Re: "Man, dealing with dead batteries while trying to navigate the city is the worst." Honestly, been there. My phone used to die mid-commute all the time. I stopped buying cheap junk and switched to these, they havent failed me yet:

• Mophie Powerstation 10000mAh for extra juice.
• Native Union Belt Cable Lightning 4ft which lasts way longer.
• Spigen Onetap Magnetic Stand for the desk. Everything fits your budget pretty well if you shop sales.

Grab the Anker 621 Magnetic Battery 5000mAh for your phone and a Anker Powerline III Lightning Cable 6ft to fix those charging issues. Honestly, they work perfectly and stay reliable.

Man, dealing with dead batteries while trying to navigate the city is the worst. In my experience, stop buying those cheap gas station cables immediately. They are trash. If you want something that actually lasts, you have to go with braided nylon. I have been using the Belkin BoostCharge Braided Lightning to USB-C 3.3ft for a while now and the reinforced stress points are a game changer. It basically never frays. For power, you should look into the mophie Powerstation Wireless 10000mAh. It is super reliable and gives me peace of mind when Im out all day. It is not too heavy compared to others I have tried. For a stand, the Belkin Magnetic Phone Mount 2-in-1 keeps my desk organized and holds the phone steady. Honestly, just spend the extra few bucks on quality gear upfront. It saves you way more money in the long run.

Regarding what #2 said about dealing with dead batteries, honestly braided cables are good, but I prefer my current setup using heavy duty silicone wraps. Honestly, way more durable long term.