Remember those cute little robot charger blocks we wrote about a while back? UGREEN, the company who made them, has brought that same robotic charm to their new “Uno” MagSafe power bank.

Like the wall chargers before it, this magnetic wireless charger has a display on the back that shows different facial expressions based on the battery level of your iPhone:

You’re not going to get crazy wireless charging speeds here — just 7.5W — but you can always switch to 20W wired charging via USB-C if you need that extra speed boost. Either way, having this handy robot pal chilling on the back of your phone brings a certain kind of joy that’s hard to quantify.

Did I mention it has a built-in kickstand for hands-free use?

Get this awesome MagSafe charger for $45 on Amazon.

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Twelve South’s travel-friendly ButterFly is a sleek, ultra-compact gizmo that starts off about the size of an AirPods Pro case (2¼” x 1″), then unfolds to reveal…

1. A 15W MagSafe charger for recent iPhone models and AirPods.
2. A 5W magnetic fast charger for your Apple Watch and 2nd-gen AirPods Pro.

Both sides of the charger can be used at once, in case you’re wondering.

Its compact folded size makes it so easy to slip into a pocket or bag, and it’s constructed with a beautiful and durable anodized aluminum shell that’s been paired with a soft vegan leather interior and strap for that luxurious-feeling experience Apple users are accustomed to.

The ButterFly isn’t just about charging on the go. It’s got a few tricks up its sleeve that make it a versatile companion for your desk or nightstand too. Fold it one way and you’ve got a handy stand for your iPhone, perfect for video calls or using the new StandBy mode in iOS 17:

Meanwhile, tilt the Watch charger and you’re all set for Nightstand mode:

This little powerhouse might just become your new travel and/or nightstand buddy, and it can be yours for $130 on Amazon.

Note: They’ve also just announced an upcoming ButterFly SE model that shares the same compact design as the original, but has a soft-touch finish and comes in three colors (with matching charge cables) rather than just aluminum, and it won’t include the 30W power adapter or 5 international outlet adapters that come with the standard ButterFly.

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While there is no shortage of mobile game controller options to choose from out there, it’s my duty to keep bringing interesting ones to your attention so you can find the best possible model for your needs.

Today’s specimen is the G8 Galileo by GameSir, an extendable gamepad grip for the entire iPhone 15 series and most Android 8.0+ smartphones with a USB-C port.

Its anti-drift joysticks and precision-tuned analog triggers are all outfitted with smooth and responsive Hall Effect sensors for console-level pinpoint control that gives you a competitive edge in any style of game.

Meanwhile, the actual USB-C jack on the controller swivels up and down to allow for easier phone connection/removal, and in this way helps ensure the longevity of both devices.

The G8 allows for passthrough charging for those longer gaming sessions, and you have the choice of using either wired (3.5mm) or Bluetooth headphones for the best in-game audio feedback.

It comes with three extra thumbsticks (small, tall, and dome) that can be changed out as desired, and swappable magnetic faceplates allow you to customize the look of your controller.

As of August 17th, 2024 you can get the GameSir G8 Galileo on sale for $73 on Amazon (down from $100).

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Look, it’s a phone case. But the company that makes this is all in, and that shows.

—D. Boyer (Amazon reviewer)

For me, one of the most compelling reasons to upgrade my iPhone (right up there with the battery no longer taking a charge) is the ever-improving camera. Being able to capture memories in photos and videos is a huge part of why I even own the thing, so taking care of the camera is important to me.

Luckily, a company known as TORRAS makes a case with a sliding camera cover, which ingeniously doubles as a 360° swiveling kickstand.

Available for the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, this case doesn’t just protect the camera from scratches, dust, and impacts, it also keeps the rest of your phone safe with military-grade 16-foot shockproof drop protection.

Moreover, over 38 neodymium magnets are embedded to grant compatibility with magnetic wallets, power banks, and car mount chargers.

Get either the 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max version of this case for $33 on Amazon. Both come in your choice of black or blue.

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Satechi is bringing the Qi2 charging spec to your car with their new magnetic air vent mount, which delivers up to 15W of fast charging power to your Magsafe-equipped iPhone 12 series or newer (or another phone using either a magnetic case or magnetic ring).

