4 iPhone Camera Accessories That Can Make Your Photos Look Amazing

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iPhones are lauded for having top-of-the-line smartphone cameras, but there are affordable accessories you can buy to make your pictures look even better. The accessories that have the most immediate impact on your iPhone photos are a lens attachment and lighting kit; you can buy lenses individually, or buy a set that includes different lens types like fisheye, wide angle, and telephoto. Lighting kits come in all shapes and sizes, with the ring light (or rectangular selfie light as has become popular lately) being the most prevalent. These allow you to capture photos with greater clarity and detail, and some greatly improve the iPhone's stock zoom capabilities.

Lenses and lights aside, other accessories improve other aspects of the photography process, like stability. MagSafe mounts are a neat idea that make use of the iPhone's integrated magnet system to provide a steady base for shake-free photos and easier recording while you walk. Lighting kits, as the name suggests, turn a dark and dreary composition into one bright and full of life.

Remote shutter activation accessories, which let you setup your phone and then use a remote to trigger the shutter, are also a great idea if you like to take group photos, or pictures of yourself in different locations (taking your own photo in front of the Grand Canyon, for example).

A lens attachment, which you secure to your iPhone's built-in camera lenses, will have arguably the greatest impact on the quality of your photos (alongside lighting). iPhone lens accessories span the gamut of quality and price ranges, with plenty of options in the sub-$50 category, like the MIAO LAB 5 in 1 Phone Camera Lens Kit at Amazon ($21.99). This kit comes with five different attachments, including fish eye, 15X macro, telephoto, and wide-angle lenses along with a CPL filter. Just be sure to read the reviews closely for these cheaper kits, so you don't end up with an iPhone accessory you should've avoided like the Xenvo Pro Lens Kit.

There are just as many choices at around $200, like the Beastgrip x Kenko Pro Series 0.75X Wide Angle Lens ($209.99), which converts your iPhone's default lens into one capable of beautiful wide-angle shots — perfect for shooting landscapes and grand compositions. Of course, you're going to get far better quality for a 10x price increase over the kit at Amazon, but your versatility drops and you have to accept the price tag. Still, if you want to make your iPhone photos look better, this is a fantastic way to do so.

Moment also features a Camera Case for iPhone 17 ($55), which keeps your phone protected, but also has built-in mounts for Moment's line of T-Series iPhone lenses, including the Tele 58mm Mobile Lens (T-Series) ($150, on sale for $99 at the time of writing), Anamorphic 1.55x Mobile Lens (T-Series) ($150, on sale for $99 at the time of writing), and plenty more.

If you want to improve your iPhone camera's stability, or set it up for long-exposure shots and time-lapse projects, MagSafe gadgets like a mount that lets you attach your phone magnetically to a stand or tripod is an excellent way to make a big impact for a small price tag. You'll need an iPhone 12 or later to make use of this accessory, though, as only models released after the iPhone 11 feature MagSafe tech.

There are a ton of great options for MagSafe mounts out there, like the Gahenwo 69" Magnetic Phone Tripod Stand Selfie Stick with Remote & Phone Mount, which sells for $25 at Amazon (though it's on sale for $17.99 at the time of writing), and features a telescopic tripod, complete with a MagSafe mount, to keep your iPhone steady and secure. If you're into fitness, or just looking for a mount with more flexibility, the Strap Anywhere Mount for MagSafe from Moment, which costs $50 (and is on sale for $25 at the time of writing), provides a silicone strap for easy mounting just about anywhere (including handlebars, a squat rack, or almost anywhere else).

If you're snapping photos at a desk setup pretty frequently, the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks ($29.95 at Apple) is a neat way to secure your phone to your laptop or monitor for easy thumbnails, video calls, and camera setups.

Lighting accessories are pretty self-explanatory; they come in handy when your composition is too dark, or using an extra light source reveals a greater level of detail. Lighting accessories for your iPhone camera come in many different forms, though the ring light makes a case for the most popular of the bunch. These affordable iPhone accessories typically attach via clamp or MagSafe magnets, and offer extra brightness to your photos and videos.

The ShiftCam SnapLight Magnetic LED Selfie Ring Light sells for $39.95 at Apple, offers four brightness settings, and has a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to two hours on a single charge. There's also a small mirror in the middle of the light so you can check how you look before you shoot. If you want something a little bigger, the Ring Light – Wireless Edition from Sandmarc ($129.99) features a 10-inch light with up to four hours of battery life, and because your phone is positioned in the center of the light, it can be used with both the front and back-facing cameras.

If you're shooting small objects and want even lighting for product photography or showcasing art, a lightbox like the Focast Capture Essentials Light Box with Tripod ($56.99 at Amazon, on sale for $39.92 at the time of writing) will make a massive difference in quality. You can place the subject inside the light box, change out different background colors, and get even lighting over the entire object. Plus, the included tripod keeps things nice and stable for the best shot possible.

Remote shutter activation accessories are great if you want to take a group photo or snap a self portrait in front of captivating scenery. These cheap iPhone camera accessories let you take a photo using a small remote so that you don't have to physically click the shutter button. Usually, you can find them for under $15 — some, like the Wireless Camera Remote Shutter for Smartphones (2 Pack) from zttopo ($7.99 at Amazon), are under $10 — and they'll feature a simple shutter activation button on a small remote.

The Wireless Camera Remote Control with Zoom for iPhone & Android ($19.99, on sale for $13.99 at the time of writing at Amazon) from Voinap has the added benefit of zoom buttons, which could be useful for small adjustments, like taking a group photo, then zooming out a bit and snapping another shot to pick your favorite.

While lens attachments and lighting kits will likely have the biggest impact on your iPhone photography capabilities, all the accessories on this list will make an immediate difference in your photos. Plus, since many of them are affordable at under $50, you can build a little photography kit for under $100 and have some lenses, a mount, a ring light, and a shutter remote for fantastic photos.