Top 5 early 2026 picks for iPhone EDC tech accessories – 9to5Mac

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Lately, I’ve been leaning more and more towards a sling-based EDC. As a techie husband and father of two, I constantly find myself needing more space than my pockets can hold, but I don’t always want to carry an entire backpack. A cross-body sling (or fanny pack, as it used to be called) has become the perfect waist. It forces you to be intentional about what you carry, giving you even more flexibility than a standard pocket setup. I wanted to share some of my favorite and standout tech accessories that I bring with me on most days – whether I’m hopping between meetings, running errands, traveling, or just getting work done wherever I am. This is my ideal crossbody sling.

Be sure to check out our EDC video where I mention more than just the items in this article.

Of course, we have to start with the sling itself. Over the past few months, I’ve used a dozen different slings, from small leather ones to larger folding ones to nylon ones, and everything in between. The UAG sling is a perfect middle ground of size, capacity, weight and materials. It’s rated to hold up to 1 liter, which keeps things minimal, but it’s surprisingly capable of holding more than you’d think. Here are the key specs:

  • Capacity 1 liter
  • Durable, water-resistant nylon construction
  • Adjustable strap with secure fit
  • Split with two chains
  • Hidden AirTag pocket and integrated key clip

What I really like is how practical it feels every day. It sits comfortably crosswise, doesn’t flex when you walk, and has enough structure to protect everything without feeling too stiff. The main pocket is lined with microfiber to help protect items like your iPhone. While the other compartment has multiple pockets for items of different sizes and shapes.

of The UAG Sling sells on Amazon for $49. It doesn’t try to be more than it is, and you can tell it’s extremely well built.

This is one of the most unique pieces in my sling and easily one of my favorites. I actually saw this item back at CES in January of 2025 and fell in love. It’s an ultra-small SSD that’s built for iPhone photos and videos. The Planck SSD plugs directly into the USB-C port and your phone instantly gains external storage that works seamlessly with ProRes and Log recording. This is what you get:

  • Up to 2 TB of storage space
  • Transfer speed up to 1050 MB/s
  • Supports ProRes and Log recording
  • Ultra-compact and only 10g in weight

What makes it special isn’t just how small it is, but how fast and frictionless the experience feels. It works even with the case on, is instantly recognized and lets you record for hours without worrying about internal storage limits. of The Planck SSD starts at $189 and works with any computer, phone, camera or game console.

Nowadays, there are thousands of different MagSafe battery packs. They all charge your device at a certain speed, and the main differences are size and built-in portable support. But the Kuxiu B10 Magsafe pack has a feature I’ve never seen before. It has double-sided MagSafe magnets. This allows you to magnetically attach the battery to your phone and also connect other MagSafe devices to the other side of the battery. So simple yet so genius! Here are the key specs to consider:

  • Capacity 5000 mAh
  • Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W
  • Charging with USB-C cable up to 20W
  • Ultra thin aluminum body
  • Secondary MagSafe ring for additional accessories

of The Kuxiu B10 is also only $38! I couldn’t recommend this battery more highly.

This was a pleasant surprise. I recently reviewed the M4 Snap-On and loved it. It’s an ultra-compact, Bluetooth-enabled controller for your iPhone that turns your iPhone into a legitimate handheld gaming device without committing to a bulky handle or full controller. It’s also modular, so you can easily fit it into any size EDC. Here are some key specs:

  • Fixed MagSafe modular design
  • Bluetooth connection
  • Works with iPhone, iPad, Nintendo Switch and more
  • Integrated stand
  • Battery life is about 12 hours

At only $49this thing is great to bring with you. I used it for hours on a recent flight and it made the flight go by incredibly fast. It also comes in fun, nostalgic Game Boy-themed colors like atomic purple

Since the UAG sling has a hidden AirTag pocket and Apple just updated the AirTags, I felt I had to bring them here. They are so useful for keeping track of your bag. Now that Airtags have been updated, they’re even better at the things that matter. The speaker is louder, the range is further, and you may even find that your AirTag is syncing with your Apple Watch now! Right now, you can get a 4-pack for just $69 from Amazon, instead of $99 from Apple!

Final thoughts

As I mentioned at the beginning, I feel like a sling bag is a perfect middle ground. This allows you to bring more than just your phone and wallet, but still requires you to be intentional about the products and accessories you bring. Each of the products mentioned was added because it benefits the way I use my iPhone, whether it’s videography, content consumption, gaming, or just extending the battery. Be sure to check out my video above to see all the other goodies that fit easily in the UAG sling!

What do you think of these products? Will you get them? What are some items you never leave home without? Let’s discuss below!

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