After being assembled and attaching easily to your car’s air vent — which can be horizontal or vertical in design — just place your phone on the mount’s soft silicone charging puck, where it’s held in place by magnets with a pull force range of 800–878 grams (1.76–1.92 lbs). From there you can adjust the viewing angle by 30° and quickly flip between landscape and portrait orientations as needed.

Get this Qi2 car charger mount for $60 on Amazon. It comes with a 25W adapter plug and a 3.3-foot USB-C cable so you don’t have to buy anything extra to start using it.

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Aulumu is an up-and-coming gadget accessory company with an emphasis on futuristic-looking designs that are still functional in today’s world. Take their A15 iPhone case, for example:

In addition to being ultra slim and compatible with MagSafe chargers and such, this soft-touch case adds a sweet cyberpunk aesthetic to your device, and even has CPU cooling holes for heat dissipation you don’t often get from other cases.

To bring the quality up yet another notch, the case sports an aluminum camera ring (0.5mm thick) for added rear protection, along with independent aluminum buttons that offer excellent tactile feel with every press.

The Aulumu A15 case is $40 on Amazon and comes in sizes to fit each of the iPhone 15 models:

• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

And if you like this case style, you’ll also appreciate the company’s A04 vegan leather case that has a slightly different yet equally cool aesthetic:

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iOttie’s original Auto Sense car mount made getting into your car feel a little more like living in the future, thanks to the proximity sensor that automatically opens the cradle’s arms as your smartphone approaches and then snugly closes them around it to begin delivering a wireless charge.

In case you missed it, last November they released an updated version called the Auto Sense 2, which brought several upgrades to the table:

1. Enhanced device detection.
2. An improved cradle with vent holes for increased airflow.
3. A new support foot design.
4. Faster charging speeds for devices that support it (now 15W max, although iPhones are still limited to 7.5W).

As with the original model, there’s no fiddling with release buttons or cables to worry about every time you get in the vehicle. Placing your phone on the cradle is completely a one-handed operation, and you can easily rotate, swivel, and tilt the device to suit your needs.

What’s more, it has an internal battery that stays charged for up to an hour after the USB-C cable is unplugged or the vehicle is turned off. Pretty convenient, that.

There are three different versions of the Auto Sense 2 to choose from:

1. Dash + Windshield mount ($60)
2. Air Vent mount ($60)
3. Dash Mount for folding phones ($65) — Compatible with Google Pixel Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

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Man, it’s been a super long time since we’ve written about one of Mophie’s Juice Pack phone cases. We’ve covered so many portable chargers in recent years, we’d almost forgotten how much we missed those cases that have battery packs built right in, which used to be practically standard-issue for those of us who try to keep and use our devices as long as possible before upgrading.

Today I’m happy to point your attention to the Juice Pack case for the iPhone 15 family, which, after years of the lineup being absent from the market — most likely thanks to Apple releasing their own battery case back in 2015 — has finally made its triumphant return!

Like previous editions of this battery case, the new Juice Pack is an all-in-one solution that handles both your iPhone charging and device protection needs without having to carry around an additional power pack or any cables. The top and bottom pieces easily slot together over your iPhone, with a USB-C connector in the lower portion inserting into the charge port.

Once installed, simply press the button on the back — which doubles as a way to check the charge level at any time — to begin steadily delivering power to your phone, granting an additional 50% battery life on a given day — which can make all the difference.

In addition to the convenience it offers, the case is rather slim for what it is, and doesn’t add an awkward amount of bulk on the back the way a MagSafe battery pack sometimes can.

Get the new Juice Pack $100 on Amazon. It’s available for the iPhone 15 (2,400 mAh), 15 Pro (2,400 mAh), and 15 Pro Max (3,000 mAh) models.

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Some people want a MagSafe wallet that shows off their gamer side; others might want something that tells everyone just how much an Apple nerd they are.

Caseology’s new limited-edition Folder POP wallet collection falls into the latter camp. Released to celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary, these four wallets are designed to resemble classic Mac symbols: three of them look like the macOS blue folder icon, and the fourth is an homage to Apple’s classic rainbow logo 

They’re all made from vegan leather and have enough room to slot in three of your most used cards.

