Last Friday night, roughly two million people in the United States, myself included, stayed up for the iPhone 5 pre-order. It was a whole lot of hurry up and wait, with this week being the ultimate wait. As Friday’s release date approaches, phones start to ship, and everyone is starting to get antsy… don’t forget that your new do-it-all gadget could use some accessory love. There aren’t a lot of goodies out there specifically for the iPhone 5 (yet), but you can still be properly prepared.
Screen Protector — Zagg Smudge-Proof
There really is only one name you associate with screen protectors — Zagg. Their screen/device protection is second-to-none. They are also second-to-none in difficulty to put on properly… but that is a issue to deal with later. Currently the only place that has Zagg for iPhone 5 is… Zagg. They’ve got the entire lineup ready for the iPhone, including the “Original”, HD, Extreme, and “Smudge-Proof”. Since I hate finger prints with a passion, to the extent of having several BoxWave styluses, it seems like a good idea.
Case/Bumper — Otterbox Commuter
There are a number of options for bumpers/cases for the iPhone 5 already. I don’t normally case my devices, but if I do, I want a good name when it comes to the case. Personally I went with the Otterbox Commuter, even though it slightly defeats the new thinner/lighter iPhone motif. I was slightly tempted to get the Otterbox Defefender… but I’m not _that_ clumsy.
Headset — Klipsch Image S4i
Well, Apple may be releasing new “EarPods”, but early reviews indicate that they only suck slightly less. If you want to use your iPhone for music, best to get a real headset of some kind. I checked out the Bose MIE2i and the Klipsch Image S4i. Both seemed close in quality and reviews, so I decided on getting the cheaper of the two… the Klipsch Image S4i. The S4i also comes in many colors, with the rugged edition.
No, you don’t need to buy any accessories right off the bat… but you might as well get it done with. I don’t know about everyone else, but screen protectors are a very smart investment in my book. A pain in the ass to put on, but a smart investment. The case could wait for a Morphie juice pack… but those are even more bulky than the Otterboxen.