1. Lightning Headphones for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Now that Apple has removed the 3.5 mm headphone jack from the latest iteration of their iPhones, it really leaves people with only one wired option: use lightning headphones. Apple will be including lightning earpods with every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus that they sell, but let’s face it, earpods don’t sound all that good, and for anyone who wants a better experience, third party lightning headphones are probably the best way to experience music on the iPhone now.
Audeze Sine
The Audeze Sine are audiophile quality headphones that use planar magnetic technology to produce sound. They have a much better bass, as well as better transients than most other headphones out there, along with extremely low distortion. Since they use the lightning port, they come with a built-in DAC, and an amplifier built right into the cable, so you can basically bypass your iPhone’s DAC and use the headphone DAC. The headphones also come with integrated Siri support.
Along with that, if you use the Audeze iOS app, you can custom tailor the EQ for the headphones, and hear the changes in real time. You can refine bass levels, highs, and a lot more to get the sound that you want. The headphones are light and comfortable, with an aluminium frame, and they fold completely flat, so there’s no hassle in carrying them around while travelling.
Philips Fidelio
If you’re not an audiophile, or if you simply can’t justify spending $500 on a pair of headphones, then you can consider the Philips Fidelio. These headphones from Philips also use a lightning cable to connect to your iPhone, and they come with an integrated DAC and amplifier. The frequency response offered by the Fidelio is great, ranging from 7 Hz to 20kHz.
The construction of the Philips Fidelio is aluminium with stitched leather, so they look nice and feel like a premium pair of headphones should. The sound is good, and for travelling, and generally carrying them around, they come with a faux suede pouch.
2. Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
If you completely hate the idea of using the lightning port on your iPhone for connecting your headphones, then you can choose to go wireless with Bluetooth headphones as well. Bluetooth headphones have gotten a lot better in the last few years, and the improving quality of Bluetooth audio was also probably one of the reasons that Apple decided to do away with the 3.5 mm audio jack on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Bose Soundlink On Ear Headphones
The Bose Soundlink on ear headphones are a pair of really great headphones from Bose, that can give up to 15 hours of playback on a single charge, on a Lithium ion battery that can be recharged. So, you don’t need to mess around with replacing batteries and such. If that was not enough, the headphones get fully charged in around 90 minutes, and even a 15 minute charge is enough to keep them going for another 2 hours.
The headphones claim to have a state of the art interface and voice prompts to make the process of pairing them with your iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus easier. They come with dual microphones to reduce background noise when you are taking a call using the headphones, and the earcups on the headphones can be rotated the way you want them to be. If you are a frequent traveller and would like to carry your bluetooth headphones around, the Bose Soundlink fold down for easy storage in a headphone case.
JBL E40BT Wireless Headphone
If the price tag on the Bose Soundlink seems too high to you, but you don’t want to compromise on the sound quality and brand trust, you can go with the JBL E40BT Wireless Headphones. These headphones from JBL boast 40 mm drivers for a full audio spectrum and clarity, along with an earcup based microphone for echo cancellation.
The battery used in the JBL E40BT is a rechargeable Lithium ion battery that can give up to 16 hours of playback on a single charge. They also come with noise cancellation and a proprietary ShareMe technology with which users can share the audio playing on the headphones with any other ShareMe enabled devices that they might have.
Jaybird X2 Sport
The two bluetooth options we suggested above were both headphones, but not everyone likes using headphones, and if you are the kind of person who prefers earphones, well, then the Jaybird X2 Sport are a good option for you. They come with a rechargeable battery that can give up to 8 hours of playback time, along with a lifetime sweat-proof warranty, so you can use them for working out as well, without having to worry about the sweat.
Obviously, every person has different ears, so the Jaybird X2 comes with foam ear tips, ear fins as well as silicone ear tips so that you get the option of using whatever type of ear tips you like the most. Also included is a silicone carrying case that looks great and is very useful for carrying the X2 around while travelling, or even to just store them away after a long day.
