MacRumors

Following in the footsteps of Juli, Joe, Mitchel, Marianne, and even MacRumors readers, I'm now adding my suggestions to the parade of holiday gift guides we've been publishing over the past week. Below you'll find a varied list of accessories that I, Eric Slivka, use on a daily basis. and hopefully there's something here for just about everyone with accessories for Macs, iOS devices, the Apple Watch, and the Apple TV all represented here.

- SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Gaming Controller ($49.99)

SteelSeries has offered Apple-approved game controllers for some time now, but with the launch of the new Apple TV roughly six weeks ago, interest in such controllers is surging. Fortunately for Apple fans, the SteelSeries Nimbus is a solid option that notably relies on a Lightning port for charging, making it easy to use existing cables and even Apple's iPhone dock to recharge the controller.

Apple has heavily featured the Nimbus alongside the Apple TV, and has equipped demo Apple TV units in its retail stores with the controller. The Nimbus is also included in a Disney Infinity 3.0 starter pack for Apple TV.

Gaming on the Apple TV is still in its early days, but the benefits of a controller over the included Siri Remote are already clear, enabling more precise and varied controls in a package that feels more natural in the hands when gaming. Beyond Apple TV, the Nimbus can also pair with iOS devices, enabling controller functionality for a number of games including Real Racing 3, Oceanhorn, and several titles in the LEGO series.

Make sure to check out our full review of the SteelSeries Nimbus for more details on the controller.

- Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock ($79.00)

I was skeptical of this one when it first leaked and even once it officially launched, but once I got it in my hands, I was hooked. Yes, it seems expensive, but keep in mind that it includes a 2-meter Lightning cable in the box, an accessory that Apple charges $29 for on its own.

Third-party Apple charging stands with the exception of the $130 combination Apple Watch and iPhone dock from Belkin do not include a charging cable of any sort, requiring users to supply their own Apple Watch charging cables at an additional cost unless they want to commit the sole cable that comes with the watch to that effort.

Unsurprisingly, Apple's dock has a premium feel, with a soft top and a microfiber bottom to prevent scratching. The center charging puck can lay flat or be swung up into a vertical position to charge the Apple Watch on its side, and the mechanism feels smooth and solid. The vertical orientation makes it great for Nightstand mode and for closed-loop bands. And while the disc shape takes up a bit more room than some other Apple Watch stands and docks, it's incredibly stable and with the charging puck folded flat the dock can be easily stored in a drawer or slipped into a bag.

The use of a Lightning cable for powering the dock is also a major advantage over third-party docks reliant on actual Apple Watch cables. I've got Lightning cables all over my house, so it's easy to move this Apple Watch dock anywhere in the house as needed and just plug a Lightning cable into it.

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To provide gift ideas for our readers this holiday season, we here at MacRumors have written gift guides based on our own experiences with products we like and recommend to others. If you want to catch up, here are links to the guides published so far: Juli Clover, Joe Rossignol, and Mitchel Broussard.

Here's my selection of gift suggestions based on products I own, use often, and recommend to anyone looking for gift ideas for friends or family:

Elevation Dock for iPhone by Elevation Lab ($89)

I first heard about Elevation Lab's iPhone dock through the company's Kickstarter in 2011 and I backed the project there in order to receive one before they were commercially available. The dock, which is made out of a block of solid aluminum, was intended to be heavy enough to easily remove an iPhone with just one hand, and its design complemented Apple's existing products beautifully. I have two Elevation Docks – one at my desk in front of my iMac and another on my nightstand – that I use every single day with my iPhone 6s. Elevation Lab currently offers the Elevation Dock 3 for the iPhone 6/6s and 6 Plus/6s Plus models. It's pricey at $89 but I recommend it if you've got someone who appreciates the Apple design aesthetic and needs a solid, well-made iPhone dock.

Fluxmob Bolt battery backup and wall charger ($50)

I use my iPhone almost constantly most days and I'm oddly paranoid that the battery will die when I actually need it to make an emergency call or something else important. To allay this fear, I like to carry the means to charge my iPhone anywhere. However, I also like to streamline what I carry and prefer multipurpose items when possible, and a combination back-up battery and AC charger made sense. My search led me to Fluxmob's Bolt, which is both a 3,000 mAh battery and an AC charger thanks to its built-in prongs, which stay hidden until you flip them out. The Bolt offers pass-through charging, which means that it can charge both its internal battery and and a connected iPhone at the same time when it's plugged into an outlet, so I never have to worry about charging its battery separately. The Bolt, along with a retractable Lightning cable, are staples in my purse.

At $49.99, it's a reasonably-priced gift for any heavy smartphone user on your gift list. Fluxmob also makes the Bolt2, a larger model with two USB ports and a 6,000 mAh internal battery that costs $79.99.

Jawbone Jambox Bluetooth speaker

I still have one of Apple's iPod Hi-Fi speakers use it regularly with my iPhone. Though it can run on batteries and is meant to be somewhat portable, it's not something I can throw in my bag. Jawbone was one of the first companies to release a portable Bluetooth speaker and I loved the idea and its design and bought one a few years ago and it's still one of my most-used accessories. I bring it with me when I travel and have even had family members ask me if I could "accidentally" forget it when I left.

Jawbone no longer makes the original Jambox that I have but you can buy a refurbished one directly from Jawbone for $47.99. The company now makes a smaller Mini Jambox (pictured above) and an extra-large Big Jambox, which cost $129.99 and $199.99 respectively at Jawbone's site at the time of this post.

LG Pocket Photo printer ($120)

Though it pains me to admit it, I'm old enough to remember Polaroid cameras and the grainy, chemical-laden instant photos they could print. With my iPhone as my main camera, I wanted something that could duplicate that ability to quickly print a photo and found LG's Pocket Photo printer. It connects to an iPhone via Bluetooth and is managed through LG's Pocket Photo app. It uses inkless paper made by Zink and is small enough to throw in the small messenger bag I normally use every day. It prints 2-inch by 3-inch photos on paper with a peel-and-stick back so they can easily be used for scrapbooking, journals, greeting cards, and more.

LG doesn't sell its Pocket Photo models directly in the US but you can get the latest PD251 model from Newegg for $119.99 (I have the previous generation PD239 model in a glorious Hello Kitty limited edition, thank you very much).

Fitbit One ($100)

Though the iPhone has step-tracking capabilities, I don't carry it in a pocket consistently enough to use it as a step tracker. Also, I'd prefer my step tracker to be small and unobtrusive and as accurate as possible. After trying a wrist-based tracker, I switched to the Fitbit One a few years ago and it's become an accessory I use every single day and even remember to clip to my pajamas to track my sleep. The companion Fitbit app is easy to use and I like the community aspect, particularly the challenges you can complete with friends, which are surprisingly motivating. I'm not fanatical enough about tracking my steps to take a walk just before midnight to meet my daily goal, but it does help me be cognizant of how active, or inactive, I am every day and plan something to increase my activity if I can.

The Fitbit One costs $99.95 directly from Fitbit, but it's usually around $89 at Amazon.

We have a few more gift guides to publish, so stay tuned. In the meantime, feel free to add your own suggestions or find even more ideas for your own gift shopping lists with our MacRumors gift guide that was curated by readers.

Apple's 42mm Stainless Steel Link Bracelet is arguably the most luxurious Apple Watch band available, but at $449 it may be worth considering similar but less expensive third-party options available. Enter JUUK, a new company that aims to fill that niche with its lineup of Revo stainless steel link bracelets for under $200.

JUUK, pronounced "juke," is a watch company created by Eugene Ho, a Canadian with nearly two decades of experience in the watch industry. Ho, who moved to Hong Kong in 1997 to establish Pacific Watchworks, has worked on popular brands including Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Timberland, Ecko, Reebok and many others.

"During that time, I've developed great relationships with some of the top watch component factories," Ho told MacRumors. "This means that I'm not an Apple accessories vendor trying to make watch bracelets. I'm not a guy coming off the streets trying to make watch bracelets. The watch industry is in my blood, and developing high quality watch components is all that I know professionally."

Revo stainless steel link bracelets for Apple Watch are offered in polished, brushed or gunmetal finishes for between $145 and $195. A trio of 42mm bracelets are available to ship immediately, while 38mm bracelet pre-orders will ship in late January 2016. 42mm polished or brushed spare links are also available for $12 each.

Given the popular adage "you get what you pay for," this review will take a closer look at the design and fit of the 42mm Polished Revo model, $195, to see how it compares to Apple's 42mm Stainless Steel Link Bracelet.

