As mobile hardware and connectivity increasingly become central to consumers’ lives, a wide variety of accessories are being purchased to facilitate usage. Looking forward, sales will be driven not only by a desire for necessities such as cases and chargers, but also by products that increase functionality, such as portable external battery packs and keyboards. Product selection is also expected to shift from a pursuit of the tried and true, toward the accessories that have unique designs and which inspire impulse purchasing.

This report covers accessories purchased for mobile phones and tablets, including cases, chargers, networking and audio accessories. Categories of accessories covered in this report include:

• Wearable audio: headsets, headphones, ear buds

• Portable audio: portable speakers and portable docking stations

• Charging equipment: Charging stations and cords, spare batteries, car chargers

• Networking: Mobile hotspots, signal boosters, and connectivity solutions for autos

• Photography: remotes, lenses, tripods

• Other: Cases, armbands, memory cards, keyboards

The following products are excluded from this report:

• Software

• Devices not primarily designated as mobile accessories

• Mobile toys (including drones)

• Wearable cameras, fitness devices, smartwatches, augmented and virtual reality glasses

• Home automation products

This definition differs from that used in Mintel’s previous report on the subject, Mobile Phone and Tablet Accessories – US, May 2012 in that it does not include mobile toys, home automation accessories, or health monitoring equipment.