USB-C has quietly turned modern phones into pocket-sized hubs that can power, control, and talk to a surprising range of gear. Instead of treating that port as a simple charging hole, you can use it to plug in accessories that transform your phone into a game console, a desktop workstation, a backup drive, and a travel power station. Here are five must-have USB-C accessories that unlock what your phone can really do.
1. USB-C game controllers and input gadgets
USB-C game controllers and input gadgets are the clearest proof that your phone’s port is far more than a power socket. Reporting on the “weird things you can plug into your phone’s USB port” shows that there are entire categories of accessories you can connect directly to a phone, not just for charging but for real two-way communication and control. In that list of “weird things you can plug into your phone’s USB port,” devices like controllers, keyboards, and other peripherals are highlighted as hardware you literally “can plug into your phone’s USB port,” which confirms that a USB-C phone can power them and exchange data with them through the same connector. Once a controller is plugged in, a phone running titles like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, or Xbox Cloud Gaming can behave much more like a handheld console than a basic touchscreen device.
Those same “weird things you can plug into your phone’s USB port” also demonstrate that USB-C is engineered to handle both power delivery and data for input devices, which is why controllers, keyboards, and even some mice are practical must-have accessories rather than niche experiments. A wired USB-C gamepad avoids Bluetooth lag, a compact USB-C mechanical keyboard can turn a phone into a serious writing tool, and a USB-C trackpad or mouse can make desktop-style interfaces on Android or iPadOS feel natural. For mobile gamers, that means more precise controls and less frustration in competitive titles; for productivity-focused users, it means they can draft documents, edit spreadsheets, or manage email with the same hardware they would use on a laptop. The broader implication is that as more developers design games and apps with controller and keyboard support in mind, the USB-C port becomes a gateway to richer experiences, not just a way to refill the battery.
2. USB-C hubs and docks
USB-C hubs and docks are the accessory that turns a single phone port into an entire desktop-style rig. Coverage of “devices compatible with your phone’s USB-C port that you need to know about” explicitly calls out hubs and docks as “devices compatible with your phone’s USB-C port,” meaning they are designed to plug directly into that connector and immediately expand what it can do. These “devices compatible with your phone’s USB-C port that you need to know about” take one USB-C jack and fan it out into multiple connections, typically adding HDMI for an external display, USB-A for older peripherals, and SD or microSD slots for cameras and drones. When a phone supports video output, a single hub can mirror or extend the screen to a monitor or TV while also powering the phone and connecting a keyboard and mouse.
Because those hubs are described as “devices compatible with your phone’s USB-C port,” they are built around the same reversible plug and power standards that modern phones already use, which makes them ideal for travel or hybrid work. Plug a USB-C hub into a Galaxy S-series phone or a recent Android flagship, connect HDMI to a 27-inch monitor, and add a USB keyboard, and you effectively have a lightweight desktop that fits in a pocket. For photographers, a hub with SD and USB-A lets a phone ingest footage from a Canon EOS R5 or a DJI Mini drone without a laptop, then back it up to cloud storage on the spot. The stakes are significant for anyone trying to reduce how much hardware they carry: if a single hub can let a phone stand in for a laptop in many scenarios, it changes how people pack for business trips, how students work in shared spaces, and how small teams set up pop-up workstations in co-working hubs or client offices.
3. USB-C external storage
USB-C external storage, especially SSDs and flash drives, is one of the most practical “things you can plug into your iPhone 17’s USB-C port (that aren’t chargers).” Reporting on “5 things you can plug into your iPhone 17’s USB-C port (that aren’t chargers)” highlights that external SSDs and USB-C flash drives are among the accessories that connect straight to the phone’s USB-C port, no adapter required. Those “things you can plug into your iPhone 17’s USB-C port (that aren’t chargers)” underscore that the iPhone 17 USB-C port is not limited to power bricks, it can talk directly to storage devices so the phone can browse, copy, and edit files on them. That means a photographer can plug in a USB-C SSD after a shoot and move ProRAW photos or 4K video clips off the phone, or a video editor can keep large Final Cut Pro for iPad projects on an external drive instead of filling internal storage.
