CONSIDERING HOW MANY of us own smartphones and tablets, we tend to use it for the bare necessities than anything else.

There are a few handy accessories that will help complement your device without breaking the bank. Here are a few to keep in mind.

Phone Covers

You have quite a number to choose from, which one you decide to choose is down to style and preference.  Although the same principles for buying one apply, know the model of phone you’re getting one for (if it’s not your own), and take into account the material used.

If you’re looking for customised phone covers, ones that use a specific photo or photos from your collection, you should look at Pixaprints.ie. If you want one that more rustic, then Carve Cases has a collection of hand-crafted wooden covers for iPhone 4 – 5S (6 and 6 Plus editions haven’t been released yet).

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Phone/Tablet Stands  

Sometimes it’s handy to have something to prop your tablet or computer while you work on it, or watch something from it.

If you wanted to go ultra-cheap, you could go for Daffodil IPC410 Stand which costs €3.50 on Amazon. Since they’re so cheap, you could go as far as to buy a number of them and use them for your smartphones as well.

If you’re looking for something with a little more class, Carve Cases (again) has a number of wooden stands that won’t look out of place on your desk.

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Wireless keyboards  

If you have a tablet, getting an accompanying keyboard is not a bad idea, especially if you’re regularly on the move. A good one is Logitech’s Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 (€60) which will work on most tablets, computers, and smartphones and won’t break the bank.

If you have an iPad, a better version would be Belkin Qode Thin Type Keyboard (€69) which is rather sturdy and doubles as a cover for your iPad Air.

Although it must be said that if you do go for this, you should have your tablet pluggedin to a power outlet as having Bluetooth on can drain the battery pretty quickly.

Source: Logitech

Extension cords

One of the more annoying parts of charging your phone is that it’s pretty much stuck to the one place. Chargers cords don’t extend that far so why not get an extension. You can get some pretty cheap ones for €12 which are more than a metre long, which is better than getting an official Lightning cable.

Streaming

We’ve mentioned before how great Google’s Chromecast here before a number of times, simply because it’s the easiest way to stream Netflix or YouTube from your phone or tablet onto your TV screen. Also, at €39, it’s the right price for anyone who wants to buy a cheap but handy gift.

Chargers  

Because smartphones aren’t the most reliable, it’s nice to have a portable battery charger with you that you can have in your bag in case you need it

If you’re looking for one, then the thumbsUp! Dual Power Bank 6600mah (€31) is worth checking. It has enough power to charge up to three smartphones entirely and can charge two devices at any one time.

Source: Thumbsupuk

Hands-free kit  

If you’re driving, it’s worth knowing that the two major OS (iOS and Android) have their own car versions in the works, but even without it, it’s useful to have your phone double up as a SatNav.

For those interested, the Kenu Airframe Portable In-Car (€26) is a cheap and light way of turning your phone into one. If you want, you can get a cheap smartphone charger for the car to ensure your phone has some juice after you reach your destination.

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