3. Car and Bike Mounts for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
If you regularly drive a car, or ride a bike to work, then you should also invest in a good car or bike mount, to keep your phone safe in the car, while keeping it easily accessible so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road in case you need to refer to maps for navigation, or something. Here are the best car and bike mounts that you can buy.
Spigen Car Mount
The Spigen car mount is a magnetic mount that clips on the AC vents in your car, and attaches magnetically to your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. Since it is magnetic, there’s also no worry about it leaving any dirty residue on the back of your shiny new phone. When not being used in the car, the Spigen car mount can also serve as a kickstand to place your iPhone on a desk while taking a FaceTime call, or watching a movie. It can also easily orient in landscape as well as portrait mode, thanks to it’s 360º rotation capability.
Vibrelli Universal Bike Mount
If you don’t use a car and prefer to ride a bike to work, then the Vibrelli Bike Mount is the best way for you to keep your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus handy without the risk of accidentally dropping it off your bike. The mount comes with an adjustable clamp that can fit phones up to 5.5″ in size, so it can easily handle the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. Silicone straps on the four corners of the mount ensure that your phone remains stable and does not slip out of the mount while riding, while ensuring that you get access to the entire phone screen, and all the buttons and the mic on your iPhone. The silicone straps come in three colors (red, black and grey) that you can swap out when you like, and match your style.
4. Running Armbands for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
If you are a fitness freak and like to listen to music while on a run, then you should definitely consider investing in an armband for your iPhone. Armbands can keep your phone secure while running, along with providing easy access to the phone, should you need it. So, here are the best armbands that you can buy for your iPhone 7, or iPhone 7 Plus.
MoKo Sports Running Armband
The MoKo sports running armband is a lightweight, water and sweat resistant armband that will serve you faithfully on all your runs. It comes with an adjustable velcro band, and can easily accommodate a wide range of arm girths. Along with that, the armband has a reflective strip, so you can run safely in low light conditions, without having to worry about incoming traffic not being able to see you.
MoKo gives a lifetime warranty on the armband, so you can just put it on and go for a run, without worrying about it at all.
Sparin Sports Running Armband
Another great alternative to the MoKo armband comes in the form of the Sparin sports running armband. The armband is made out of a high quality neoprene, which is flexible and elastic, but does not lose shape. It also includes a velcro band in order to accommodate a variety of arm girths, so you don’t need to worry about whether or not it will fit you.
5. Screen Protectors for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus come with a Retina HD display, that is claimed to be brighter than any other iPhone available in the market. The display also boasts of a wide color gamut, and is generally really nice to look at. That is exactly why you should invest in a good quality screen protector for that brilliant screen on your iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Spigen iPhone 7 Screen Protector
This screen protector from Spigen is one of the best for your brand new iPhone 7. It is a pack of two screen protectors, so you can swap the first one out when it gets old, and scratched. The screen protector is extremely clear in order to preserve the brilliant screen brightness that the latest iPhones offer.
It also comes with an oleophobic coating to prevent oil buildup on the screen, and keep it clean and spotless. Inside the pack you will also find a microfibre cloth, a dry/wet cleaner as well as a dust removing sticker, to get you going with the Spigen screen protector. The application of the screen protector is easy, and it comes with a manual anyway, in case you need any guidance. Note: There are a lot of other great screen protectors for the iPhone 7, and you can check out our article on the best iPhone 7 Screen Protectors to see what other options you can choose from.
Spigen iPhone 7 Plus Screen Protector
If you are planning on (or already have) bought the iPhone 7 Plus, then you can consider using the iPhone 7 Plus screen protector. This screen protector, also from Spigen, comes in a pack of two. It is extremely clear, and preserves the brilliant screen brightness that the iPhone 7 Plus offers. It comes with an oleophobic coating to prevent oil buildup on the screen and keep it clean and spotless. The application of the screen protector is easy, and it comes with a manual anyway, in case you need any guidance.
Note: There are a lot of great screen protectors available for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, for more options, check out our article on the best iPhone 7 Plus screen protectors.
