A 45-Watt Charger
Did you know your new iPhone can charge faster than ever? With a 40-watt charging adapter, you can get up to 50 percent in just 20 minutes. Your old charger will still be fine, but if you want the fastest speeds, I like this simple, no-frills charger from Anker. At 45W, it covers your bases and can even juice up a laptop like a MacBook Air. The prongs fold up, making it nice for travel, too.
I tested it with the iPhone 17 Pro, and confirmed that the phone was receiving 35 watts when it was close to zero percent (the iPhone 17 Pro accepts up to 36 watts), which is great. My fast-charge speeds beat Apple's claims, though. The device went from 7 to 83 percent in 30 minutes. Wowza. Better yet, Anker includes a 6-foot USB-C to USB-C cable.
Other Screen Protectors I've Tested
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Spigen AluminaCore Tempered Glass Screen Protector for $20: Spigen's Glas.tR EZ Fit screen protector has all the necessary cleaning tools to wipe down the display before installation, and its application tool is very similar to Smartish and Dbrand, though there's no pull tab. You remove the backing from the protector, place the tool over the iPhone, then press down on the other side. It creates more air bubbles that you have to deal with, but it's manageable. It's super affordable and you get two in the box, though the edges are a tad sharp.
Caudaube CrystalShield Elite AR for $35: Caudaube's screen protector is a very close second to my top Dbrand pick. The installation is nearly identical, and the company includes the tools you need to clean the phone's screen. The tempered aluminosilicate glass has a very soft and smooth feel to it, with especially curvy edges that don't feel sharp. It also extends all the way around, close to the edges, further than many other screen protectors. It's a shame you only get one in the box.
OtterBox Glass Screen Protector for $40: OtterBox is now using a pull-tab system for installation, and the process was very easy, though I did end up with more air bubbles than my top picks. It comes with a microfiber, wet wipe, and dust-removal stickers, but you only get one aluminosilicate screen protector.
Nomad ProShield Glass for $39: Here's another aluminosilicate screen protector made by Corning, the company that makes the glass on most smartphones. Instead of a pull-tab, you put the phone in the application tool, then close the tool like a book and push down as glass sticks to glass. It worked surprisingly well, with just a few air bubbles. I still feel like the edges of the protector are a little sharper than I'd like, compared to the Dbrand and Smartish. It also only comes with one.
Zagg XTR5 Screen Protector for $60: Zagg is really going after the blue-light crowd. If you think cutting as much blue light from your smartphone will help you sleep better or might be easier on the eyes, by all means, try the XTR5. It may give you peace of mind. But studies are still mixed on the efficacy of this, though Zagg claims this version specifically cuts out the wavelengths that impact sleep and eye comfort. The glass feels smooth and is thick. It annoyingly doesn't cover the entire screen, but the edges don't feel sharp. Installation was easy with the pull-tab system (a first for Zagg), and the company says this tempered glass is fortified with graphene for extra durability; it's hard to say just how much it helps. It's worth noting that I did notice an impact on color accuracy. Compared with another iPhone, the XTR5 delivered a cooler tone to the iPhone screen.
... continue reading