Best Accessories to Buy After Unwrapping Your New Android Phone 2022

Deck the phone in accessories, fa la la la la lala la la
Deck the phone in accessories, fa la la la la lala la la (Image credit: Ara Wagoner / Android Central)

Welcome to the wonderful world of Android! We hope you greatly enjoy your new phone and the new ecosystem around it. If this is your first time on our side of the Apple/Google divide, there are a few items out there you'll probably want to consider picking up for your new phone. From the best wireless headphones to the fastest phone chargers and cables to keep your phone alive on those rotten days that just will not end, you can upgrade your Android experience with these accessories.

Make yourself the ultimate power kit

Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

There's a lot of ways to upgrade your Android experience, but three items here can give you peace of mind wherever life takes you and wherever you get suddenly stranded.

  • For whenever you need to top off in the office or the cafe you're meeting your girlfriends for coffee, snag the ultra-compact Aukey PA-Y18 PD Wall Charger. It's small and sturdy enough that you can just stick it in your pants pocket with your keys on your way out the door.
  • When you're stuck with a low battery away from outlets, keep the RAVPower 10,000mAh battery charged up and handy. Because it's compact and lightweight, this is a power bank that's actually portable enough to carry every day.
  • Of course, you need a cable to use either of these, and the Aukey 6.6ft 2-Pack with its included velcro cable wrap is the most practical solution to keep your cable tidy enough to avoid kinks or breaks while it bangs around in your purse or gear bag.

No matter if it's just a day trip to Epcot or a fortnight's flight back to the family, this power trinity is always with me. No matter how long my flight gets delayed and no matter how impossibly dense the crowds trying to get back to the parking lot are, I can rest assured that my phone will not die on me when I need it the most.

CYA: Cover Your Android

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

No matter your taste, your phone needs a case!

Protecting your shiny new phone isn't just common sense, it's an active investment in your phone and your hands, as putting a PopSocket is far easier to do with a case than just sticking it to the slick glass back of your new flagship. A PopSocket or other phone grip can help you from cramping or permanently damaging your joints from mishandling your phone, something I am painfully familiar with since my left pinky yells at me whenever I skip the PopSocket on a new case I'm reviewing. Don't be like me; get a case and a PopSocket ASAP.

The variety of cases available vary greatly by model, but if you've got a relatively mainstream phone like a Pixel or Samsung, you've got a pretty good selection to pick from:

Screen protectors are also a worthwhile purchase for your new phone because if your screen breaks, your phone turns into a $600 paperweight, and no one needs that. Tempered glass screen protectors tend to feel better on your fingers and offer more durable protection against shatters, but even a thinner film protector can offer protection for scuffs and scratches.

Ara Wagoner

Ara Wagoner was a staff writer at Android Central. She themes phones and pokes YouTube Music with a stick. When she's not writing about cases, Chromebooks, or customization, she's wandering around Walt Disney World. If you see her without headphones, RUN. You can follow her on Twitter at @arawagco.

Read more
Earbuds and headphones on desk
Android Central's Best of 2024: Audio and Accessories
Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones
Best wireless headphones for Android 2025
Chargers with Pixel phone
Best USB-C charger: Fastest phone chargers for Android and iPhone in 2025
best wireless earbuds
I've tested dozens of wireless earbuds, and these are the pairs you should buy in 2025
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra review
Best Android phones with a headphone jack 2025
Vivo X200 Pro next to X200, Find X8, Find X8 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro
Smartphones in 2025 are fun again — if you look beyond the carriers
Latest in Accessories
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25K 165W Built-In and Retractable Cables
One of Anker's most popular 25,000mAh power banks is on sale during Amazon's Big Spring Sale
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus internals next to external casing
The best all-flash Plex NAS finally gets a great discount — act now!
Tagry X08 earbuds in-hand
These are the best-sounding budget earbuds I've ever used, and they're just $25 right now
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Wintergreen earbud
Google reveals Pixel Buds Pro 2 cleaning tips that can 'greatly affect' sound
AirPods Max (left) hanging from a park bench beside Beats Studio Pro (right).
USB-C AirPods Max are getting an upgrade Android headphones had all along
UGREEN x Genshin Impact collection
UGREEN sent me the ultimate Genshin Impact accessory package
Latest in Buying-guide
Photos of the Nothing Phone 3a series.
Nothing Phone 3a vs. Moto G Power 2025: It all depends on where you live
Apple iPhone 16e review against colorful background
iPhone 16e vs. OnePlus 13R: Quantity versus quality
The Iris Google Pixel 9a (left), Bay Google Pixel 8a (center), and Obsidian Google Pixel 7a (right) on a desk, the photo showcasing their different designs.
Should you upgrade to the Pixel 9a?
The Obsidian Google Pixel 9a held in hand above a houseplant.
Google Pixel 9a vs. OnePlus 13R: Budget battle
The Obsidian Google Pixel 9a held in hand above a houseplant.
Does the Google Pixel 9a support Qi2 wireless charging?
The Iris Google Pixel 9a held in hand, the photo taken downards to emphasize its color and size.
Google Pixel 9a vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: The sensible and enthusiast picks