Unmissable Mobile Phone Accessory Market Trends

Mobile phone accessories used to be barebones and consisted of little more than a basic phone case, first-party headphones, and a charger. Today, access to MagSafe capability and increased freedom for third-party manufacturers has opened the market up for innovation and accelerated the pace of new, innovative products.

The future is bright if you know what to look for. Discover the biggest market trends in phone accessories with this deep dive.

The Biggest Market Trends

Wireless Charging Is Here To Stay

Wireless charging already holds the largest share of mobile accessories sold today, and is growing at a CAGR of 6.4% according to experts.

What’s driving this change? Let’s break down the factors:

• Consumer Awareness: Wireless charging was mostly seen as a gimmick until a few years ago. Buyers used to assume it offered significantly slower charging speeds compared to wired chargers at unaffordable prices. The Qi2 standard’s introduction in 2023 changed all that.
  
  Today, wireless chargers are nearly as affordable as the best first-party wired chargers, and they can offer impressive charging speeds depending on the device you’re using. Apple’s 15W limit allows an iPhone 16 to charge completely in 2 hours, and we might see that drop down to an hour once Qi3 is introduced.
  
  
• Third-Party Manufacturers: Improved consumer awareness and demand require increased supply if the market’s going to grow. Luckily, companies like Apple have allowed third-party manufacturers to design under the MagSafe license, leading to more affordable and innovative wireless charging solutions.

Sustainable Accessories

E-waste is a massive problem today, generating 22MT of waste in 2022 alone. Today’s shoppers are more aware of their environmental responsibilities than ever, and they’ll consistently prioritize accessories that put sustainability front and center.

This trend applies all across the supply chain. Manufacturers need to keep the green economy in mind during production cycles, prioritizing renewable energy where possible. Advertising your commitment to sustainability through recyclable packaging and using renewable materials in accessories like headphones are major wins here.

High-Performance Audio

Some experts feared the removal of headphone jacks across Apple and Android devices was going to spell the end for Hi-Fi audio accessories. We’re actually seeing the opposite play out in the market now. The premium audio market is growing at over 9.2% annually, and app makers are rushing to keep up.

For example, Apple Music’s support for lossless audio has been a major draw for users globally, pulling them away from platforms that don’t offer Hi-Fi audio support like Spotify. Spotify has been workshopping its own lossless offering for a while now, but there’s no telling when it’ll be ready for launch.

How does this trend shape mobile accessories? Let’s take a look:

• First-party premium audio accessories like Apple’s AirPods Pro are consistently among their highest-selling products.
  
  
• Third-party accessories like Sony’s XM5s have an even bigger market, offering users studio-like audio experiences across iOS and Android.
  
  
• We’re even seeing support for wired Hi-Fi headphones, with manufacturers creating USB-C converters that allow consumers to use their high-end headphones with devices that don’t have headphone jacks.

The Basics Remain Popular

Accessories like high-end headphones and wireless accessories are nice to have, but basics like screen protectors are absolute necessities for most of us. The market reflects that fact, with screen protectors growing at a steady CAGR of 8% as of 2024.

Manufacturers are clearly aware of this lasting demand too, and they’re constantly trying to stand out from the competition by elevating their screen protectors with features like privacy screens, blue-light filters, and oleophobic coatings.

MagSafe docks are also more popular than ever today. Consumers are gradually buying into the complete Apple ecosystem with AirPods, Apple Watches, and more. These docks offer a stylish way to show off and charge your devices simultaneously.

Multifunctional Phone Cases

We touched on MagSafe accessories earlier in this deep dive, but there’s another dimension worth exploring. In a global economy where prices are constantly rising, value is everything. Buyers want accessories that’ll last long and do more than their name implies.

Phone cases have risen to the call of duty here, especially with the integration of MagSafe. There’s no better example of this than the spread of MagSafe wallets and power packs. These cases come with a small battery that gives you an extra charge for the day and can even hold your essential cards.

Accessorize For The Future

Tomorrow’s mobile phone accessories are greener, more efficient, and multifunctional. Are screen protectors necessary? Absolutely! The basics will never go out of demand, as long as they can adapt to modern consumer trends.