Get the Folder POP MagSafe wallet for $25 on Amazon in your choice of Sky Blue, Sky Blue Music, Sky Blue Cloud, or Rainbow.

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While the Files app on iOS does offer limited support for opening and creating ZIP files, it doesn’t cover the entire gamut of file compression types out there, nor does it give you very much control over the compression/decompression process itself.

This is where a third-party app like Keka shines beautifully. Just to give you a comparison on file types between the two:

Files supports…

• Compressing ZIP files
• Uncompressing AR, BZIP2, CPIO, RAR, TAR, TGZ, or ZIP files

Keka supports…

• Compressing 7Z, ZIP, TAR, ZSTD, GZIP, BZIP2, and Apple Archive files
• Uncompressing 7Z, ZIP, RAR, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, AAR, XZ, ZSTD, ISO, LZMA, EXE, CAB, MSI, PAX, JAR, APK, APPX, XPI, IPA, CPGZ, CPIO, CPT, XIP, and more

Files looks pretty lame in comparison, right?

In case that alone isn’t enough to convince you, Keka also lets you encrypt (AES-256) and password-protect the 7Z and ZIP files you create with it, as well as split them into multiple volumes of specific size. With several of the other file types, you can also choose a compression “speed” to control the level of compression it can accomplish.

Whether you’re extracting or archiving — both of which can be paused and resumed at your leisure — the app lets you choose exactly where the file will go in your Files directory. You can set it to always point to a specific folder (it uses Keka’s own folder by default) or have it ask every time.

If you’re needing more control and capability over your file extracting and archiving on iPhone and iPad, Keka is the app I’d recommend. It’s just $4 on the App Store and supports a wide variety of languages around the world.

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A month ago I discovered via Reddit that the indie game Cassette Beasts would soon be coming to mobile, with no release date announced at the time. There wasn’t much news in the meantime, until a few days ago when the dev team (Bytten Studio) tweeted that the game is coming to the App Store on June 4th!

In case you’re unfamiliar, Cassette Beasts is an open-world monster collector/turn-based battle RPG à la Pokémon, but with a couple of twists on the formula: Rather than capturing and storing a creature in a ball, you record its essence onto special cassette tapes, which you later ‘play back’ to transform into that monster yourself.

You also get to meet and form relationships with partner characters who can join you on your travels and take part in dual battles with you.

But the real fun comes when you start fusing monsters together. Any two monsters (i.e. you and your partner after transforming) can be merged into a unique and fully animated new fusion battler that combines of all the original creatures’ types, states, and movesets.

It’s like a temporary evolution for any given battle rather than a permanent change from leveling, and there are thousands of potential combinations to experiment with.

Watch the original trailer to get a feel for what the retro vibe of the game is like:

You can pre-register to auto-download Cassette Beasts when it releases on June 4th. The download itself is free but the full game unlock will be $7, with another $3 IAP for the ‘Pier of the Unknown’ DLC pack.

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Razer has once again released a new addition to their popular “Kishi” family of mobile gaming controller grips: the Kishi Ultra, which boasts a truly full-sized form factor and more pro-grade console features than its relatively compact predecessors.

This larger size allows the Kishi Ultra to accomodate a wider variety of devices than ever, including small tablets:

• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPad Mini (6th gen)
• Android phones running Android 12 or higher (and have a USB-C port)
• Android tablets up to 8″ (also with a USB-C port)

Even without a device cradled in it, the Kishi Ultra can be used as a standalone low-latency controller by wiring it to a laptop or iPad via USB-C, in which case you’ll still have support for haptic vibrations and 3.5 mm audio.

Whatever platform you decide to play on, you’ll appreciate the console-sized Hall Effect triggers backed by additional bumpers for greater control, the full-sized pro-grade analog thumb sticks made of medical-grade rubber and with anti-friction rings, programmable L4 and R4 multifunction buttons, and the high amount of customization you have over haptic strength, button remapping, RGB light effects, and more.

Get the Razer Kishi Ultra for $150 on Amazon and enjoy a true console gaming experience on mobile.

