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PG Christmas 2018 gift guide for iOS gamers

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iOS
PG Christmas 2018 gift guide for iOS gamers

Late gifts for the iPhone gamer in your life

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Not long to go now, people. Christmas is right around the corner. If you haven't bought something for that special someone, you're running out of time.

We can't help you with clothes, fragrances or toys. But we can help you choose some cool stuff for the avid iPhone or iPad gamer in your life.

Related: Top iPhone and iPad Christmas game sales

For many people, Christmas is the time when they receive a new smartphone or tablet. But that's not the end of the story. Those expensive trinkets need protecting, enhancing, and accompanying with a bunch of supplementary gear.

Here's a list of various iOS accessories that can take your gadget to the next level. They cover quite a range of use cases and (importantly) price ranges, so there should be something for everyone here.

Click Here To View The List »

1
Gamepad

We love mobile games, and the vast majority of those games have been designed from the ground up with touchscreen controls in mind.

But in the case of more traditionally styled games, there's simply no replacement for a good physical set of controls. It's one of the reasons why the Nintendo Switch is the best thing since sliced bread.

For all you mobile platformer, FPS, and racer fans, an Apple-certified controller is a great call.

The SteelSeries Stratus is a decent option thanks to its combination of portability, solid build quality, and a comprehensive set of buttons.

iPad gamers might want to consider the Gamevice Controller, which to all intents and purposes turns your tablet into a slightly less wieldy Switch with a much better screen.

iPhone pick: SteelSeries Stratus
iPad pick: Gamevice

2
Bluetooth headphones

The speakers on the latest iPhones might be much louder than they were before and in full stereo, but buying yourself a new pair of headphones should be high up on any iPhone owner's list.

Games and media in general is just so much more immersive with a decent set of headphones on your bonce. It really enhances the experience.

These days, though, you kind of have to go wireless. Apple's fateful decision to ditch the headphone jack is a good two years old now, and it's become standard practice throughout the smartphone world.

If you want a solid and affordable set of wireless headphones, check out the Jabra Move Wireless. For a step up in quality, double your money for the Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT. If you're after top notch sound quality and excellent noise cancellation, the Sony WH-1000XM3 is a premium pick.

Affordable pick: Jabra Move Wireless
Step up pick: Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT
Premium pick: Sony WH-1000XM3

3
Bluetooth speaker

You don't always want to funnel your iOS device's sound into your own ears, of course. Sometimes you want to project it to everyone around you. And no, we don't mean on the bus or in your local shopping centre (jerks).

Battery-powered Bluetooth speakers are a great way to bring your music or radio with you when travelling. What's more, the quality has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, almost regardless of your budget.

In general you can trust anything that UE, Bose and B&O turn out, and that accounts for a massive range of products and prices.
A great starter or travel option is the UE Wonderboom. It's compact, tough and waterproof, and it kicks out a surprising amount of sound.

If you want richer sound, a more mature design and the ability to hook up to Wi-Fi, the Audio Pro Addon C3 is also highly regarded.

Affordable/travel speaker: UE Wonderboom
Premium pick: Audio Pro Addon C3

4
Case

Buying a new iPhone is an expensive business. The latest phone to be released in the range, the iPhone XR, starts from £749, and that's the cheap mode. You're looking at £1,000 and upwards for the iPhone XS family.

Add in the fact that these phones are covered in glass, and it's a wonder we ever dare to go out of the house with them. The best way to still your heart rate is to invest in a case.

This can be a bit of a bind when you look at many of the abominations that are out there. Many cases make your exquisitely design iPhone look like a child's first calculator.

Shop smart, however, and you can get an example that's both stylish and sturdy. The Silk Base Grip is one such case, and it'll cost you less than £15. The official Apple Leather Case is considerably more expensive, but it looks and feels beautiful.

Budget pick: Silk Base Grip
Premium pick: Apple Leather Case

5
Gift card

For all these expensive accessory ideas, arguably the best thing you can buy for the iOS gamer in your life is the means to obtain more iOS games.

Buying an iTunes Gift Cards might sound unimaginative, but we guarantee they'll be welcomed with open arms. Whether it's a new premium game (yes, they're still out there) or a fresh cosmetic item or IAP, they're darned useful.

They come in £25, £50, or £100 increments, and you can get Apple to post them directly to the intended receiver. They can be redeemed against anything on the App Store, iTunes Store, iBooks Store or Mac App Store.

If you think the receiver would rather have credit to spend on Apple hardware, you can send them an Apple Store Gift Card. These can be redeemed against anything on the Apple Online Store and at Apple Retail stores, and you can specify the precise value (from £25 to £2,000) and design you want.

Buy iTunes Gift Card
Buy Apple Store Gift Card
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Jon Mundy
Jon Mundy
Jon is a consummate expert in adventure, action, and sports games. Which is just as well, as in real life he's timid, lazy, and unfit. It's amazing how these things even themselves out.