Finding a great gift for an iPhone user is both easy and hard at the same time. While there are thousands of iPhone accessories available to choose from, you still have to understand what sort of iPhone lover you’re shopping for. For example, let’s talk cases. One kind of person would appreciate a super slim case while another would rather have a rugged case while another is obsessed with Apple Pay and would use a wallet case. What about headphones? While most iPhone lovers can appreciate a good pair of headphones, which kind? If you’re shopping for a runner, go with a sweat-proof set made for activities — or a hands-free Bluetooth ear bud for chatting while taking long walks with the family dog. Of course, Beats headphones are always a hit with just about anyone under the age of 30, but an older guy might appreciate better audio fidelity for old school rock and roll over the stylish Beats.

There are other accessories, though, that everyone can get on board with, like a tripod stand for letting an iPhone owner take group selfies or produce awesome time-lapse videos with their new iPhone 6.

Top 10 Best Gift Ideas for iPhone Lovers 2014:

1. Beats Headphones

beats pro headphones gift apple lovers

Beats Pro Over-Ear Headphones

Apple acquired Beats this year, so Beats are now technically Apple products. Any of the Beats by Dre headphones will surprise and delight, so choose based on your budget — assuming that you’re in the market to spend more than $150 on a set of headphones. (While some audiophiles tend to shrug their shoulders over Beats headphones, customers tell a different story — they have very high owner satisfaction rates.) Beats Studio Over-Ear Headphones feature noise canceling while Beats Pro Over-Ear Headphones sit at the high-end of the lineup. The Beats Solo 2 and mixr anchor the “entry” Beats headphones.

If you’re shopping for a iPhone lover who isn’t sold on fashion-forward Beats, check out 10 Fantastic Beats Alternative Headphones.

2. Speakers

jam plus speaker iphone lovers gifts

JAM Plus Portable Speaker

Because music and video are so important to Apple iPhone fans, a good external speaker is always welcome. You could go with a small wireless Bluetooth “can” style speaker like the popular JAM Plus Portable Speaker. These offer surprisingly good audio for the size, great for casual listening most anywhere, and the price is right. You can step it up with a waterproof rugged wireless speaker like the Philips ShoqBox Wireless Portable Speaker. Or hit the Beats brand again for a Beats Pill. For a bit fuller, richer sound perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, or dorm rooms, try a wired set with a bit more power. The Creative GigaWorks T40 Series II are crazy good for the price, and if you need something half the cost that comes in under $50, the Creative Inspire T12 2.0 Multimedia Speaker will work in smaller spaces or beef up games and movies.

3. In-Ear Headphones

iphone lover gift ideas bose soundtrue

Bose SoundTrue In-Ear Headphones

While Beats offers a line of in-ear headphones, too, Beats isn’t the only game in town. Bose SoundTrue In-Ear Headphones for iOS models get fantastic user reviews. For runners or exercisers, try the Sony MDR-J10 for something that won’t fall off your ear or the Sennheiser ADIDAS Sennheiser OCX685i Earphones, which also have an in-line mic for answering phone calls or chatting it up with Siri. For a super affordable price, try the Panasonic RPTCM125 headphones.

4. Bluetooth Headset

Plantronics M50 gift ideas iphone

Plantronics M50

The cyborgs that run around with Bluetooth headsets attached to the side of their faces 24×7 can get a little irritating, but the fact is, a wireless Bluetooth headset can be incredibly handy — if only so you can call your mother like a good boy . . . while you put away the laundry at the same time. The small and light Plantronics M50 or Motorola H720 are hard to beat.

5. iPhone Case

candyshell grip iphone lovers gift guide

Speck CandyShell Grip Case

Whoa, with hundreds of choices hitting the market, there are a lot of good case options — and there’s more choices for iPhones than any other smartphone out there. For a gift, consider the kind of case your iPhone lover might need. If he or she has a slim case, maybe a rugged case could be good for winter days on the ski slopes or hot summer days on the beach. For outdoorsman dads, the OtterBox Defender Series in hunter orange and camo is a good choice, while city-loving guys might be ready for a sweet wallet case. Of course, there’s plenty of high-quality cases that meet a perfect middle ground, like the Speck CandyShell Grip Case for iPhone 6. Note: Most of the case manufacturers in these iPhone 6 options also produced iPhone 5s options.

6. Glare-Free or Glass Screen Protector

power support anti-glare gift idea

Power Support Anti-Glare Film

A high-quality screen protector is always welcome — especially if your iPhone user has one that’s all scratched up and bubbly. iPhone lovers who use their iPhones outside in the sun can appreciate a good glare-free screen protector. The Power Support Anti-Glare Film Set is fantastic. For ultimate feel and clarity, try a glass screen protector like the ZAGG InvisibleShield Glass.

7. Apple TV

apple tv best gifts iphone lovers

Apple TV

The Apple TV is a set top streaming media device that attaches to HDTVs and lets iPhone owners use Apple’s AirPlay to stream content from their iPhones to their Apple TVs. This works for games, movies, TV shows, and even Amazon’s Prime video streaming service. It also lets you show off your own photos and videos, as well as play music and watch special channels that are available through the Apple TV. The quality is great and Apple’s ecosystem of content just keeps growing.

8. External Battery Charger

tylt 2k travel charger gift idea

Tylt Energi 2K Travel Charger

There are a lot of great battery chargers on the market these days, all of which basically let you charge your iPhone while on the go. For frequent travelers, they are a must — no need for your iPhone lover to camp out on the floor in the airport near a electrical outlet. The Tylt Energi 2K Travel Charger is a USB charging plug, and when you pull it from the wall, it becomes a charged up portable battery. For even more juice, try the Anker 2nd Gen Astro E3.

9. Philips Hue Lights

philips hue lighting gift

Philips Friends of Hue Personal Wireless Lighting Bloom Starter Pack

Home automation gadgets that are all connected via Apple’s new HomeKit technology haven’t hit the market yet, but a great way to get a taste is through Philips Hue line of lightbulbs like Philips Friends of Hue Personal Wireless Lighting Bloom Starter Pack, which you can control with an iOS app. And even if your iPhone lover doesn’t want to build the connected home of the future, good lighting can affect mood, inspire people, or just help you relax after a long hard day.

10. Stands or Docks

elago m2 stand iphone gift ideas

elago M2 Stand

The main challenge in finding a good dock or stand for your iPhone is fit — new iPhone models and thousands of case designs make it hard to find a good fit. Fortunately, a few stand and dock manufacturers have found answers. The Twelve South HiRise Stand fits all iPhones as well as iPads and even works with all sorts of cases. It’s simple, looks fantastic, and it will fit on a kitchen counter as a charging station just as easily as a desk connected to a Mac. The only catch is that it’s designed to be used with Apple’s own Lightning cables. A great alternative that also works with all other smartphones is the elago M2 Stand. It has classic good looks and is built from aluminum and available in silver, black, and champagne gold. Better yet, you can pair it with one of Amazon’s sweet 6-foot Lightning cables to give you more freedom to place it where you want.

Even More Best Gifts for iPhone Lovers

Still here? And hungry for more gift ideas? Check out 11 More Best Gift Ideas for iPhone Lovers.

About the author

Chris Maxcer

Twitter Website

I've been writing about the tech industry since the birth of the email newsletter, and I still remember the clacking Mac keyboards from high school -- Apple's seed-planting strategy at work. I'm a big fan of elegant gear and great tech, but there's something to be said for turning it all off -- or most of it -- to go outside. Online I like to call out cool stuff on Wicked Cool Bite and blog with my buddies at Man Makes Fire. To catch me, take a "firstnamelastname" guess at the url of this site.