re creative, a NFC nail chip is a cool wearable experiment.

Victoria SongMar 31

Verge Score

I outsourced my memory to an AI pin and all I got was fanfiction

Bee has a glimmer of a good idea. It’s also great at making you question yourself.

Victoria SongMar 12

Verge Score

Peak Design Roller Pro review: rethinking the carry-on

Travel bag or photo workstation, you choose.

Thomas RickerMar 4

Verge Score

Aurzen Zip tri-fold projector review: mirror anything (without DRM)

So easy to use you’ll take it everywhere, but it can’t stream services like Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Thomas RickerFeb 28

Verge Score

BoldHue review: the best foundation is the one you print

After three years, the hunt for my perfect foundation shade is finally over.

Victoria SongFeb 27

The Casio Ring Watch is extremely silly, and that’s why I love it

It’s a watch. It’s a ring. It’s more jewelry than either, and that’s what makes it special.

Victoria SongFeb 25

Powerplay 2: Logitech made its magic mousepad cheaper instead of better

News

Powerplay 2: Logitech made its magic mousepad cheaper instead of better

Sean HollisterFeb 25

Verge Score

Anker’s 58-liter solar fridge is a noisy power-monster

A giant battery-powered dual-zone refrigerator / freezer on wheels.

Thomas RickerFeb 21

Verge Score

Teenage Engineering OP-XY review: fun, powerful, expensive

Basically a Teenage Engineering greatest hits compilation.

Terrence O'BrienFeb 10

My water filtration kit for good times and the very bad

Clean water for the end of the world and the roads that go there.

Thomas RickerFeb 8

Verge Score

L’Oréal Colorsonic review: shades of gray

I wanted the Colorsonic to zap my grays. Instead, I got a lesson in tradeoffs.

Victoria SongDec 14, 2024

I got a desk treadmill to relieve stress — instead, it stressed me out

I became so mired in the smart features, I forgot to walk.

Victoria SongNov 9, 2024

Thomas RickerOct 14, 2024

Voyage 2-in-1 Qi2 charger review.

It’s from Native Union and it fast charges compatible devices like my iPhone 15 Pro, and Air Pods Pro or Apple Watch Ultra — pick two or get a 3-in-1 Qi2 charger instead. The MagSafe compatible magnets keep everything attached and aligned. It folds up super small but at $99 it’s not cheap and you still have to supply a 27W (or above) USB-C PD wall charger.

Score: 7

<em>It feels good and hefty in the hand, but just short of premium which is a problem for the price.</em>

<em>It unfolds and pulls a maximum of 18W when charging only the iPhone to ensure there’s enough left over (due to heat loss) to charge the phone at Qi2’s maximum rate of 15W. The charger pulls a maximum of 21W when adding the Apple Watch Ultra.</em>

<em>Yes, it’ll also charge AirPods Pro and any Qi-compliant device.</em>

<em>USB-C as all things should be in 2024. The sides are held together magnetically. It’ll still charge one device on a table when folded like this.</em>

<em>Here you can see the charger pulling an 18W maximum when only the iPhone is charging. Qi2 is only capable of delivering 15W currently. Apple’s new proprietary magnetic wireless MagSafe can now do 25W. Apple is a Qi contributor so maybe Qi3?</em>

<em>The charger ships with a pouch, nice braided USB-C cable, and the charger. Sorry, this is BYOWC (bring your own wall charger) which is a shame for the price.</em>

1/6

It feels good and hefty in the hand, but just short of premium which is a problem for the price.

Thomas RickerOct 5, 2024

Qi2 3-in-1 wireless charging station review.

This one’s the $79.99 Kuxiu X40Q tri-folding magnetic wireless charger, but it’s available under many names and prices on Amazon or Temu. I love the design having owned a less-powerful no-name Qi version for about a year. It folds up super small for travel and unfurls into a “Z” to simultaneously charge my iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods while I sleep, all from a single USB-C cable.

