Genius Phone Gadgets That Are Total Game Changers
What will they think of next? It certainly seems like there’s very little left that technology can’t do, especially when it comes to smartphones. If you had told someone a century ago that their great-great-grandchildren would walk around with handheld devices that could answer any question, provide precise navigation, display endless photos of hilarious cats — oh, and make phone calls — they definitely would have called you crazy.
Well, it looks like “crazy” is here to stay and will only get better! Let’s take a look at some of the best genius gadgets invented to turn our smartphones into total game changers.
Capture the Perfect Pooch Portrait
As much as we all love our dogs, getting them to understand the concept of a selfie is no easy task. If every photo you’ve ever taken of your fur-baby turned out to be one big furry blur, then rest assured that the right technology aid has finally come to the rescue.
The Pooch Selfie accessory is a little squeaky ball-holding device that conveniently clips right onto the top of your phone. Now you can hold your dog’s attention long enough to snap the perfect photo — without having to recruit a stranger to make cute doggie noises behind the camera.
Never Lose Your Keys Again
Losing your keys is the absolute worst. If you’ve ever tried to leave your house, only to discover your keys have gone rogue — how do they do that? — then you understand the pain. Now it’s possible to put a stop to it. The answer to never losing your keys, wallet or remote control is as simple as glancing at your phone.
Gadgets like Tile come with little tabs you can stick to any item that has the tendency to get lost. So, the next time your keychain goes missing, you can quickly locate it by triggering a sound or using a GPS map on your phone.
Up Your Photography Game
If you love taking photos but aren’t in a position to buy an expensive camera, then consider taking your smartphone camera to a whole new level. Photo lenses like those from Xenvo come in universal, clip-on formats that work with both single and dual-lens camera phones.
Just snap the lens onto your phone, and you’re ready to capture wide-angle shots, close-ups and everything in between (depending on the lens) in impressive detail. Whether you’re looking to take more artistic shots or want to make your phone photos look more professional, a good set of lenses is a great way to get started.
Turn Your Phone into an iNurse
Okay, so any thermometer can tell you if your child has a fever, but smart thermometers like Kinsa take things a step further. This pediatrician recommended device links up to an app on your phone and then proceeds to give you all sorts of helpful information.
It provides accurate temperature readings in 8 seconds or less and gives you personalized guidance based on its findings. It takes into account your age, fever and symptoms to determine suggestions for heading to the doctor, which meds to take and more.
Go Retro
Ever miss the good old days when the landline was king? Now you can take a trip down memory lane by giving your smartphone an old school makeover. Just plug the old-style phone receiver into your smartphone, and you’re ready to chat like you did back in the old days.
Rest assured, the retro-style handset isn’t purely a novelty gimmick. As nice as smartphones are, they also produce a great deal of radiation that we regularly hold right next to our faces. This fun receiver cuts your radiation exposure by 99%, so you can enjoy those long talks with no worries.
Lose Yourself in an Immersive Sound Headband
If you’ve ever wished you could tune out the world, your day has come. Now various types of sleep headphones come equipped with nice, cozy speakers that play anything you want on your phone, just like a stereo system. This particular model from Jarvania comes in a clever headband style that can be used in two different ways.
If you’re trying to fall asleep, then you can use it as a combination eye mask and headset to block out light and disruptive noises. You can also wear it when you’re working out by simply wearing it on your forehead above your eyes.
Turn Your Phone into a Barbecue Buddy
Gone are the days when you had to hover over your barbecue until it was done. This Bluetooth digital thermometer comes with two high-heat-resistant prongs that monitor your meat as it cooks and send real-time updates straight to your phone.
Now you can wander up to 164 feet from the grill and still check on how things are going with a glance at your phone. The smart app control comes with preset temperatures for 11 types of meat, but you can also customize the temperatures to suit your personal tastes.
Snag a Remote Control Shutter Stick
Sick of featuring your arm in every selfie shot? For less than $20, it’s possible to make taking photos way easier — without even holding your phone. This remote phone camera shutter pairs with your phone or tablet via Bluetooth technology and allows you to click the capture button from up to 30 feet away.
It’s got two handy buttons, so you can choose to take either photos or videos from afar. The device comes in versions for both iPhones and Androids, so be sure to check for the correct model before ordering.
Turn It Up with a Portable Speaker
Having your favorite songs stored right on your phone is the best! Attempting to listen to them at your phone’s top volume, however, can be more than a little disappointing. That’s why it’s nice to have a portable speaker that allows you to enjoy your favorite tunes at an appropriate house-cleaning and/or dance-off volume.
The OontZ Angle 3 provides not only great volume but also a Bluetooth range of up to 100 feet. You can whip it out for a party or by the pool, tell it which playlist you want to hear and then relax while it does the rest.
