I use my phone all the time, and I don’t just mean I’m glued to my phone. With the help of a few accessories, my phone has replaced virtually all of my own personal gadgets.
My phone is my desktop and my laptop. It’s a tablet and an eReder. It’s a handheld gaming console and a virtual AR home theater. Here are the products that have made it happen.
1
An Upright Phone Docking Station
Any USB-C hub will do, but if you’re really looking to commit to a phone-centric digital life, it’s worth getting a dock that won’t leave your phone and cakes lying haphazardly atop your desk. I use an upright phone dock instead (specifically this Cable Matters 5-in-1 docking station on Amazon). Like an upright wireless charging pad, this dock also keeps my phone screen visible and accessible.
2
A Cheap Phone Stand
A phone stand is a foundational investment that comes in handy again and again. It’s also the cheapest. A stand keeps your phone upright for watching video, reading books, and browsing the web. You can prop your phone up while playing games. It also elevates, quite literally, the experience of using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
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Why My Must-Have Phone Accessory Is a Cheap Stand
They’re so affordable, you can place one everywhere.
3
Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse
Virtual keyboards have come a long way, and I won’t deny that I’ve written entire articles by swiping (I don’t know if swiping is faster than typing, but it’s certainly easier on my thumbs). Still, for sustained use, there’s no replacing the versatility of a Bluetooth keyboard. Some keyboards even fold to take up less space in your bag.
While your phone’s screen can also double as a touchpad, you’re likely going to want a mouse as well. Android pairs with virtually any model of either and works with them as well as a PC does, except for the lack of configuration tools that are often released exclusively for PCs.
4
A Desktop or Portable Monitor
If you’re going to use your phone as a replacement for a desktop PC, you’re going to need a desktop monitor. Any will do, as long as your phone dock has the necessary ports. Every phone I’ve used absolutely flies on a 1080p display. At 4K, I noticed the Galaxy Z Fold 5 started to struggle a tad. While the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has an easier time, it still occasionally starts to overheat and close apps. For a better experience, stick with a QHD resolution, or try out a phone like the Galaxy S25 Ultra with a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
I also have a drawer with a couple of portable displays. My two 16.1-inch 1080p HONGO portable monitors cost me only $60 each, and I used to leave them in multiple rooms of the house: one in the living room and one in my bedroom. They’re great anywhere you could use a small TV, and they can also function as your primary monitor if you’re okay with the cords.
5
Wireless Lapdock
A lapdock is a portable monitor with a keyboard and touchpad attached. It also comes with its own internal battery and built-in speakers. In other words, it’s a laptop without any of its own internals. The computing is all done by another device, typically a phone.
A wireless lapdock removes the need for a physical cable connecting the two devices. I’m typing these words on a wireless lapdock from UPERFECT (an older model virtually identical to the UPERFECT UDock X 13.3), and unless you happen to recognize Samsung DeX, there’s little reason to suspect this isn’t just a regular 13-inch laptop. The touchpad is trash though, so make sure you have a mouse.
6
AR Glasses
AR glasses are one of the more novel ways to make use of a phone. I have a pair of XREAL Air 2 Pro glasses, which provide me with a massive virtual 1080p display that I can view anywhere. This is a great way to make watching a video feel far more immersive, since you have your own private home theater. The same is true for video games. I also sometimes use my AR glasses as a replacement for a desktop monitor.
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I don’t know if my desk will see a monitor again any time soon.
7
Bluetooth Controllers
Bluetooth controllers can take the frustration out of mobile gaming. They allow you to enjoy cross-platform ports with the same controls you would use at a console or on a PC. If your phone is docked to a TV or monitor, it becomes difficult sometimes to tell the difference. This is especially true if you’re using a cloud gaming service like NVIDIA GeForce NOW.
I own multiple types of controllers. I still view the 8BitDo Pro 2 as the perfect controller. It’s what I reach for if I’m gaming via AR glasses or an external monitor. If I’m gaming directly on the phone, I grab my GameSir G8+ for more of a handheld gaming experience.
GameSir G8 Galileo Mobile Gaming Controller
GameSir’s G8 Galileo takes the best parts of console gaming and condenses it into mobile form with a comfortable controller build that works with virtually all type USB-C smartphones and game cloud and streaming apps.
8
USB-C Flash Drive
You never know when you might need a flash drive. I find that despite all the ways to transfer files wirelessly, including this half-century-old trick, a simple USB-C flash drive is often the fastest option. They’re also a valid way to back up data from your phone without paying for cloud storage.
I’m particularly fond of the SanDisk Luxe flash drives. They look and feel amazing (when they aren’t scorching hot from transferring files), so I’ve bought a couple in different sizes.
If this seems like a lot of stuff, here’s the thing—most of it will easily last for years and years. Once you’re all set up, you only have to upgrade your phone every few years for everything else to feel new again. This is much cheaper than maintaining a powerful desktop, laptop, phone, and gaming handheld all separately. Plus, with Google working on baking desktop mode directly into Android, the future of convergent devices is looking bright.