<em>The box says it charges iPhones at 15W and Apple Watches and AirPods at 5W each. In practice, I was seeing it pull a maximum of 14W when charging only my iPhone 15 Pro and no more than 23W total when charging the phone, AirPods Pro, and Apple Watch Ultra simultaneously.</em>

<em>A reasonably strong MagSafe-compatible magnet holds the iPhone in place vertically or horizontally to take advantage of StandBy mode. There’s a weaker magnet on the folding Apple Watch puck, while the AirPods are held in place by gravity.</em>

<em>The aluminum alloy charging stand feels heavy in the hand, while the hinges have good resistance to maintain whatever shape you fold the stand into. </em>

<em>Here, you can read the rated specs for this Qi2 wireless charging stand branded with Kuxiu, model X40Q.</em>

<em>It ships with a 36W USB-C charger, cable, and carrying case.</em>

<em>It pulls as much as 23W when charging three devices, in my testing. Usually, it pulls less, however, which is normal.</em>

<em>The iPhone pulling 14W, just shy of the 15W maximum allowed by Qi2. Thanks, heat.</em>

<em>It can still charge in this shape if you only need to charge your iPhone. An LED indicator on the back next to the USB-C jack lights up briefly and then turns off so it doesn’t interrupt your sleep.</em>

<em>I love how small and portable this 3-in-1 stand is. A soft touch coating adds to the tactility, giving the overall build a feeling of high quality.</em>

1/9

The box says it charges iPhones at 15W and Apple Watches and AirPods at 5W each. In practice, I was seeing it pull a maximum of 14W when charging only my iPhone 15 Pro and no more than 23W total when charging the phone, AirPods Pro, and Apple Watch Ultra simultaneously.

Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Thomas RickerSep 26, 2024

ESR Geo wallet with Apple Find My review.

The $44 Geo Wallet looks like a normal-sized wallet but has Apple’s location tracking built-in so you don’t have to carry a thick AirTag or one of those bulky “credit-card sized” trackers. The wallet can’t be located with Apple’s “Find Nearby” ultra-wideband tech but it shows up on a map and emits a decently-loud tone when left in a cab or just down the hall.

<em>The Geo Wallet is average sized, and definitely not freakishly large even after stuffing it full of cards and cash. If you find the Indiegogo listing annoying (it is), ESR will start open sales on Amazon around mid-October.</em>

<em>The tracker is under the flap and produces an audible tone that’s a little louder than an AirTag which should help you locate the wallet when lost.</em>

<em>The battery will last for up to five months on a two-hour charge from a proprietary pogo pin charger... which I lost. Too bad the charger doesn’t also have Find My built-in.</em>

<em>Divider for receipts and whatnot.</em>

<em>This is my </em><a href="https://www.exentri.com/shop/13-view-all-wallets/"><em>Exentri</em></a><em> wallet — </em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/4/21080075/valentines-day-gift-guide-tech-gadgets-games-home-ideas-2020"><em>a Verge favorite</em></a><em> — which makes the Geo Wallet look giant by comparison.</em>

<em>I live in a cashless society so I rarely need to bring my wallet anywhere. That makes its size less of an issue and being able to find it more important.</em>

1/7

The Geo Wallet is average sized, and definitely not freakishly large even after stuffing it full of cards and cash. If you find the Indiegogo listing annoying (it is), ESR will start open sales on Amazon around mid-October.

Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Thomas RickerSep 25, 2024

Torras iPhone 15 Pro case review.

Instead of buying the new iPhone 16, I decided to change the look of my trusty iPhone 15 Pro instead. The name might suck, but I’ve fallen in deep like with the $39.99 Torras 360-degree Ostand R Rotated Stand MagSafe Case anyway.

I had no idea I was a kickstand guy!

<em>I’ve never had a kickstand for my phone before, but now I don’t want to be without it. It’s great for video calls, watching videos, or just keeping an eye on notifications. </em>

<em>Buying cases online is tricky because you never know if it feels grippy in the hand or if the sides form enough of a lip around the display and camera cluster to offer meaningful protection. The Torras case does all that.</em>

<em>I had never heard of Torras before the company contacted me. You?</em>

<em>The black case comes with easy to install orange and green buttons in the box that have good bounce.</em>

<em>Orange metallic buttons are far superior to green.</em>

<em>The plastic feels soft and grippy. Its magnets also attach confidently to Qi2 and MagSafe chargers. </em>

<em>The kickstand ring is useful when a more secure grip of the phone is desired.</em>

<em>I like that the ring snaps back against the case with a hearty thunk. </em>

<em>The ring lays completely flat when not in use and extends easily with a fingernail. </em>

<em>I do worry that I might accidentally snap the tiny hinge if the kickstand is bent too far. But after a summer of usage, it’s not been a problem so far.</em>

<em>The case sits high enough around the edges to protect the expensive display.</em>

<em>The camera cutout is basic but also high enough to offer protection for those lenses.</em>

1/13

I’ve never had a kickstand for my phone before, but now I don’t want to be without it. It’s great for video calls, watching videos, or just keeping an eye on notifications.

Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge