Best iPhone 12 & iPhone 12 Pro Accessories for Travelers

As travel bloggers and people who are obsessed with taking pictures of their dog in pretty places – we decided to look into an upgrade. We settled on iPhone 12 Pros – and we’re 100% happy that we did. Not only is the 12 Pro lighting fast – the camera is the best on the market of any phone as of December 2020, making it a perfect choice for travelers in the coming year! This guide will cover all of the best accessories for the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Should You Upgrade To The iPhone 12?

If you’re a travel blogger or just looking to upgrade your photography game – an iPhone 12 Pro will be the perfect place to start in 2021. {Thinking of a New Year’s resolution? Try photography!!} Before buying more lenses or a better camera body – adding the new iPhone 12 is a great option. You’ll be able to expand your photography skills with something you use every day.

Apple products require very little technical experience, so you’ll have time to take those Instagram worthy photos! (And not worry about figuring out a new camera!) So far we haven’t found really any drawbacks to investing in these new phones except one weeee thing. { Forbes reminded us that it was not in fact sent from the heavens and we’re so grateful for that!}

According to Forbes, the only problem the iPhone 12 Pro has is ‘it doesn’t work when I’m wearing a protective face mask’.

Forbes Magazine

As much as that does stink in our current world climate – the masks won’t last forever but these phones will! {Or at least until next year when Apple releases their next drool-worthy tech!}

iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro vs. Iphone 12 Pro Max

What are the major differences between the 3? According to Tom’s guide ‘both versions of Apple’s flagship phone benefit from 5G support, blazing A14 Bionic processors and gorgeous OLED displays.’ The major differences between the two are cost and camera specs. (For a full breakdown of the difference between all iPhone 12s – see tom’s guide here.)

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are on the lower end of the spectrum, with the mini being $699. The iPhone 12 Pros are both on the higher end for price with the 12 Pro Max coming in at $1099.

What you get with the 12 Pros is a much more powerful camera. The Pros have 12MP (f2.2/f2.0) telephoto lenses. The 12 Pro Max at f2.2 and the 12 Pro at f2.0. The lower the f-stop number the more light comes in during low light situations – meaning both of these phones will do amazing during low light photography!

They also upgraded the iPhone 12 Pros by creating a 3 lens system for ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lenses. For a full breakdown of the difference between the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, 9to5mac.com has an awesome breakdown.

Apple’s Committement To Sustainability

One of the reasons we also felt good about upgrading is that Apple is staying true to its commitment to sustainability. Apple has pledged to be 100% carbon neutral in its supply chain and products by 2030. To fully explain Apple’s plan to integrate sustainability into their entire company infrastructure, see here.

iPhone 12 Pro Screen + Camera Protectors

We’re big fans of screen protectors because why not? These days they’re almost totally undetectable and crazy affordable. Plus, they keep you from worrying about your phone tumbling off the elliptical? {Because that’s a terrifying moment ya know?!!}

Screen Protectors

Tempered Glass Screen Protectors – We invest in the tempered glass screen protectors because it seems so much more natural to the phone. Sometimes the plastic film isn’t enough and doesn’t pass the drop test, which is totally unhelpful while on the go. The tempered glass is also stronger than a plastic screen protector .. and to us… that’s worth it to protect our $1000 investment ya know? You’ll never notice that it’s there after you painstakingly pull off every piece of lint the first time! Find our tempered glass screen protector on Amazon.

This one comes with our camera lens protector as well!

Liquid Nano – If you’re a purist at heart and you can’t stand anything.. and we mean annyyyyy wee ridge on the edge of a screen protector.. try this liquid nano screen protector. I {Shelbs} have used this nano-liquid screen protectant on my last iPhone XS Max – and I would say the effectiveness was only about 70%. Of all the times my phone has fallen off the elliptical – the screen never broke but I did have approximately 47 micro scratches. Imperceptible when quickly scrolling through Instagram – but definitely there.

Camera Protection

One important thing to note when buying a screen protector for your 12 Pro is not to forget the most important part- the camera! This 12 Pro has a substantially raised set of lenses- and trust us – we noticed the first two days without a case or protection. Those far superior cameras won’t be worth anything if they get scratched?!

Side Note: We truly didn’t realize how bad our camera quality was until we got these new phones. {Yes that’s dramatic but just wait until you get yours.. then you’ll understand.}

The one we picked completely covers all lenses {making it easy to clean} and is perfectly flush with the case we chose – almost like they were made for each other. Tip for application: make sure to thoroughly clean your lenses before you apply them. You may notice that it fogs up a bit after application, but that will go away!

Best Cases for the iPhone 12 Pro / iPhone 12 Pro Max

Again with the whole protecting your $1000 investment thing? Just put a case on it for peace of mind.

The 12 Pro’s are truly stunning – the colors, the retro vibe, the combination of the matte and mirrored edges are a thing of beauty. With that in mind – our goal was to showcase the beauty of Apple’s design, while still providing a functional level of protection. The cases we chose are like a little black dress on date night: simple, classy, and still showin’ dem curves.

The case we picked provides 4ft drop protection. That’s not the highest impact protection you can have but for us, that was enough.

Eco Friendly – The world’s first ‘fully biodegradable phone case’. That’s amazing! Especially considering the number of cases that break and fall apart every year!

Sustainably Made Lifeproof WAKE Case – Made from 85% recycled ocean plastic – this case actually helps the environment!

Leather Case – For those looking for a more stylish way to house their new iPhone 12 – this leather case is perfectly unisex. Any travelers looking to travel more stylishly will undoubtedly love the feel of it too. With authentic naturally aged leather, it’s butter-soft and still not bulky.

Mag Safe Cases – One of the more functional/expensive cases on the list, but not without a boatload of benefits. In true Apple fashion, this case allows you to seamlessly integrate charging and other applications like car mounts. The Magsafe case has a slim metal ring built directly into the case that doesn’t interfere with wireless charging whatsoever – and in fact, enhances charging in some cases. If you’re looking for a fast charging speed – this system would be good for someone who never quite gets their phone directly on the charger! (The biggest complaint about wireless charging is that if the phone isn’t set quite right the phone doesn’t charge. MagSafe Eliminates that! A word of caution though – it will not be as fast of a charge as other charging systems.)

Best Photography Accessories For the iPhone 12 Pro

Whether you’re looking for a quick gift or ways to make your travels as tech efficient as possible – these accessories for the iphone 12 Pro are the best of the best.

Videographer’s Gimbal – If you’re looking to get into videography – you can’t get much better than the high-quality gimbal from Zhiyan. Sold by multiple retailers, this gimbal provides excellent stabilization for anyone looking to get into YouTube videography! Videos are fast becoming the best way

Portable BackPack Sized Tripod – Just get one! They make taking family photos a breeze and they’re fun for kids to use – teach them how to use that timer function early. This tripod doesn’t specifically mention that it fits the iPhone 12 / Pro Max – but the specifically say it fits phones up to 3.4 inches. The widest Apple phone is currently 3.07 inches (+ the width of your case) so it will fit perfectly!

The other advantage for this tripod is that it holds, GoPros, phones, and cameras – creating a multifunctional system! (Optimal for backpackers looking to travel light!)

Selfie Stick – Fits the 12Pro Max, 12Pro, and 12 Pro Mini. Get those shots of you and all of your friends! Not to mention that the combination of a selfie stick with the iPhone 12 Pro’s wide-angle camera will be sure to capture all of the scenery behind you and not just you and your group’s faces!

**This one turns into a gimbal and a tri-pod for anyone looking to travel super light!!

Moment Cold Mount – For the aspiring ethnographer – capturing people and their experiences has never been easier than with this one of a kind cold mount from Moment. A cold shoe is basically a small bracket without any electrical components. With the ability to attach lightweight noise buffers, lights, etc. this becomes the perfect gift for an on-the-go explorer.

Fisheye Lens by Moment – One of the most fun purchases for the iPhone 12 will be an extra lens to expand the capabilities of this camera that are already pretty amazing! This fisheye lens by Moment has been pretty popular! Coming in at $99.99… this 14mm wide-angle lens gives blooming photographers a creative way to showcase their adventures without extra investment into a full-body camera. It’s also currently 10% off at Amazon!

Pocket Instant Photo Printer – As travelers, it’s often tempting to take pictures of locals in their natural environment when traveling somewhere new? One suggestion that I loved recently was when taking photos of people – ask them if they want a copy? It’s a great way to give back and kids especially love it. (Many have never seen a photo of themselves!)

Best Traveler’s Accessories for the 12 Pro

What do adventurers really need when it comes to tech? Easy of access, compact functionality and good quality. The last thing you want it

AirPods Max – The macdaddy-noise-canceling-headphone child of Apple. If you thought the sound was good on the Airpods.. imagine how good it will be on the Airpods Max? Available in a wide range of colors and able to be engraved for free – these would make a perfect gift!

(P.S. Don’t tell the southern gals… you know how they love a good monogram… these noise-canceling headphones will be gone before you know it!) .. also note – Shelbs is a Southern gal.. prone to monogramming.

Bike Mount – Doing any long-distance biking or epic mountain bike trips? You’re going to want to travel as light as possible. This smartphone bike mount is among the best accessories for the iPhone because it’s so user friendly! $21.98

Water Proof Carrying Case – Fits the 12 Pro Max all the way down to the 12 Pro Mini.

‘But isn’t the iPhone 12 supposed to be waterproof?’ – said everyone ever. iPhones, yes even the iPhone 12s, are not entirely waterproof – they’re water-resistant. The iPhone 12 Pro can be submerged up to 6 ft for 30 minutes. That’s not enough if you’re going to be adventuring, kayaking or paddleboarding!!

Mag Safe Wallet – The trendy way to pack light with Apple’s sleek new magnetic phone wallet. As any traveler knows – cutting weight is pretty key when trying to cut down on costs. Checking bags is hard when you’re a backpacker so having smaller options like this that can easily be detached from your phone and slipped into your pocket make it easy.

Tech Accessory Case – Do yourself a favor and get all of your tech wrapped up in one place. Not only does this make traveling, in general, a lot easier – you’ll save yourself a ton of frustration. There are a ton of accessories for the iPhone 12Pro and the last thing you want to be doing is untangling charging cables, or trying to find your Airpods. (Trust us – those get lost in backpacks very quickly!)

Best Chargers for the iPhone 12 Pro

9ft Power Cords

Apple Approved MagSafe Charging – And the accompanying cases! These are apple approved, sleek, and easy to use. If you like the full integration that Apple offers from a specific phone case – many products work with the MagSafe setup. The biggest complaint about these seems to be their lack of a fast-charging speed compared to other chargers (most notably the 20W charger), but the seamless integration with the MagSafe Car Mount, Chargers, etc., makes this a good setup for some!!

Apple 20 Watt Charging Cube –

A lot of info out about the new apple mag – they’re not exactly up to par yet because they charge slower. A full charge with a mag takes almost \

Multi Port Charging Mat –

Solar Power Bank –

Until next time friends,

Thanks for sharing!