Revenues for Aftermarket Accessories to Hit US$51 Billion by the End of 2014

ABI Research states mobile phone accessories in the aftermarket will generate revenues of US$51.1 billion by the end of 2014. Protective carry cases continue to generate the highest revenues and shipment numbers (US$13 billion and 557 million respectively) with additional chargers and memory cards among the other major contributing product categories.

“Consumers are seeking additional protection for their smartphones, with most modern devices coming with larger screens and therefore more susceptibility to damage if dropped or carried in a pocket unprotected,” comments Thomas McCourtie, Research Analyst at ABI Research.

“Some protective cases also offer compartments to store debit and credit cards, and with an increasing number of consumers opting to pay for goods and services via contactless payment systems, there is more of an incentive to carry all essential items (phone and bank cards) together for added convenience. Mobile phone accessories with Bluetooth availability will continue to be the most shipped handset smart accessory with sales increasing by almost 20% (18%) over a 5-year period; 2014 to 2019. Products in this category generally have lower shipment volumes but many Bluetooth enabled accessories are proving popular with consumers, particularly mobile media speakers and headphones,” adds McCourtie.

“Products such as the Beats by Dr. Dre Pill and the Creative D200 have become some of the most sought-after mobile accessories,” finishes McCourtie. “People are willing to pay for quality audio and highly visual brands. The popularity of music streaming services such as iTunes, Spotify, and Beats Music is helping to drive sales.”

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Wearables and Smart Accessories Market Research.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.