Phone Accessories
Accessories are where most phone spending happens, and where bad advice is common. This section sticks to what we can source from makers, standards bodies and government agencies. We do not test products, so you will find no brand rankings and no current prices here.
What accessories do I need with a new phone?
Most people need a power adapter first, because the box rarely includes one. Everything else is optional, and each accessory has a different thing to check.
| Accessory | What to check | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Wall charger or power adapter | The wattage and standard your maker publishes, plus certification | Phone chargers and power adapters |
| Wireless charger | Qi, Qi2 or MagSafe on your phone’s page, and the WPC database | Wireless chargers buying guide |
| Power bank | Carry-on only, the 100 Wh limit, and real capacity versus the label | Power banks: rules and safe use |
| Cable | The power rating and where it was bought | Cable buying safety |
What do the phones in our library tell us?
They show that you will probably be buying a charger. We checked the 41 phone pages in the library and counted what the makers publish. The counts describe our library, not every phone on sale.
| Charging fact | Phones in our library | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Charger included in the box | 0 of 41 | Each maker’s in-the-box list |
| Wired figure published by the maker | 16 of 41 (Samsung and Motorola), from 25W to 68W | Maker spec pages |
| Wireless labelled Qi2 | 19 | Maker spec pages |
| Wireless labelled MagSafe | 16 | Apple spec pages |
| No wireless charging listed | 6 | Maker spec pages |
Each phone’s own figures are in the phone library, and the wattage guide collects them by charging type.
What are the main safety rules for accessories?
Buy certified products from trusted sellers, follow your maker’s guidance, and treat batteries with care. The rules come from different bodies for different accessories.
| Accessory | Rule or finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chargers and cables | Buy compliant USB products from trusted sources that display USB-IF certified logos | USB-IF |
| Chargers | Two USB charger models carried counterfeit UL marks in 2020 and had never been evaluated for fire, shock or injury risk | UL |
| Maker accessories | Use only Samsung-approved charging devices; other accessories may invalidate the warranty and cause damage | Samsung |
| Wireless chargers | Only Qi Certified products can display the Qi or Qi2 logo; search the WPC database to be certain | WPC |
| Power banks | Carry-on only; 100 Wh per battery; terminals protected from short circuit | FAA |
The charger safety guide turns these into a checklist.
How does Phone Factory handle recommendations and affiliate links?
We explain how to choose, and we do not rank products. We have no testing program, so we cannot say one accessory is better than another, and our editorial policy says we do not estimate specs or prices. When we add affiliate links they will be marked “paid link” next to the link, and our affiliate disclosure explains how. Commissions never change what we write.
Where do the facts on these pages come from?
Every figure traces to a named source, and each page lists its sources with the date we retrieved them. The mix is deliberate.
| Source type | Examples used in this section | What we use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Phone makers | Apple and Samsung support pages | Adapter and wireless requirements, in-the-box lists |
| Standards bodies | USB-IF, Wireless Power Consortium | Charging standards and certification |
| Government and safety bodies | FAA, TSA, U.S. Fire Administration, UL | Airline battery rules, battery safety, counterfeit warnings |
| Reference | Wikipedia | Background such as efficiency analyses, always named as Wikipedia |
If we cannot find a source for a claim, we leave it out.
Where should I start?
Pick the guide that matches your next purchase.
- Replacing or buying an adapter: start with chargers and power adapters, then the wattage guide.
- Going wireless: read wireless chargers, then Qi2 or MagSafe.
- Travelling with a battery: read power banks.
- Wondering about the technology: see the chargers hub, USB Power Delivery and the cables hub.
For battery wear rather than accessories, see battery replacement.