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I’ve always been something of a digital packrat. I’ve gone through all manner of apps and websites and bookmarking systems over the years — from Evernote to Pinboard to Huffduffer to Instapaper to Simplenote to Bear and beyond — that help me keep things organized since my brain can’t handle all of it.

When it comes to capturing my favorite quotes though, my old go-to was Lickability’s Quotebook, which I last wrote about a decade ago and once reviewed on my own blog. Unfortunately, they pulled the plug in 2016 and while I can technically use the app today, it doesn’t quite function the way it used to :(

But it seems that developer Jay Hickey realized there was still a need for this kind of app, so he made one: Quotify for iOS.

Quotify similarly lets you save and organize quotes from just about anywhere — even if it comes from an audio source. If you’re listening to a podcast in Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or Castro, you can have Quotify take a snippet of it (based on timestamps you select) and it’ll convert the audio quote into text on the fly!

You can also have quotes displayed in widgets on your home screen:

Now, I should note that there are several features tucked behind a modest “Premium” subscription, including backup and sync across devices, the ability to save unlimited quotes (only 25 are allowed by default), daily quote notifications to keep you inspired, and the ability to automatically attach source info to quotes sent from other apps.

Quotify is free to download and use, and the Premium subscription is something you can either pay $1/month for indefinitely (and it includes a one-week trial before you commit), or you can opt for the $20 lifetime unlock.

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Although I grew up playing console games exclusively, I’ve been a big proponent of mobile gaming for years now, particularly on iPhone and iPad. However, I can’t deny there are still times when you could practically cook an egg on the back of the device after playing a while. They’re just not built with the right amount of ventilation the way consoles are.

A number of companies out there have realized this and started making phone coolers to solve the problem. The MagCooler 3 Pro by Black Shark is my top choice, personally.

This clever little magnetic cooler is kind of like sticking an ice pack onto the back of your phone, tablet, or other device. It combines a thermoelectric cooling chip with a heatsink and a 7-blade fan to offer super fast active cooling to whatever it’s attached to, so you can use your device longer without worrying that it’s going to overheat.

Not only is this cooling effect awesome for gaming sessions, it’s also useful for running GPS directions on long drives, watching movies, or simply using the device while it’s charging.

The integrated magnet allows it to work with MagSafe iPhones out of the box, and a magnetic sticker is included so it can work with just about anything else — tablets, laptops, Android devices, older iPhones without MagSafe, the Nintendo Switch, etc.

Moreover, you can pair the cooler with a companion app to customize its RGB lighting effects and fan speed.

Get the MagCooler 3 Pro for $56 on Amazon in your choice of black or white.

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A few years ago, if you’d told me Netflix would be the best competitor to Apple Arcade and are in fact doing an arguably better job these days of building a library of compelling mobile games, I wouldn’t have believed it. And yet here we are, with a whole bunch of awesome titles available to subscribers, including…

• The classic Grand Theft Auto trilogy (i.e. GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas)
• OXENFREE II
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
• Into the Breach
• Before Your Eyes
• Dead Cells
• Laya’s Horizon

And now they’ve landed probably their best exclusive yet: Hades by Supergiant Games!

In case you missed the last time I wrote about the game, Hades is a Greek mythology-inspired action-RPG — technically classified as a ‘roguelike’ — wherein you play as the rebellious and immortal son of Hades who seeks to finally break free of his father’s clutches and escape the Underworld.

But battling out of hell is no easy feat, as you discover in short order. As you send the protagonist into fierce hack-and-slash battle through a series of randomly generated dungeons — each run different from the last — he will die a LOT, each time being returned to his room in Hades’ palace to try again…and again…and again…

With each respawn however, you’ll have the chance to spend your hard-won earnings on new skills and weapons so you can handle threats more easily. You’ll also unravel more of your character’s mysterious history and begin drawing the support of other Olympian gods who, as you develop stronger bonds with them, will grant you various boons to aid you in your escape attempts.

To port the game to mobile, developer Supergiant Games teamed up with Secret 6 to bring along everything you loved about the original game — the lush visuals, pumping soundtrack, wonderful character interactions, and top-notch voice acting — with the addition of all-new, highly customizable touch controls. You can also use a Bluetooth controller if you prefer.

Hades for iOS is free to download for all Netflix subscribers.

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