As you doubtless saw, this autumn Apple introduced two new smartphones, the colourful and slightly cheaper iPhone 5C, and the flagship iPhone 5S. The latter boasts some interesting new features, like Apple's super-fast A7 processor (the first 64-bit phone CPU), a new motion coprocessor, a scanner that lets you use your fingerprint to unlock the phone, and an improved camera. Throw in the completely revamped iOS 7 operating system, and the iPhone just keeps getting better and better.
Whether you’re looking to replace your current iPhone or are jumping into Apple’s smartphone world for the first time, you’ll get a lot more out of your handset with some coordinating accessories and peripherals. The iPhone will likely be your hub for music, video, and communication, and the products here are perfect for getting the most out of those activities.
The iPhone 5S comes with some surprisingly decent in-ear EarPods, but if you want to get the most out of your music, an upgraded pair of headphones or earphones will make a huge difference. The Bose QuietComfort 20i, Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, and Harman Kardon BT all offer great sound that will satisfy the most discerning of audiophiles.
If you want your music to fill your room instead of just your ears, an AirPlay speaker like the Bowers & Wilkins Z2 will make a great partner for your iPhone 5S. And if you want to add video streaming to the mix, Apple TV can send any media you keep on your phone to your HDTV.
For communication, the Jawbone Era Bluetooth Headset combines top-notch performance and noise cancellation with understated style. And you should also consider the Pebble Smartwatch, which will let you check your messages at a glance without even removing the phone from your pocket. Read on for the details and prices of our nine best products that will enhance your iPhone 5S experience.
[h=2]Bowers & Wilkins Z2 (£330)[/h]This super-stylish combination iPhone dock and wireless AirPlay speaker can serve as a proud home to dock and charge your iPhone, or just as a good looking wireless sound system for filling your living room with tunes. The Bowers & Wilkins Z2’s large and sleek form isn’t quite as striking as the company's Zeppelin Air, but it still pumps out excellent audio quality with deep, rich bass – and it’s also nearly two hundred quid cheaper.
[h=2]Bose QuietComfort 20i (£239)[/h]Noise-cancelling headphones are usually large over-the-ear cans that can block out noise physically as well as via sophisticated circuitry. The Bose QuietComfort 20i goes a different route. This £239 pair of earphones offers some of the best noise cancellation we’ve experienced in any pair of headphones – even full-size cans. They'll block out nearly everything around you while letting your music shine through with a full and clear presence.
[h=2]Sennheiser HD 280 Pro (£110)[/h]If you want headphones that offer a clean, professional-grade sound, instead of overly sculpting your music and blowing out the bass, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is the pair for you. These comfortable, functional headphones are good enough for audio production work and low-key enough for everyday listening.
[h=2]Harman Kardon BT (£165)[/h]Most Bluetooth headsets and headphones come with earbuds that you clip on or pop in. The Harman Kardon BT turns that idea on its head with a full-size pair of on-ear headphones that can work wirelessly with your iPhone 5S via Bluetooth. They sound great and are sure to turn heads with their good looks, and you’ll have no more worries about tangled wires.
[h=2]Jawbone Era (£65)[/h]There are plenty of ways to listen to music on your iPhone 5S, but none of them are ideal for making calls. The Jawbone Era Bluetooth headset is strictly for calls, with a single earpiece that’s as striking as it is functional. It comes in a variety of low-key colours and textures, and can be customised with different voice alerts and apps.
[h=2]Mophie Juice Pack Helium (£70)[/h]This iPhone battery case was originally released for the iPhone 5, but it will work with the 5S just as well. The Mophie Juice Pack Helium is sleek, lightweight, and boasts a smart silver or black finish so it doesn’t ruin the style-factor of your 5S. It also lets you charge and connect your handset via a microUSB port instead of the Lightning connector, which is very handy.
[h=2]Withings Pulse (£90)[/h]The Withings Pulse packs a lot of fitness-tracking features into its tiny, elegant, clip-on case. It can track your activities like the number of steps taken, miles walked, and calories burned, as well as monitor your heart rate with a touch of your finger. You can then view all of that information in the companion app on your iPhone. It's like a personal trainer in your pocket.
[h=2]Apple TV (£99)[/h]The iPhone 5S can be used for more than playing music on an AirPlay speaker or through headphones. Thanks to AirPlay and Apple TV, you can stream video and photos to your HDTV and share anything you see with your friends. The Apple TV plugs into your HDTV and, in addition to accessing Netflix, YouTube, and the iTunes movie and music stores, it can play nearly any media you keep on your phone.
[h=2]Pebble Smartwatch (£92)[/h]Smartwatches still have a long way to go, but the Pebble marks one of the first non-wobbly steps. You can switch between watch faces on the fly and use a handful of apps to check the weather, read your email, and control your music from the watch’s four buttons. Pebble’s monochrome E-ink display means that the watch can go for a week without charging.