Design

JUUK's 42mm Revo has a premium look and feel. The link bracelet is crafted from 316L stainless steel, the same grade used by Apple and many Swiss watchmakers, and this particular model has a lustrous all-polished finish. The modern design closely matches the stainless steel Apple Watch's polished case, but like other bracelets of its kind, it collects fingerprints easily and is more susceptible to surface scratches.

In my two weeks of testing the Revo, being careful not to graze it on any hard surfaces, the bracelet still collected some surface scratches visible in natural light. The underside of the Revo is brushed to better hide those blemishes, a common practice in the watch industry for polished bracelets, but opting for the 42mm Brushed Revo entirely may be the better option for Apple Watch users who are less vigilant.

While Apple began selling "Made for Apple Watch" lugs for official third-party bands in October, the Revo has unofficial adapters on each end of the link bracelet that slide into the Apple Watch casing with ease. The adapters have locking mechanisms on the underside that must be pressed in for a secure fit. Some third-party Apple Watch lugs do not fit very well, so I was pleased this bracelet worked without any issues.

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Over the past week, we've been sharing some of the favored Apple-related accessories that our editors and writers use on a daily basis, but we also wanted to highlight the best products that our readers and forum members use on a daily basis.

We asked for your suggestions in our MacRumors 2015 Holiday Gift Guide Master List post, and then organized those picks by category. We're going to keep building this list, so make sure to mention your favorite product in the comments and we'll add it to the guide.

We've organized this list into categories by product and added a short description of each item.

iPhone

Tech21 Cases - Tech21 is known for its high-quality, highly protective cases, which are also sold in Apple Stores. Available in a range of price points, there are cases to fit the iPhone 4s and up. Prices range from $35 to $100, for the company's battery case. Tech21 also makes cases for Macs and iPads. Tech21 products are available from Apple and some are available at cheaper prices from Amazon.

MyCharge Rapid Recharge external battery - Recommended by our own Arnold Kim, the Rapid Recharge is a 4,000 mAh external battery that fits in a pocket and has outlet prongs built right in. It's priced at $70. There's also a larger 8,000 mAh version for those that need more power, priced at $120.

Zagg InvisibleShield Glass Screen Protectors - Recommended by MacRumors forum moderator Maflynn, Zagg's InvisibleShield screen protectors are available for a wide variety of devices, from the newest iPhones to the newest iPads. The glass version is made from fortified tempered glass for superior scratch protection and better clarity. Prices for Zagg's screen protectors start at $35 on its website, but can be often be found cheaper on Amazon.

Anker PowerCore 20100 - This Anker battery pack is good for charging your iOS devices, iPads, and more. At a 20,100 mAh capacity, it's going to be good for several uses, and it has dual 2.4 amps ports to charge two devices at once. The best part? It's super affordable at $40. Get it from Amazon.

iPad

Apple Smart Cases - Apple's Smart Cases are available for the earlier iPad minis and iPad Air 2. They offer full front and back protection for the iPad, merging a Smart Cover with a protective back case. There's a similar case for the iPad Pro, but it only protects the back of the device and needs to be paired with a separate Smart Cover. With prices starting at $69, Apple's Smart Cases aren't cheap, but they're high quality and make for a nice gift.

Logitech AnyAngle iPad Air 2 Case - Also a pick from Arnold Kim, the Logitech AnyAngle iPad Air 2 case offers full built-in protection and multiple viewing angles for watching videos or typing. Arn says it's a bit heavy and bulky, but stable enough to allow for typing on the screen and versatile enough with the adjustable cover. There's also a version for the iPad Pro and the iPad mini 4. The AnyAngle for the iPad Air 2 is priced at $60 and it's also available from Amazon.

Joli Originals iPad Sleeves - Joli Originals makes high-quality Dutch wool and Italian leather sleeves for the iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad Pro, and older iPad models. Each one is unique and handcrafted in Amsterdam, and they're available in several different colors. This one ships from Europe, so order early if you want to get it as a gift. Pricing starts at $63 and goes up to $99, depending on model. Joli also makes sleeves for MacBooks and iPhones.

Logitech K810/K811 Keyboard - The Logitech K810 and K811 keyboards were popular with MacRumors readers for their versatility. They're able to connect to up to three Bluetooth devices at once and switch between them as needed, plus they have built-in backlighting. The K810 works with Windows, Android, and iOS devices, while the K811 works with Mac and iOS devices. The K810 is available for $100 from Logitech, but you can get it for $74 on Amazon. The K811 is available for $99 on Logitech's website or $84 on Amazon.

Apple Watch

Monowear Apple Watch Bands - Monowear sells a wide selection of bands designed for the Apple Watch, at prices cheaper than Apple offers. There are attractive bands made from leather, nylon, and metal at prices that start at $60.

MacBook

Mountie iPad Mount - TenOneDesign's Mountie is designed to allow an iPad or iPhone to be mounted on a MacBook's screen using a clamp, where it can be used as a second display. This was a particularly popular product on the forum and it works with the iPhone 4 and later, the iPad Air 2, all iPad minis, and all MacBooks. The Mountie is available for $19 from TenOneDesign or $18 from Amazon.

General

Pencil from FiftyThree - There's an official stylus for the iPad Pro, but it doesn't work with other iPhones or iPads. While there are a lot of styluses to choose from, FiftyThree's Pencil is a standout that was recommended by a MacRumors reader. The Pencil integrates with a bunch of iOS apps, including FiftyThree's popular Paper app, offering pressure sensitivity and palm rejection. It's priced at $50 from FiftyThree, but available for as low as $40 on Amazon.

Astro Bluetooth Speaker - The forum member who recommended the Astro Bluetooth Speaker liked it for its Pure Audio feature that controls distortion through hardware instead of software. The Astro Speaker is slim and attractive with a price tag of $179.

Make sure to check out our other gift guides, each curated by a MacRumors staff member, and keep an eye out for a few gift guides we still have coming next week.

• Juli's Gift Guide: Philips Hue, UE Roll Speaker, Pressed Flower iPhone Cases, Canvas Smart Desk, and More
• Joe's Gift Guide: 64GB iPhone 6s on T-Mobile, V-MODA Crossfade Wireless Headphones and More
• Mitchel's Gift Guide: Pad & Quill Accessories, HoverBar for iPad, Beats Pill, and More

There's a range of Made for iPhone-compatible Apple-approved Bluetooth controllers available, all of which will work with the new Apple TV, but the SteelSeries Nimbus is the only controller that was designed specifically for the Apple TV in partnership with Apple.

As such, it's been heavily marketed by Apple and it's sold alongside the Apple TV as an accessory in Apple Stores. We went hands-on with the SteelSeries Nimbus to figure out whether it's worth its $50 price tag and if it's a must-have gaming accessory for the new fourth-generation Apple TV.

Design

The Nimbus is similar in size and design to the Stratus XL, an earlier controller SteelSeries released. It looks like a cross between an Xbox One controller and a PlayStation 4 controller, with a shape that's close to the Xbox controller but a PlayStation-style layout. It's also very similar to many existing Made for iPhone controllers like the popular Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i.

If you've used one Made for iPhone controller, you've essentially used them all. The Nimbus is not much different than the rest of the available controllers on the market, so choosing a controller to purchase really comes down to preference for things like size, button layout, trigger shape, and overall design.

On the Nimbus, there's a d-pad at the top, located across from four action buttons. Two analog joysticks sit at the bottom, adjacent to one another as on the PS4 controller. In the middle, there's a large Menu button, and at the back, there's a Bluetooth button, a Lightning port for charging, and a "Hold" button that toggles the power on and off. There are two triggers on each side, along with shoulder buttons above those.

A lot of early Made for iPhone controllers were expensive and had a poor build quality, but over the last several months, things have improved. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the SteelSeries Nimbus, especially at it's $50 price point. It has a solid feel in the hand and it seems like a product that's going to hold up well to years of heavy use.

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For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Anker. For those of you unfamiliar with Anker, the company has a lot of fans on the MacRumors forums and across the Internet (check out their Facebook page) thanks to its wide range of inexpensive, quality products. For our giveaway, Anker is providing 20 MacRumors readers with its new super durable 3-ft PowerLine Lightning cables paired with a 3,350 mAh PowerCore+ mini external battery.

