Purchasing Apple’s lightning cables and charging cables that flow perfectly in sync with your iPhone or Mac is one thing; shelling out a lot of money for its accessories is another. “Do not buy accessories, particularly iPhone cases, directly from Apple,” Lynch says. “They're very expensive compared to alternatives available on Amazon.”
A typical iPhone case starts at around $40 for an iPhone 11 clear case and then climbs up to $50 for most iPhone 12 cases. “Instead of buying a $50+ iPhone case from Apple, you can get a $10 case on Amazon,” Lynch says. “I recommend getting one with raised edges to protect your iPhone's display and shockproof corners which give your phone more protection when you drop it.”
If you’re trying to narrow down your iPhone case options from Amazon’s extensive list of product options, Lynch says she recommends cases made by Spigen. “They'll keep your iPhone protected and typically cost between $10–15,” Lynch says.
You'll also find that the highly rated Spigen phone case comes in a diverse variety of colors and styles that range from clear to bold colors to glittery cases.
If there’s one area where you should avoid cutting corners it’s lightning connector accessories. Apple recommends only using accessories that Apple has certified and that feature the MFi badge. This doesn’t necessarily mean your cables have to come from an Apple store, but it’s more important to look for these details when shopping for competitive brands on Amazon and other sites. A counterfeit cable, though it may be cheaper, could damage your phone or simply not deliver the power needed to connect properly to your device.
But when it comes to phone covers — save your money and have fun shopping for a diverse range of covers outside of the Apple brand.