4 iPhone Camera Accessories That Can Make Your Photos Stunning

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iPhones are known for their high-end cameras, but there are affordable accessories you can buy to make your photos even better. The accessories that have the most immediate impact on your iPhone’s photos are a lens attachment and light kit; you can buy lenses individually or buy a bundle that includes different types of lenses like fisheye, wide angle, and telephoto. Lighting kits come in all shapes and sizes, with the ring light (or rectangular selfie light as it has become popular lately) being the most common. These allow you to capture photos with greater clarity and detail, and some significantly improve the iPhone’s stock zoom capabilities.

Aside from lenses and lights, other accessories improve other aspects of the photographic process, like stability. MagSafe mounts are an interesting idea that uses the iPhone’s built-in magnetic system to provide a stable base for shake-free photos and easier recording while you walk. Lighting kits, as the name suggests, transform a dark and dreary composition into a bright and vibrant one.

Remote shutter activation accessories, which allow you to set up your phone and then use a remote to trigger the shutter, are also a great idea if you like to take group photos or photos of yourself in different locations (taking your own photo in front of the Grand Canyon, for example).

A lens mount, which you attach to your iPhone’s built-in camera lenses, will arguably have the biggest impact on the quality of your photos (along with lighting). iPhone lens accessories run the gamut in quality and price, with many options in the sub-$50 category, like the MIAO LAB 5-in-1 Phone Camera Lens Kit at Amazon ($21.99). This kit comes with five different accessories, including fish eye, 15X macro, telephoto, and wide angle lenses, as well as a CPL filter. Just be sure to read the reviews of these cheaper kits carefully, so you don’t end up with an iPhone accessory you should have avoided, like the Xenvo Pro Lens Kit.

There are just as many choices at around $200, like the Beastgrip x Kenko Pro Series 0.75X Wide Angle Lens ($209.99), which converts your iPhone’s default lens into one capable of taking stunning wide-angle photos, perfect for shooting landscapes and large compositions. Sure, you’ll get much better quality for a 10x price increase over the kit on Amazon, but your versatility diminishes and you have to accept the price. Still, if you want to improve the appearance of your iPhone photos, this is a fantastic way to do so.

Moment also offers an iPhone 17 Camera Case ($55), which protects your phone, but also has built-in mounts for Moment’s line of T-series iPhone lenses, including the Tele 58mm Mobile Lens (T-Series) ($150, on sale for $99 at the time of writing), the 1.55x Anamorphic Mobile Lens (T-Series) ($150, on sale for $99 at the time of writing). from the editorial team) and much more.

If you want to improve the stability of your iPhone’s camera or set it up for long exposure shots and time-lapse projects, MagSafe gadgets like a stand that lets you attach your phone magnetically to a mount or tripod are a great way to make a big impact for a small price. You will need an iPhone 12 or later to use this accessory, however, as only models released after the iPhone 11 feature MagSafe technology.

There are a ton of great options for MagSafe mounts, like the Gahenwo 69-inch Magnetic Phone Tripod with Remote and Phone Holder, which sells for $25 on Amazon (although it’s on sale for $17.99 at the time of writing), and features a telescoping tripod, complete with a MagSafe mount, to keep your iPhone stable and secure. If you’re into fitness or just looking for a mount with more flexibility, Moment’s Strap Anywhere Mount for MagSafe, which costs $50 (and is on sale for $25 at the time of writing), provides a silicone strap for easy mounting just about anywhere (including a handlebar, squat rack, or almost anywhere else).

If you take photos on a desk quite frequently, the Belkin iPhone Stand with MagSafe for Mac Laptops ($29.95 at Apple) is a convenient way to secure your phone to your laptop or monitor for easy thumbnails, video calls, and camera setups.

Lighting accessories are pretty self-explanatory; they are useful when your composition is too dark or using an additional light source reveals a greater level of detail. Lighting accessories for your iPhone’s camera come in many different forms, although the ring light is the most popular case of the group. These affordable iPhone accessories typically attach via a clip or MagSafe magnets and provide extra brightness to your photos and videos.

The ShiftCam SnapLight Magnetic LED Selfie Ring Light sells for $39.95 at Apple, offers four brightness settings, and has a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to two hours on a single charge. There is also a small mirror in the middle of the light so you can check how you look before taking the photo. If you want something a little larger, Sandmarc’s Ring Light – Wireless Edition ($129.99) includes a 10-inch light with up to four hours of battery life, and because your phone is positioned in the center of the light, it can be used with both front and rear cameras.

If you’re photographing small objects and want even lighting for product photography or displaying artwork, a light box like the Focast Capture Essentials Light Box with Tripod ($56.99 at Amazon, on sale for $39.92 at the time of writing) will make a huge difference in quality. You can place the subject inside the light box, change different background colors, and get even lighting across the entire object. Plus, the included tripod keeps things nice and steady for the best possible shot.

Remote shutter activation accessories are perfect if you want to take a group photo or take a self-portrait against a captivating landscape. These inexpensive iPhone camera accessories let you take a photo using a small remote control so you don’t have to physically click the shutter button. Usually, you can find them for less than $15 – some, like the zttopo Wireless Camera Remote Shutter Release for Smartphones (2-pack) ($7.99 at Amazon), are less than $10 – and they’ll feature a simple shutter release button on a small remote.

The Wireless Zoom Camera Remote for iPhone and Android ($19.99, on sale for $13.99 at the time of writing on Amazon) from Voinap has the added benefit of zoom buttons, which could be useful for small adjustments, like taking a group photo, then zooming out and taking another photo to choose your favorite.

Although lens accessories and lighting kits will likely have the biggest impact on your iPhone’s photographic capabilities, all of the accessories on this list will make an immediate difference in your photos. Plus, since many of them are affordable at under $50, you can build a small photography kit for under $100 and have lenses, a mount, a ring light, and a shutter remote for fantastic photos.