Print Your Pictures Instantly
You may have hundreds of photos stored on your smartphone, but every now and then, it’s still nice to print out your favorites for framing. These days, printing out pictures on the spot is a breeze if you have a wireless mini photo printer.
All you have to do is connect the printer to your phone over Wi-Fi, and you can watch your photos transform from digital to physical copies in no time. Printers like the Polaroid Zip don’t even require ink, as they operate using zero ink technology that nonetheless produces awesome color. Bizarre but true!
Charge and Sanitize at the Same Time
Did you know that the average smartphone is up to 18 times dirtier than a toilet? It makes sense when you think about it. We pick up germs in the bathroom, the kitchen and in loads of public places and then pass them along to our phones. But on the flip side, how often do we clean them?
Well, someone out there got smart — or maybe germophobic — and invented a gadget that can turn your phone into a pristine, germ-free zone. Phonesoap both charges and sanitizes your phone all in one, killing 99.99% of germs that linger on the phone’s surface.
Keep Cool with a Smartphone Fan
Sometimes it seems like there’s an app out there for everything. Although there may not be one yet to keep you cool on a hot summer day, there is a nifty smartphone gadget that can. Many companies now make these little fans that you can plug right into your smartphone to help you quickly cool down.
Whether you’ve got an iPhone or an Android, there is a fan out there that’s sure to work for you. Many of them also come in multiple packs, so you can store one in your car, purse or any other area where you’re likely to need a refreshing breeze.
Protect Yourself with a “Stunning” Phone Case
Believe it or not, it’s actually possible to turn your phone into a powerful self-defense weapon. The Yellow Jacket is a phone case unlike any other. It not only recharges your phone, but it also transforms it into one of the strongest stun guns on the market.
If you ever find yourself in a shady part of town or engaged in a conflict with a threatening person, then you can flip off the safety switch and know your phone has your back. The double trigger activation ensures that you’ll never zap anyone or anything unless you mean to do it.
Project Your Favorite Films
If you’re looking to enjoy your entertainment on a far grander scale, then you can turn your small smartphone into a full-size cinematic experience. Many Wi-Fi-enabled mini-projectors can wirelessly — or directly if prefer — connect to your phone to project your favorite streamed films and shows.
All you need is a blank wall and some popcorn to enjoy the fun of the movies without the outrageous ticket prices. Most projectors even come with built-in speakers, so you can say goodbye to the days of huddling around your tiny phone screen with your friends.
Make Your Sheet Music Digital
Sick of shuffling through sheets of paper every time you sit down to play your guitar? A phone mounting guitar capo can take care of the problem by holding your phone right at the end of your guitar. Pull up your favorite cords or sing along to your favorite lyrics without worrying about forgetting a thing.
These gadgets are also great for taking online music lessons or following along with new chord charts as you learn. If nothing else, they can help you position your camera to take some killer videos of yourself rocking out.
Turn Your Phone into a Health Coach
If you’re ready to get serious about your health, then your phone can keep you up to date on how you’re doing, for better or worse. This scale connects to your phone via Bluetooth and sends you all the information you need to reach your goals.
It will monitor 13 essential body measurements, such as fat percentage, skeletal muscle and more. With high precision sensors, you can use the scale to track your history and progress over the days, weeks and months to come. It’s sort of like a miniature personal trainer and nutritionist all in one.
Save Money with Smart Sprinklers
Take the guesswork out of lawn and garden care by turning your phone into a digital expert on gardening. This next-level smart sprinkler system can be installed in less than 30 minutes and can help cut your water bill by 30% to 50% each month. That adds up to some great savings!
It connects to a mobile app that allows you to run your sprinklers anytime, view watering schedules and eliminate overwatering by detecting rain, freezing temperatures and soil oversaturation. It even takes into account things like plant and soil type, sun exposure and upcoming weather forecasts.
Make Studying a Breeze
If you’re looking for a great gift for your favorite tech-loving student, then check out this cool new scanning pen. You can slide it over any line of printed text just like a highlighter, and it will send it straight to your smartphone screen. It can even read the text aloud as it scans to capitalize on audio learning.
This gadget is also a brilliant translator and can scan texts in more than 50 different languages! You can even scan over small black and white images to add them to your document as well.
Infuse Your Phone with Gaming Nostalgia
When it comes to smartphone cases, it almost seems like the choices are endless. This one, however, comes with an undeniably cool perk. It not only protects your phone, but it also features a working gaming console. That’s right — you can use it to play 36 different old school games that many of you will recognize from the ’80s and ’90s.
Take a trip down memory lane by rescuing the princess alongside the Mario Brothers, test your smarts against the computer in a game of Chinese Chess or go on an adventure with Donkey Kong. You will never be at a loss for entertainment, no matter where you go.
Position Your Phone Anywhere
This next item is impressive, not necessarily because of its futuristic technology, but because of its insanely practical applications. It’s basically a universal phone stand that is attached to a bendable yet strong cable. It’s designed to allow you to perfectly position your phone any way you’d like.
