Half of in-store smartphone buyers get accessories, here are the most popular ones

Ever wondered what are the most popular accessories people buy for their cell phones? Turns out, if we compare all accessories on a dollar-based value scale, cases are the most popular one, according to market research by NPD. Next, somewhat surprisingly come headphones, obviously pushed by the much higher average price for headphones than for cases. At a distant third and fourth come external batteries, chargers and handsfree headsets.

Looking deeper into what drives someone to buy a case, NPD found that granting maximum protection is the first concern of users and also important are the high quality of build materials and the expectation for the case to not be too bulky, and ruin the design of that high-end phone.

“Smartphones tend to feature slim designs and glass materials, so protection accessories have become a virtual necessity to safeguard smartphone owners’ investments,” industry analysis director at NPD Ben Arnold said. “Price holds less importance than protection on the list of purchase influencers, and consumer concern over the quality of materials indicates the performance of these accessories is more important than their aesthetics or cost.”

Interestingly, nearly half of those buying a smartphone in-store, got some accessory with it, and the spending on decorations and add-ins to the smartphone was much higher in stores than online.

source: NPD via Business Insider