Buying guides for phone cases, chargers, and accessories
Phone Balls explains what the labels on phone gear mean, including Qi2, USB Power Delivery, drop-test claims, and watt-hour ratings, so you can tell whether a case, charger, or power bank suits your phone before you order it.
What to check before you buyWhat to check on the listing
Each kind of phone gear has one or two specs that decide whether it works with your phone. This table lists them, with the guide that explains each one.
| If you're buying | Check for | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Wall charger | USB Power Delivery at or above your phone's top wired rate, plus PPS for Galaxy and Pixel fast charging and AVS for the iPhone 18 Pro's fastest rate. | USB-C fast chargers |
| USB-C cable | A 60W or 240W rating on the packaging, and USB 3 data if you move large files by cable. | USB-C cables |
| Wireless charger | Qi2 certification you can confirm in the Wireless Power Consortium's database, and the 25W tier if your phone supports it. | MagSafe and Qi2 |
| Phone case | The material named on the listing, a magnet ring if you charge wirelessly, and a drop claim that states a height. | Case materials compared |
| Screen protector | Glass or film, a case-friendly cut, and support for an under-display fingerprint sensor. | Screen protectors |
| Power bank | The watt-hour rating, USB PD output on a USB-C port, and your airline's power bank rules before a trip. | Power banks and flying |
| Car mount | A grip or magnet that holds your phone with its case on, placed where your state allows. | Car mounts |
| A gift | The recipient's exact model, and whether the phone has MagSafe or Qi2 magnets built in. | Choosing a phone gift |
Guides by section
Cases
Case materials, drop-test claims, and screen protection, with what each line on a case listing tells you.
Charging
Wall chargers, wireless charging, and power banks, with the standards each one should name on the box.
Accessories
Cables, car mounts, and the smaller add-ons that round out a phone setup.
Gifts
How to buy phone gear for someone else when you don't know every detail of their phone.
Common buying mistakes
A charger can carry a big wattage number and still charge your phone slowly. Phones negotiate power over USB Power Delivery, and Samsung and Google phones only reach their faster rates with chargers that support PPS, which the USB-C fast charger guide explains along with the newer AVS feature Apple lists for the iPhone 18 Pro. The cable can hold things back too, and the USB-C cable guide explains the difference between a 60W and a 240W cable.
Wireless chargers sold as "Qi2 compatible" haven't necessarily passed certification, and a Samsung Galaxy needs a magnetic case before a Qi2 charger can hold it in place, as MagSafe and Qi2 explained sets out. Case listings lean on "military grade," and the case materials guide explains what that drop claim does and doesn't tell you. Power banks are the one item with legal limits on where they can travel, since they're banned from checked bags, so compare the watt-hour rating with the limits in power banks and flying before a trip.
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