You can put your head through it and enjoy watching TV in bed, set it up in your car so you can see your GPS from the perfect angle and prop it up on a table to read a book or watch a movie with minimal neck strain.
Spy-Proof Your Screen
Don’t you hate it when you’re having a personal text conversation, and you feel self-conscious because the person next to you is trying to peek at your screen? End such worries once and for all with an anti-spy screen. There are now several on the market for all different makes and models of phones.
Once on your screen, these anti-spying devices block the view of anyone looking at it from any angle, except straight on. So, go ahead and send those flowery, poetic text messages to your boo without fear of being mocked. This device has your back!
Make Your Phone Your New Mechanic
Few things can stress a person out like the glaring red shine of the “Check Engine” light. It’s basically an alert that tells you absolutely nothing, except it’s time to get overcharged by the nearest mechanic to determine the severity of the problem. That’s why some hero out there came up with a gadget like BlueDriver.
You plug this device into your car, and it will perform a complete scan and send the results right to your phone. Now you will know exactly what the problem is and what to ask for when you take the vehicle in to get fixed.
Explore Your Phone’s VR Capabilities
Virtual Reality is the hot new thing, and there are plenty of cool VR videos out there you can watch for free. Whether you want to experience the thrill of a rollercoaster ride, visit a foreign country or play your favorite VR games in a 360-degree world, you can easily turn your phone into a VR headset.
Plenty of makes and models are available. The trick is finding one that’s compatible with your phone and produces excellent imagery. The good news is that most mobile VR headsets sell for $50 or less.
Stash Your Cards and Cash
If you love to travel light, then you’re in luck if you’re the owner of a Galaxy Note 9. Check out this specialty phone case by Spigen called the Slim Armor CS. First of all, it features military-grade technology that will keep your phone safe from cracks and breaks.
Next, you can cut out the need for a wallet or purse due to the cool hidden compartment in the back. It allows you to keep up to two cards and cash inside, and the compartment slides closed, so you can carry everything completely hidden from view.
PS4 on the Go
Want to play your PS4 games outside the house? No problem! Now you can buy special gaming clips that allow you to attach your phone right to the top of your PS4 controller. Then you simply download an app that will link your PS4 to your phone, and you’re ready to access your games and start playing right from your smartphone.
The clip fits both iPhones and Android devices and is sturdy enough to turn your controller into a solid mount. These fun accessories are perfect for entertaining kids — or even yourself if you aren’t driving — on long road trips or when you’re out running errands for a few hours. Even better, the clips are generally priced at $10 or less.
Transition from Tiny Screen to TV
As nice as it is to have the ability to watch movies or TV shows wherever you go, it’s not usually very easy on the eyes. That’s why some genius out there invented the screen magnifier. The concept is as simple as it is convenient.
You just select and play the content you’d like to watch on your phone, place the phone behind the screen and enjoy watching on a screen that’s more than twice the original size. Screen magnifiers offer a perfect solution for traveling and are both portable and inexpensive. Best of all, most don’t even require batteries.
Monitor Your Home from Afar
Ever wonder what happens in your house when you’re away — particularly if you have teens or pets? Well, you can stop wondering with this cool little home monitoring system. When requested, it sends a video of what’s happening inside your home straight to your phone and even comes with a cool two-way audio system.
Best of all, it’s not just restricted to monitoring a certain area of the room; it’s capable of swiveling a full 360 degrees! It even comes equipped with motion sensors, a cry detection system for babies and night vision for the ultimate peace of mind when you’re away from home.
Forget About That Tiny Keyboard
If you frequently need to type up long messages or documents on the go but hate lugging around your laptop, then this handy gadget may be the answer. Now you can get a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard that will allow you to type on your smartphone without dealing with those unbelievably tiny virtual keys.
This fun little keyboard folds up to fit right inside your pocket, but it has keys big enough to make writing on your attached device very easy. You can use it on up to three different devices, and it works from a range of up to 33 feet.
Open Your Garage from Anywhere
There’s nothing worse than getting home after a long day, only to realize your garage door remote has run out of battery juice. Now there’s no need to suffer through this particular annoyance ever again. With a smart garage door opener, you can open that heavy door right from your phone, no matter where you are.
It’s also great for letting in guests or family members who may have forgotten their keys. Why take a chance on hiding your spare key in your yard when you can stow them in your garage and give anyone access when you want?
Charge Your Phone on the Go
Don’t you hate it when your phone dies, and there’s no charger in sight? If you’re a big fan of never experiencing such a stressful dilemma again, then check out the many cable charging bracelets that are now on the market. These casual yet stylish bracelets unwrap to reveal a USB cord on one end and a charging plug on the other.
Find the nearest powered USB device, and your phone will be up and running in no time. The bracelets come in all kinds of cool colors and designs, and most of them also support data transfer.