Anker's PowerLine Lightning cables are designed to be ultra durable, built with bulletproof Kevlar fiber with reinforced stress points to hold up to daily abuse. Unlike Apple's cables, Anker's aren't going to tear, fray, or otherwise break. Anker says these have a 5000+ bend lifespan, making them more durable than other cables on the market.

The PowerLine cable uses dual-layer sheathing with an inner layer of braided copper that's thicker than what's used in OEM cables to reduce cable resistance. According to Anker, its cable offers the fastest possible charge and sync speeds with any USB charger. The Anker PowerLine cable comes in 3-foot lengths for $9.99 and 6-foot lengths for $14.99, with both available in multiple colors.

Anker's also giving away its classic tube-shaped PowerCore+ mini, a portable 3,350 mAh battery with enough power to charge up the iPhone 6s to full and add quite a bit of extra juice to the iPhone 6s Plus. Anker's PowerCore+ mini is available for $9.99. Along with these two products, Anker sells a whole slew of useful accessories for charging Macs and iOS devices that are worth checking out on Amazon.

20 MacRumors readers will be able to win a 3-ft PowerLine Lightning cable and a PowerCore+ mini from Anker. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner and send the prize.

You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page. Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter.

The contest will run from today (December 11) at 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time through 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time on December 18. The winners will be chosen randomly on December 18 and will be contacted by email. The winners have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen. The prizes will be shipped to the winners for free.

Update: For MacRumors readers who did not win the giveaway, Anker is offering a discount on its 3-ft PowerLine Lightning cable, dropping the price to $6.99. Enter the code 8IVAMR9D when checking out on Amazon.com through 12/31.

Throughout the week, MacRumors writers and editors have been sharing their gift guides to help our readers pick out the best surprises for everyone on their holiday list this year. Following Juli and Joe, today's my turn to detail a list of Apple-related products perfect for gift giving.

This third gift guide was written by me, Mitchel Broussard, with a focus on the third-party accessories I tend to use the most. Outside of that realm, there's a handful of items here that I don't own, but which I've had my eyes on over the years and that I've heard positive things about from friends and family. All-in-all, everything in the guide should satisfy the Apple Watch, MacBook, iPad, and iPhone owners on your own personal shopping list.

Apple Watch Gift Ideas

One of the best third-party Apple accessory manufacturers is Pad & Quill, whose products are well worth investing in if you're willing to spend a little extra money. With a big focus on products made from natural leathers and woodgrains, the company's entire lineup is infused with a homemade, natural feel that tends to gel nicely with Apple's slick design. I thankfully got a few of their Apple Watch products in to review this year, and I've stuck with using most on a daily basis.

Pad & Quill Timber Nightstand ($89.95) / Timber Catchall ($99.00)

The Pad & Quill Timber Nightstand is the go-to home base for my Apple Watch. Its footprint is compact enough to fit on a small bedside table, but roomy enough to provide extra space for a band or two to hang out behind the charging cradle. The stand comes in two attractive color options (I have the lighter American Cherry, but Exotic Sapele will be perfect for those who prefer a darker stand) and supports Nightstand Mode, along with both closed-loop and open-loop bands.

Even with all of that aside, my favorite part of the Timber Nightstand is its sturdiness; it feels solid and substantial, despite its small 4.7 by 6.2 inch frame. Still, if you're looking for bigger, Pad & Quill sells the somewhat massive Timber Catchall as well, which will net you a resting spot for your iPhone and a nook for change or keys for about $10 more than the Timber Nightstand (both models vary in price, depending on wood grain).

Pad & Quill Classic Apple Watch Band ($99.95)

On the wearable side, Pad & Quill's Classic Apple Watch Band is a nice alternative to Apple's Classic Buckle, and at $99 you can save around $50 if choosing to go with Pad & Quill's leather band. I wore the Chocolate Leather version pretty much daily during the early fall months and genuinely loved the look of it. Like most true leather products, the band begins to fold and crack and fade over the weeks to give it a personal, used-in quality. Although it may not have the Classic Buckle's clean edges and slim clasping mechanism, it's arguably the second-best high-quality leather Apple Watch band out there right now.

Check out the Lowry Leather Band ($109.95) and Lowry Leather Cuff ($129.95) for alternative, more intricate designs. All of the company's bands are sitting in pre-order states currently, but are promised to arrive before Christmas. The Classic Band option I first mentioned also lets you choose the metal color to match the Apple Watch's casing, so be sure to know whether the person on your list has a stainless steel or space black stainless steel Apple Watch.