6. Protective Cases for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
While the design of the iPhone looks beautiful enough to make anyone wish that they didn’t need a case on it, the fact remains that if you want your iPhone to look as good after a couple of months as it did when you first bought it, you will have to use a case. So take a look at these cases that you can buy for your iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Spigen Premium Bumper Case for iPhone 7
The Spigen bumper case for the iPhone 7 comes with shock absorbing patterns on both the interior and the exterior of the case. It is fingerprint resistant and comes in a slim profile, with dual layer protection for your iPhone 7. The case offers military grade protection, along with air cushions for reducing shock impact. The grip on the case is comfortable and secure, making it a good case to consider buying for the iPhone 7.
Note: To see what other cases you can choose from, for your iPhone 7, check out our article on the best iPhone 7 cases.
Caseology Modern Slim Case for iPhone 7 Plus
The Caseology Modern Slim case for the iPhone 7 Plus comes with trendy, geometric designs on the case. It has a three dimensional moulding, and soft coatings for a comfortable, yet secure grip. The sleeve is made out of TPU, while the bumper on the case is made from Polycarbonate to provide added protection. The case has enlarged cutouts for ports, and the buttons are responsive. It is available in a wide variety of colors, and comes with a coating to prevent discoloration over time.
Note: There are a lot more cases to choose from, and you can check out our article on the best iPhone 7 Plus cases to see the entire list.
7. Docks for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
If you’re the kind of person who likes to have a dock on your desk to keep your iPhone on, then you should definitely consider these docks for your new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Apple iPhone Lightning Dock
The official dock from Apple is extremely minimal in design and gives an iPhone a look like it’s floating above the desk. It definitely looks good, and goes with the overall design philosophy of the iPhone. It is available in five metallic finishes, to match your iPhone’s color, and can charge and sync your iPhone at the same time, if connected to your Mac. The dock also provides users the ability of using the phone while it is docked.
If you use an Apple case on your iPhone, the dock can easily accommodate for that, but it might not work if you use third party cases on your device. Probably the best part about the dock, now that Apple has done away with the headphone jack, is that the dock has a 3.5 mm jack on it, that you can plug into and listen to music while your iPhone charges (and syncs). Buy for $49 on Apple.com
TKHOT Charging Dock Stand
If you’re looking for a cheaper dock than the official Apple Lightning dock, you should definitely consider this one. The TKHOT Charging Dock is small and easy to carry around, if you need to. It offers charging and sync support, just like the official dock, and while it should work with slim cases, it might not work with cases that are too thick for the dock to be able to accommodate them. That being said, it does hold the device firmly in place while offering full access to the buttons and the mic on the iPhone.
8. Lightning Adapters for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus basically only have one port that you can plug accessories into, and the biggest problem arising from that is the problem of listening to music while charging the iPhone, along with a lot of other issues that users will have to face. So, here are the best iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus lightning accessories that are available for you to buy.
Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
Apple will bundle one of these adapters inside every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus box that they sell, but it’s pretty obvious that people are going to lose these things all the time. Fortunately, Apple will sell these adapters separately as well, and for a rather reasonable price, as far as Apple accessories go. This adapter will basically let you connect your 3.5 mm headphones into your iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Buy for $9 on Apple.com
Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar
This adapter from Belkin is probably the best solution that is available for the problem of listening to music while charging the iPhone. The adapter basically splits the lightning port on the iPhone into two lightning ports, each of which can then be used simultaneously. So you can connect the charger in one of them, and plug your lightning headphones into the other one, and enjoy (albeit cumbersomely), music while charging your iPhone.
Buy for $39.99 on Belkin.com
9. External Speakers for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus will have stereo speakers, and that should definitely improve the sound quality of the phones quite a bit. However, there is no substitute for a good external speaker, as far as good sound goes. So here are the best speakers that you can buy for your iPhone, and enjoy your music the way it was meant to be.
Bose SoundDock XT Speaker
The Bose SoundDock is a docking speaker for your iPhone. It charges your iPhone via the lightning connecter built right into it, while playing music from the phone. The speaker has been designed in a way that it provides the full audio spectrum in a compact size. If you ever want to use another device with the speaker, it does come with an AUX port that you can plug into. Over-all, the speaker is a great accessory for the iPhone that can charge the iPhone while playing music from it.
Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker
If docking your iPhone everytime you want to listen to music is not something that you want to do, you should consider getting the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker. The speaker, as the name suggests, uses Bluetooth to connect with your iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and contains a Lithium-ion battery that can provide 8 hours of playback on a single charge.
The speaker provides a full audio range, and pairing it is easy with the voice prompts that it comes with. It can also connect two devices at the same time and let you switch between them easily, so you can make another device play a song as soon as a song on the first device ends.
10. External Storage for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus finally upgraded the base model storage to 32 GB, which was something everyone was asking for. That is great, but you can never have too much storage, and while 32 GB is definitely a big step up, it might still prove too little for storing 4K videos and high resolution images. If you think you might run out of space on your iPhone, you should consider these external storage devices.
SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive
The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive is an external storage drive that you can connect to your iPhone and immediately get added storage. It uses USB 3.0 to get a high speed during file transfer, and comes with file protection software so you can set passwords on your files, preventing any other user from viewing them. So you can simply connect the iXpand to your iPhone, and transfer all the large movies, videos, and images that you have stored on your device.
The files stored on the iXpand Flash Drive can be viewed directly from the drive itself, so you won’t even need to copy them back onto your phone. Simply connect the drive to your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus and watch all the movies that you have stored on the flash drive.
IMEEK 32G Memory Expansion USB Flash Drive
Another good option to consider for external storage is the IMEEK Memory Expansion drive. It comes with a USB, microUSB and Lightning connector, so you can use the drive between multiple devices, including Android phones that support USB OTG. IMEEK offers a 12 month guarantee on the drive, so you can be worry free when you buy it.
11. Selfie Sticks for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Personally, I don’t take a lot of selfies, but many people do, and with the new 7 MP front facing iSight camera on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, there is definitely going to be a big reason to take selfies with the iPhone. Well, for all you selfie lovers, here are the best selfie sticks that you can buy for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus.
Mpow Selfie Stick
The Mpow Selfie Stick is a great selfie stick for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. It uses Bluetooth to connect with your iPhone. The head on the selfie stick can be rotated 270º, giving you ample amount of flexibility to find the perfect selfie shot, no matter where you are. The Mpow Selfie Stick also includes a wrist strap, to provide additional safety to both the stick, and the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus on the end of it.
12. Powerbanks for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
While Apple claims that the battery life on the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus is much better than the last generation iPhones, the fact remains that iPhones still don’t have a great battery life, and for people who use their iPhones extensively, the battery life probably doesn’t even last a full working day, making power banks a necessity.
Mophie Powerstation Plus
The Mophie Powerstation Plus is one of the powerbanks that Apple mentions on their official accessories page. It claims to add up to 21 hours of additional backup to your iPhone, which should be enough for most people. The power bank has a capacity of 3000 mAh, which doesn’t sound all that great, but it does come with 2.4A current output, to allow for a fast charging experience on the iPhone.
Design wise, the Mophie Powerstation features an aluminium finish that makes it look very premium, and it comes with an integrated lightning cable so you don’t even need to worry about carrying one with you. Best, though, is the fact that it comes pre charged so it is ready to go right out of the box.
Anker PowerCore 10000mAh
The Anker PowerCore boasts of a massive 10000mAh capacity, along with high speed charging, and all that in a small form factor so it doesn’t even look all that bulky. It comes with a travelling pouch, so you can carry it around while travelling without worrying it at all. The PowerCore comes with an 18 month warranty as well.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 7 Event 2016 Round Up: All the Important Announcements
Get the Most out of Your iPhone with These Accessories
By using any (or all) of these accessories, you will definitely improve your experience on the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, as well as get the most out of these premium, high end devices. That’s the best part about iPhones: there is a plethora of third party accessories available for them. So, which ones of the accessories mentioned above are you planning on buying? Let us know in the comments section below.
