Guidemaster: The most interesting, odd smartphone accessories we could find

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Enlarge / All the accessories an iPhone could want. (credit: Aurich Lawson / Getty Images)

Accessories like tempered glass screen protectors, drop-tested cases, Popsockets, wearables, and chargers and charging cables are par for the course when getting a new phone. But that's only scratching the surface of the mobile accessories ecosystem, as there are plenty of unique, innovative, and unusual gadgets that you can pair with your phone. If you're adventurous and need or want something a bit out of the ordinary, here are eight handy smartphone accessories. Some of them will be practical and useful, while others are more fun and whimsical. Whatever your preference, there may be something on this list that catches your eye and adds some novelty to your mobile life.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo instant film camera and printer

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo effortlessly combines the analog and the digital for memorable keepsake photo prints. (credit: Chuong Nguyen)

Instant Cameras

• $200 Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo at Amazon
• $11 Instax Mini film at Amazon
• $389 Leica Sofort 2 at Leica Camera

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If you'd like to upgrade to the latest generation of smartphones—like Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max, or Google's Pixel 8 Pro—chances are you're doing so to get a camera boost. So why would you get a separate digital camera to pair with your phone, especially one with a lower-resolution image sensor? Fujifilm isn't banking on the technology prowess of its Instax line—instead, the camera-maker wants to play into your sense of nostalgia with a tool that produces Polaroid-like photos. The Instax Mini Evo tugs on your heartstrings with its film-based approach to photography, turning snaps into tangible keepsakes rather than a digital file that's destined to be ignored in the cloud.

Unlike cheaper analog-only models in Fujifilm's Instax lineup, the flagship Evo also captures digital photo files so you can transfer them wirelessly to your phone and share them with friends. Though not a true analog print, I appreciate the combined digital and print approach of the Instax Mini Evo, as it brings a lot more versatility.

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