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Apple appears to be rolling out a new feature in its App Store on iOS to note when an app available on iOS is universally compatible with the fourth generation Apple TV. As pointed out by iFun.de [Google Translate], the new feature is still in the early phases, as universal compatibility with the Apple TV is currently marked as "SF.UniversalAppleTV" rather than a simple "Apple TV" title as is used for Apple Watch just above. The new identifier is also not yet showing in the App Store when viewed through iTunes on the desktop.

With the growing popularity of the App Store on Apple TV, it makes sense for Apple to want to begin connecting the iOS and tvOS experience as they did when introducing universal iPhone and iPad apps in 2010 and with the addition of the Apple Watch earlier this year. Following its launch in October, Apple began running a new advertising campaign for the Apple TV, which it continues to expand with television shows like Game of Thrones and Veep.

Apple allows developers to build universal apps that support iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV all from one purchase, so it makes sense to provide users with information on what platforms are included when they prepare to download a new app.

While iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users can share Live Photos with each other through services like iMessage, the hybrid image / video can't be easily shared to social networks. Today, Tumblr updated its iOS app with Live Photos support, making it the first major social network to do so.

As TechCrunch notes, Tumblr users tend to upload, share, and re-share GIFs and other kinds of animated images, including memes, at a rapid rate, likely making Tumblr the first place where Live Photos would be widely seen and viewed.

The app was also updated with 3D Touch support. Now, users can press down on the app's icon to search the service from their home screen, activate Live Photos, and peek and pop into other users' Tumblrs by clicking on their name or avatar. While Tumblr does support Live Photos, they're only viewable within its iOS app. Other updates to the Tumblr app include the ability to send a post to any Tumblr user and messaging.

Tumblr for iOS is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Back in September, Griffin announced its first product for the fourth-generation Apple TV, a silicone case designed to protect the Apple TV Siri Remote. As of today, Griffin's Survivor Play remote control case is available for purchase.

The Survivor Play mimics the design of sleeves for the hand-held Wii Remote, wrapping the Siri Remote in a soft textured silicone that adds grip and padding that may save it from breaking should it be dropped on accident. The Siri Remote slips easily into the sleeve, which protects the back, the sides, and part of the front while still leaving the buttons, the built-in touch pad, and the Lightning port available for use.

At the back, there's a thick but ergonomic grip included, which Griffin says makes the Survivor Play easy and comfortable to hold on to even during long gameplay sessions.

Given that there have already been multiple reports from people who have broken the glass touch area on their Apple TV Siri Remotes, the Survivor Play is a useful accessory that could prove to be quite popular with Apple TV owners. Because it leaves the Lightning port open, it can be paired with a Remote Loop for even more peace of mind.

Griffin's Survivor Play for the Siri Remote can be purchased from the Griffin website for $19.99.

Earlier this week, my coworker Juli Clover kickstarted our MacRumors Gift Guides with a list of items that she owns and loves, would love to receive or would love to gift to someone. Today, she passes the reins onto me.

Our second gift guide this week is written by myself, Joe Rossignol, and is based on gifting an iPhone 6s on T-Mobile, including some of my personal favorite headphones and accessories that can be bundled with the smartphone.

SIM-Free 64GB iPhone 6s - $749 or Financed:

iPhone 6s is Apple's newest smartphone, featuring a faster A9 chip with 2GB of RAM, 3D Touch and Live Photos. Apple continues to offer a base model with 16GB storage, but upgrading to 64GB is highly recommended for iPhone users with a higher number of apps, photos and music. iCloud storage is also available.

Apple sells the 64GB iPhone 6s in Gold, Rose Gold, Silver or Space Gray for $749, while T-Mobile's newer JUMP! On Demand financing program breaks down the cost of the smartphone into 24 equal monthly payments of $27.09 with $99.99 due upfront. A credit check and qualifying service are required.

Also read more about Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program.

T-Mobile 6GB Simple Choice Plan - $65/Month:

T-Mobile is progressively becoming a more attractive U.S. carrier for iPhone users on a budget. Under the leadership of CEO John Legere, the carrier has replaced contracts and subsidizing pricing with attractive price points and features that are highly competitive with larger rivals AT&T and Verizon.