Published under license from Ziff Davis, Inc., New York, All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2012-2013 Ziff Davis, Inc
Whether you’re looking to replace your current iPhone or are jumping into Apple’s smartphone world for the first time, you’ll get a lot more out of your handset with some coordinating accessories and peripherals. The iPhone will likely be your hub for music, video, and communication, and the products here are perfect for getting the most out of those activities.
The iPhone 5S comes with some surprisingly decent in-ear EarPods, but if you want to get the most out of your music, an upgraded pair of headphones or earphones will make a huge difference. The Bose QuietComfort 20i, Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, and Harman Kardon BT all offer great sound that will satisfy the most discerning of audiophiles.
If you want your music to fill your room instead of just your ears, an AirPlay speaker like the Bowers & Wilkins Z2 will make a great partner for your iPhone 5S. And if you want to add video streaming to the mix, Apple TV can send any media you keep on your phone to your HDTV.
For communication, the Jawbone Era Bluetooth Headset combines top-notch performance and noise cancellation with understated style. And you should also consider the Pebble Smartwatch, which will let you check your messages at a glance without even removing the phone from your pocket. Read on for the details and prices of our nine best products that will enhance your iPhone 5S experience.
[h=2]Bowers & Wilkins Z2 (£330)[/h]This super-stylish combination iPhone dock and wireless AirPlay speaker can serve as a proud home to dock and charge your iPhone, or just as a good looking wireless sound system for filling your living room with tunes. The Bowers & Wilkins Z2’s large and sleek form isn’t quite as striking as the company's Zeppelin Air, but it still pumps out excellent audio quality with deep, rich bass – and it’s also nearly two hundred quid cheaper.
[h=2]Bose QuietComfort 20i (£239)[/h]Noise-cancelling headphones are usually large over-the-ear cans that can block out noise physically as well as via sophisticated circuitry. The Bose QuietComfort 20i goes a different route. This £239 pair of earphones offers some of the best noise cancellation we’ve experienced in any pair of headphones – even full-size cans. They'll block out nearly everything around you while letting your music shine through with a full and clear presence.
[h=2]Sennheiser HD 280 Pro (£110)[/h]If you want headphones that offer a clean, professional-grade sound, instead of overly sculpting your music and blowing out the bass, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is the pair for you. These comfortable, functional headphones are good enough for audio production work and low-key enough for everyday listening.
[h=2]Harman Kardon BT (£165)[/h]Most Bluetooth headsets and headphones come with earbuds that you clip on or pop in. The Harman Kardon BT turns that idea on its head with a full-size pair of on-ear headphones that can work wirelessly with your iPhone 5S via Bluetooth. They sound great and are sure to turn heads with their good looks, and you’ll have no more worries about tangled wires.
[h=2]Jawbone Era (£65)[/h]There are plenty of ways to listen to music on your iPhone 5S, but none of them are ideal for making calls. The Jawbone Era Bluetooth headset is strictly for calls, with a single earpiece that’s as striking as it is functional. It comes in a variety of low-key colours and textures, and can be customised with different voice alerts and apps.
[h=2]Mophie Juice Pack Helium (£70)[/h]This iPhone battery case was originally released for the iPhone 5, but it will work with the 5S just as well. The Mophie Juice Pack Helium is sleek, lightweight, and boasts a smart silver or black finish so it doesn’t ruin the style-factor of your 5S. It also lets you charge and connect your handset via a microUSB port instead of the Lightning connector, which is very handy.
[h=2]Withings Pulse (£90)[/h]The Withings Pulse packs a lot of fitness-tracking features into its tiny, elegant, clip-on case. It can track your activities like the number of steps taken, miles walked, and calories burned, as well as monitor your heart rate with a touch of your finger. You can then view all of that information in the companion app on your iPhone. It's like a personal trainer in your pocket.
[h=2]Apple TV (£99)[/h]The iPhone 5S can be used for more than playing music on an AirPlay speaker or through headphones. Thanks to AirPlay and Apple TV, you can stream video and photos to your HDTV and share anything you see with your friends. The Apple TV plugs into your HDTV and, in addition to accessing Netflix, YouTube, and the iTunes movie and music stores, it can play nearly any media you keep on your phone.
[h=2]Pebble Smartwatch (£92)[/h]Smartwatches still have a long way to go, but the Pebble marks one of the first non-wobbly steps. You can switch between watch faces on the fly and use a handful of apps to check the weather, read your email, and control your music from the watch’s four buttons. Pebble’s monochrome E-ink display means that the watch can go for a week without charging.
Published under license from Ziff Davis, Inc., New York, All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2012-2013 Ziff Davis, Inc