Crucially, those “things you can plug into your iPhone 17’s USB-C port (that aren’t chargers)” show that USB-C lets a phone directly access files on external storage without needing a computer in the middle, which changes how people think about backups and workflows. A 2 TB USB-C SSD can become a roaming archive for years of photos, downloaded Netflix or Disney Plus episodes, or offline Spotify and Apple Music libraries, all accessible from the phone’s Files app or equivalent. For professionals, this direct access can streamline on-site work: a journalist can record interviews in lossless formats and offload them to a USB-C thumb drive, while a field engineer can carry CAD drawings or PDF schematics on a compact SSD that plugs into both phone and laptop. The broader trend is that as more phones adopt USB-C with robust file system support, external storage becomes a standard part of a mobile kit, reducing the pressure to buy the highest internal capacity and giving users more control over where their data lives.
4. USB-C power banks
USB-C power banks are the safety net that keeps all of these accessories useful when you are away from a wall outlet. In a lineup of “Anker 2024 Best Sellers: Must-Have Chargers, Power Banks, and USB-C Solutions,” USB-C power banks are singled out as “must-have chargers, power banks, and USB-C solutions,” which positions them as core accessories for keeping phones charged on the go. Those “must-have chargers, power banks, and USB-C solutions” are optimized around USB-C, so a single battery pack can fast-charge a phone, top up wireless earbuds, and even add meaningful runtime to a tablet or lightweight laptop. Some models combine USB-C Power Delivery with an extra USB-A port, mirroring the way a highly rated portable charger with a USB-C PD port and a USB-A port can charge modern and older devices at top speed.
Because these “must-have chargers, power banks, and USB-C solutions” are built around USB-C, they align with the broader shift toward a single-cable lifestyle, where one cord can handle phones, tablets, and accessories. Retail listings for portable chargers and power banks note that while most power banks provide ports, some also offer built-in charging cables for commonly used devices so users will not have to carry separate charging cables, which makes them even more convenient companions for USB-C phones. High-end USB-C power banks like the Omni 20c+ are described as powerful USB-A and USB-C power banks that provide rapid, seamless, and safe data transfer without the juggling of multiple accessories, showing how a single brick can handle both charging and hub-like duties. For commuters, travelers, and anyone in areas with unreliable power, the stakes are obvious: a dead phone can mean missed navigation, lost two-factor authentication codes, or an inability to contact emergency services, so a compact USB-C power bank is not just a convenience but a resilience tool.
5. USB-C chargers and multi-device cables
USB-C chargers and multi-device cables are the final piece that ties the whole ecosystem together, especially now that iOS hardware has joined the USB-C world. Coverage explaining that “iPhone 16 has a USB-C port, here’s what you can do with it” explicitly states that “iPhone 16 has a USB-C port” and then details “what you can do with it,” including a range of charging accessories and peripherals. Because “iPhone 16 has a USB-C port,” owners can use the same USB-C chargers that already power Android phones, iPads, and many laptops, instead of relying on proprietary connectors. Those reports on what you can do with the iPhone 16 USB-C port highlight that modern USB-C chargers and cables can top up phones, tablets, and laptops from a single accessory, which makes high-wattage USB-C wall bricks and multi-port chargers especially valuable.
That shift means “iPhone 16 has a USB-C port” is not just a hardware footnote, it is a signal that users can standardize on USB-C charging accessories that work across multiple devices, reducing cable clutter while taking advantage of fast-charging support. A 65 W or 100 W USB-C charger with multiple ports can power a MacBook Air, an iPad Pro, and an iPhone 16 at once, while a braided USB-C cable with interchangeable tips can handle USB-C phones, older Lightning accessories, and even some USB-A devices through adapters. For households and offices, the implications are significant: fewer proprietary chargers in drawers, easier device sharing, and simpler replacement when a cable fails. As more cars, planes, and public charging stations adopt USB-C sockets, having a reliable USB-C charger and a couple of robust cables becomes as essential as carrying a wallet, and the fact that flagship phones like the iPhone 16 support that standard cements USB-C as the default way people power their digital lives.
More from MorningOverview