One of the most valuable plans offered by U.S. carriers is T-Mobile's 6GB Simple Choice postpaid or prepaid plan, which for $65 per month includes unlimited talk, text messaging and up to 6GB of 4G LTE data nationwide, in addition to complimentary features such as Binge On, Data Stash, Mobile Without Borders and Music Freedom.

• Mobile Without Borders: Unlimited talk and text messaging to and from the U.S. and Canada and Mexico, and free 4G LTE roaming in select markets
  

• Simple Global: Unlimited low-speed data and texting at no extra cost, and flat-rate calls for 20 cents per minute, in 145 other countries outside of the U.S.
  

• Data Stash: At the end of the month, your unused 4G LTE data, up to 20GB total, rolls forward into your Data Stash to be used any time within 12 months. If you use 3GB of your 6GB 4G LTE data in January, for example, you could use up to 9GB of 4G LTE data in February. T-Mobile is also offering 10GB of 4G LTE data for free until December 31, 2015 as a one-time promotion for new customers.
  

• Music Freedom: T-Mobile offers unlimited streaming music from a number of top services, including Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Rdio, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, SiriusXM and more. The data used by these apps does not count against your monthly allotment.
  

• Binge On: T-Mobile offers unlimited 480p video streaming from a number of top services, including Netflix, HBO Now, HBO Go, Hulu, WatchESPN, Showtime, Starz Play, Encore Play, Vevo, MLB.tv, NBC Sports, Movieplex Play, Vessel, Sling TV, Sling Box, T-Mobile TV, Go90, DirecTV, Univision Sports, Crackle, FOX Sports, FOX Sports Go, Vudu, and Ustream.
  

For most iPhone users, 6GB of 4G LTE data per month should be a reasonable amount, especially when considering the dozens of music and video streaming services that T-Mobile does not count against your data allotment. T-Mobile's network is still inferior to AT&T and Verizon in some areas, however, so be sure to check their coverage map.

V-MODA Crossfade Wireless Headphones - $300

Apple's EarPods included in the box with the iPhone 6s are likely good enough for the average iPhone user, but heavy music listeners or audiophiles may prefer to invest in a more premium pair of headphones. Nearly five years ago, I did so myself by purchasing a pair of V-MODA Crossfade LP headphones.

V-MODA continues to sell a lineup of premium headphones today, including new Crossfade Wireless headphones for $300 [Amazon]. The on-ear headphones deliver up to 12 hours of award-winning sound over Bluetooth per charge, or you can use the USB port or 3.5mm headphone jack for wired analog listening with zero latency.

Related Rumor: Apple May Replace 3.5mm Headphone Jack on iPhone 7 With All-in-One Lightning Connector

V-MODA's Crossfade Wireless headphones use high-end Crossfade M100 drivers and are designed with an ergonomic steel flex headband, patented 50mm dual diaphragms, interchangeable soft memory cushions, custom 3D printed shields with laser engraving and other premium materials.

Bluelounge Backpack - From $149

Bluelounge's Backpack is another product that I have owned for several years, it having accompanied me on multiple trips to New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco and other destinations. The roll-top backpack is modern, eco-friendly and versatile, featuring solid aluminum carabiners and neoprene compartments that can hold smartphones, tablets and other day-to-day items.

Bluelounge's Backpack is also waterproof and transitional in size, making it a perfect gift idea for the college student or outdoorsman among your family or friends. The backpack, made from 100% PET recycled materials and solid aluminum, is available in small for $149 (black or green) or in large for $159 (black or gray).

Anker Ultra Slim Extended Battery Case - $39.99

Apple introduced its new Smart Battery Case earlier this week for $99, which is two-and-a-half times more expensive than Anker's Ultra Slim Extended Battery Case for iPhone 6s on sale for $39.99 [Amazon]. Anker's case also delivers an extra 2,850 mAh battery capacity, providing up to 120% extra battery life per charge, compared to Apple's 1,877 mAh battery case.

Anker's Ultra Slim Battery Case may be slightly harder to put on your iPhone, and does not display the case's battery level on the Lock screen or in Notification Center, but its affordable price point is hard to ignore. Wirecutter calls it the best battery case for iPhone 6s.

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