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Open Thread: What phone accessory would you like to see in the future?

AndiApril 7, 2014

In an age where our smartphone have most features already built-in is the need for accessories dead? Or are there still some gadgets we would like to see created?

If you ever have the chance to walk through a Chinese phone city, or visit an electronics show you will be over-whelmed by the vast array of 3rd part accessories for phone and tablets.

These accessories range from the indispensable, such as external battery power banks, screen protectors and cases, to the more obscure or seemingly outdated, analogue TV tuner for your smartphone anyone?

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In the past and even recently there have been accessories which have caught my eye. Adapters so you can run dual SIM cards in a single SIM phone, solar powered external chargers, and bluetooth camera remotes like Oppo’s O-click, but overall I am seeing less of a need for additional accessories as phones become more advanced.

Are there still some killer phone accessory ideas?

Is it just a matter of time for the phone accessory market to be nothing more than screen protectors and cases? Or are there still some killer phone accessory ideas out there which haven’t been created yet?

Or perhaps I am wrong and there is a huge number of great accessories already on sale which I have completely overlooked.

In the comments below I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about the accessories you can’t live without, plan to buy, or would like to see invented. Let’s see what we can come up with!

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

About the author
Andi

Cheap dvb-t viewer
nietjason
April 8, 2014
All i want is all chinese manufactors to make a good case for their phones.
All they offer is flip cases that wont protect you if you drop it.
- Manos
  April 10, 2014
  Jiayu has a good flip cover like leather for G4 that protect the phone for sure!
  I have it sometime now and is very good

qari
April 8, 2014
CryosR
April 8, 2014
All what i want to buy good phone.
1) 5-5,7 inch fullhd screen with high brightness
2) 2gb ram
3) not less than 13 mp camera with OIS and xenon
4) fm transmitter
5) hifi sound and also loud or even stereo loudspeaker
6) not less than 3000mah battery
7) and main – dual sim
8) made of premium materials -steel, glass, ceramic, magnezium alloy e.t.c
It is a dream but i think Chinese manufacturers can make it and it can cost around 350$ for international buyeers
- Melsyoo
  April 8, 2014
  I think the Oneplus One fits your description; it has a snapdragon 801, 5.5 inch fhd, 2gb ram, some cool sony camera and a 3100 mAh. I doubt it’ll be dual sim though.
  - Xiaolu
    April 10, 2014
    Now 3GB RAM, don’t know if OIS camera (can’t remember). Yeah, seems no dual SIM (competitors neither, except S5 in China maybe?)

realjjj
April 8, 2014
Since nobody is in a rush to integrate solar ( even if it brings just a small gain), solar covers (back or back+front) would not be a bad idea.
Another idea would be maybe integrate a keyboard in those windowed covers.

MRU
April 8, 2014
I’d love to see more BT dialers. The Sony SBH -52 is great, but you can’t dial or sms with it. A 2-3″ display that syncs with your 6″ plus device as a “phone” extension.
Have a second version with its own SIM, which gives you phone for 3G only tablets, or 2nd SIM functionality.
A 3.5mm headset switch like the xiaomi one for all phones. And if they would add an InfraRed transmitter on the top, that would be grand!
- Fred Gilbert
  April 9, 2014
  I believe a smartwatch will give you what you want.
  I too would love to see a universal 3.5mm jack key. Ooh, infrared transmitter FTW, no need to buy an outrageously priced remote.
  - MRU
    April 9, 2014
    Not really. First, I already own a nice watch….
    Second, dialing/sms’ing is already a challenge; phoning isn’t really viable with a smartwatch.
    - Fred Gilbert
      April 9, 2014
      Ah, I see. Well sms not so much until they apply a new keyboard(already developed, zoomboard iirc), but dialing is just fine imo. I just can’t imagine buying an extra device that you’d have to pull out of your bag or pocket just like you would your phone.
  - April 10, 2014
    LG (and others) already have IR blasters in the Optimus G Pro, perhaps others. I did use it to turn the TV on and off. 😉
    They had profiles for a bunch of appliances, including the air conditioners…
Krida
April 8, 2014

Peter Pain
April 8, 2014
Not sure if you can get, but whilst waiting in the mobile phone shop the other day…
Super Phone Case…built in Xenon flash, Battery, 140-150db input level multi source microphone, stylus (with tegra 4 like processing), paper notebook/postits :), foldout Keyboard
Wallet case. Now you just need one bulge in your pocket. Why has nobody done it yet?
Wide spectrum camera/sensor (see googles next phone designs) also for night driving vision.

Allanitomwesh
April 9, 2014
Huawei’s wristband was quite unique,something like that would be nice if readily available and affordable.
Shpeedy
April 9, 2014
I would be very interested in a smart case with eInk display for my LG Optimus L9 (this was a concept launched by Alcatel/TCL for their Hero model).
Gaurav Arora
April 9, 2014
Queue the wearables Andy, queue the wearables ;]
I hope you heard the July news on Android wear 😀

Xiaolu
April 10, 2014
I really love the Jolla “other half” idea, that could be good to have many other “halves” (accessories) available on demand: good camera with optical zoom, bigger battery, eInk display, and so on (they’re designing yet, it seems). But I hope the ARA Project and Phonebloks will deliver a new experience to phones and accessories world. Maybe an accessory to remember picking accessories?

Guest
April 10, 2014
I still like the idea of a laptop dock. Something like the thing that Motorola built a few years ago, but with a 15+in screen and universal USB connection for any phone. Something like Ubuntu for Android will be needed for a desktop-like experience.
I also like the idea of a kinetic mode (where your phone’s camera tracks your movements) coupled with a low-power wireless keyboard/mouse receiver (like a logitech micro dongle). Combine that with Miracast and you can use any TV to turn your phone into a workstation… This is something that would be really good to have when 4K phones come out. then next generation of 8-core 64bit phones will have the grunt to work as a workstation. Again, something like Ubuntu for Android (or the dual boot Window/Android) would really let you have a desktop app experience just by dropping your phone into place on a cradle on top of the monitor.

Dave Weinstein
April 10, 2014
I still like the idea of a laptop dock. Something like the thing that Motorola built a few years ago, but with a 15+in screen and universal USB connection for any phone. Something like Ubuntu for Android will be needed for a desktop-like experience.
I also like the idea of a kinetic mode (where your phone’s camera tracks your movements) coupled with a low-power wireless keyboard/mouse receiver (like a logitech micro dongle). Combine that with Miracast and you can use any TV to turn your phone into a workstation… This is something that would be really good to have when 4K phones come out. then next generation of 8-core 64bit phones will have the grunt to work as a workstation. Again, something like Ubuntu for Android (or the dual boot Window/Android) would really let you have a desktop app experience just by dropping your phone into place on a cradle on top of the monitor.
CryosR
April 11, 2014
Best accessory is glass-film protector for lot of models of phones. Also it’s could be great to have Solar Charging case))