Gallery: 11 Great Gifts for the Phone Nerd in Your Life
01phone-nerd-guide
Some people just never put their phones down. They text, tweet, browse, Facebook, Snapchat. And so, so much fragging. No matter what phone your loved one uses, here are some truly excellent accessories for making their device more useful, more fun and more secure. *Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED*
02Logitech PowerShell iOS Controller
Logitech PowerShell iOS Controller ---------------------------------- iOS is a great gaming platform. But ask a teen -- for engrossing, serious games, nothing beats real buttons. [Logitech's PowerShell](http://gaming.logitech.com/en-us/product/powershell-controller-and-battery) is the first real iPhone controller to hit the market. It was designed to meet Apple’s new controller specifications announced back in June, and it already works with over 300 games. There's a 1500 mAh battery inside, so gaming sessions can outlast most car rides – perfect for that person in your life who can’t seem to stop gaming on their phone. Pair it with an $20 iTunes gift card and you just gifted a fierce gaming system for a fraction of the price of a PS4 or Xbox One. Android users have had the ability to pair a Bluetooth controller for a while, but if you know a tablet gamer still pointing and poking, the $21 [GameKlip](http://amzn.com/B00AS22BYS) takes a controller they probably already have – the venerable PS3 Dualshock – and clips it to a phone or tablet for handheld gaming bliss. *Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED*
03Sphero
Sphero ------ It’s a ball. It scurries around on the floor, and you control it with your phone. And it can change colors. [Sphero](http://amzn.com/B00EP0SIOG) is simple, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. Also, as a toy that can zip away at seven feet per second, it makes a perfect sneaky gift for the No. 1 animal in your life — your cat. (You don’t have to tell kitty you really got it for yourself.) $130 *Photo: Sphero*
04Chromecast
Chromecast ---------- We all know that one person who loves to watch video on their phone – even when they’re at home, with a big, high-definition TV screen right there. Google’s [Chromecast](http://amzn.com/B00DR0PDNE) device is perhaps the simplest way to beam content from your phone to your television. It plugs into a HDMI jack on the back of your HDTV, connects to your Wi-Fi network, and plays videos from your phone. As a Google product, it plays better with Android than iOS. But even if you’re giving it to an Apple fan, it’s a fantastic way to watch YouTube and Netflix stuff on the big screen. And at $35, it’s the right price for gifting. *Photo: Alex Washburn/WIRED*
05iRig
iRig ---- This is a gift for the talented musician in your life. If you know someone with ambitions to be the 21st century Hendrix, the [iRig](http://amzn.com/B003T1WCBW) is most likely the first smartphone add-on he'll want. It’s an incredibly simple device with three connections: a 3.5-mm cord that goes into your phone, a 3.5-mm jack for your headphones, and a ¼-inch jack for your guitar or synth. The included iRig software digitally recreates effects pedals. Pair it with a battery-powered speaker and you’ve got a mobile amp that doesn’t need a roadie. $40. *Image: IK Multimedia*
06LensPen NLP-1
LensPen NLP-1 ------------- It’s easy to grow annoyed by the grimey haze that shows up on about half the photos on social media. Is it that hard to clean your phone lens, mom? Sure, the inside of your sleeve will work, but why not use the tool professional photographers use for smudge removal: [a lens pen](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007G5NNOW). It's pretty obvious; take off the cap, and scrub it all over the camera lens housing on the back of your phone. I can see clearly now, the grime is gone. $6. *Image: Lenspen*
07Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch K811 Keyboard
Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch K811 Keyboard -------------------------------------------- If you know someone who’s ditched the keyboard-and-mouse status quo for a touchscreen-only workflow, you might be wondering how they ever get any actual *work* done. It’s really hard to write anything of length – emails, documents, blog posts – when you’re hunting and pecking on a piece of glass. Although Apple’s Bluetooth keyboard is well-loved, and there are cheaper options on the low end, Logitech’s $70 [Easy-Switch Keyboard](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0099SMFP2) is the one you want to receive (and give) this holiday season. The 12-inch-wide keyboard pairs with up to three devices through Bluetooth, so if you have, for instance, a smartphone, a tablet, and a Roku, you can switch between them at a touch of a Function key. *Image: Logitech*
08otterbox-defender
A Case for Klutzes ------------------ An [Otterbox](http://www.otterbox.com/) case adds bulk and rubber and weight to your smartphone, but protects it from ‘ol fumble fingers. If you’re giving someone a new phone to replace one that’s all cracked to hell, send a hint by also including an Otterbox. There are a lot of brands that make super-protective cases, but if you’re giving a gift, the Otterbox is the safest choice. You’re looking at two models: the [Commuter](http://www.otterbox.com/commuter-series/commuter-series,default,pg.html) is a little less expensive and protective, but it’s slimmer. The [Defender](http://www.otterbox.com/defender-series/defender-series,default,pg.html) is a three-piece system and it works with holsters. Both models come in a plethora of colors and patterns, showing that protection doesn’t need to mean a lack of style. It’s available for all iPhones and most popular Android models, like the Galaxy S4, HTC One, and Moto X. Prices range between $30 and $50. *Image: Otterbox*
09jackpen
Jackpen ------- The [Jackpen](http://www.jackpen.com/) is a pen that slots into the 3.5-mm jack on your phone. Take it out; turn it around, and you’ve got a ballpoint pen, and your phone is the handle. Sure, the ergonomics could be better, but hey, it’ll get the job done. If you want to stick more things in your phone’s headphone jack that aren’t headphones, you can choose from styli, laser pointers, and remote buttons. Most of these are platform-agnostic and work with both iOS and Android. And Windows Phone, and Blackberry, and Zune, and most anything with a headphone jack. $9 for 3. *Image: Jackpen*
10optrix
Optrix XD5 Case for iPhone 5 ---------------------------- The $100 [Optrix](http://amzn.com/B00B8NP22Y) system is the perfect gift for someone who wanted a $400 GoPro, but isn’t getting one. Optrix has been quietly making an ecosystem for iPhone photographers who like extreme sports, anchored by a waterproof case and a lens mount. Even if you don’t know a budding Felix Baumgartner, the Optrix system also makes an iPhone into a dash cam by virtue of its wide-angle lens and mount. *Image: Optrix*
11privacy-screen
Stop Spying ----------- Here’s a cheap stocking stuffer for anybody who’s paranoid about other people looking at their screen: a protector that shields smartphones not only from scratches, but from prying eyes. Using the same type of technology that protects your medical data at the hospital, these screen protectors make it so if you’re looking straight at your phone’s screen, it will be crystal clear. But move a few degrees off-center, and you’ll only see your reflection. They’re cheap too — [most options on Amazon are under $5](http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=phone+privacy+screen) — so your whole family can protect their screens from you, shoulder-peeker. *Image: Celicious/Amazon*
12long-cable
One Very Long Cable ------------------- Everyone can use an extra charging cable for their phone. And if it’s a gift, why not make it absurdly long? The longest officially-licensed Lightning charging cords for the iPhone 5, 5s, and 5c top out at 10 feet – and they’re probably crappier than the official Apple cables. Opt for a USB extension cord. 10-foot cables are [on sale at Amazon](http://amzn.com/B001MT1EQM) for around $6. If you’re buying a microUSB cord for an Android or Windows phone, you can get a [15-foot version](http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=103&cp_id=10303&cs_id=1030307&p_id=5139&seq=1&format=2) from Monoprice for under $2. *Image: Mediabridge/Amazon*
