Cases

Combination case with front cover that can be pleated to a horizontal stand

Pouch case made to dangle

A Samsung Galaxy S8 Active in a combined case and claspible vertical stand

S-View cover accessory of a Samsung Galaxy S4: Horizontal flip cover with preview window

Cases, which are designed to attach to, support, or otherwise hold a smartphone, are popular accessories. Case measures are based on the display inches (e.g. 5 inch display). There are different types:

Pouches and sleeves

Holsters

Shells

Skins

Fitted cases

Bumpers

Flip cases and wallets

Screen protection and body films

Drop and shock protection

Leather case

Cases with integrated kick stands

Battery cases

Holsters are commonly used alone for devices that include rubberized padding, and/or are made of plastic and without exposed rigid corners. Heavy duty cases are designed to protect from drops and scratches.

A Standing (or kickstand) case keeps the device standing upright. The claspible kickstand of some horizontal cases holds the device in a more flat or steep angle, depending on whether it is horizontally placed on a surface clockwise or counter-clockwise. The flat angle allows tapping without pushing the device over, while the steep angle is intended for watching.

Folio cases are a combination of a case and stand, and may include a keyboard (USB for OTG smartphones or Bluetooth keyboard).

Skins and design covers can serve for protection and personalization. These are the result of the relatively "naked" designs produced by manufacturers such as Apple, where the metal and glass components of the device are exposed and vulnerable to damage. They are distinct from holsters, in allowing use of the device while in the case, but in many instances include a belt clip or other device giving it the functionality of a holster. They are made of hard plastic, rubber, silicone, leather, or adhesive-backed vinyl pieces. Vinyl material may be calendared or cast, with the latter being more expensive. Calendered vinyl is expected to only be used for short-mid duration (10 years), while cast vinyl is used on a more long-term basis. Calendered vinyl also tends to shrink in the heat and can be shaped into any form (above 80 degrees Celsius), and may fade in direct sunlight.

Customized phone cases use custom printing. Different companies have different methods of printing on cases; some utilize sublimation, others Inkjet-printed skins, others dye-sublimation 3D printing methods.

Functional cases can integrate external batteries (Charging Phone Cases) or a USB, Bluetooth, or WiFi keyboard and touchpad.

Anti-lost devices

Anti-loss keychains can easily locate a smartphone through the GPS and Bluetooth low energy antennas of the phone. Once the user is within range of the smartphone, both the smartphone and device will alert the user. It also can be used to remotely take photographs using Bluetooth.

Phone charms

Main article: Mobile phone charm

Phone charms are used to decorate the device. They attach either by a strap or by plugging into the jack plug.

Mass storage

See also: Bluetooth

Some smartphones feature SD card slots (usually the smaller Micro-SD variant). These, in combination with a compatible SD card, can be used to transfer files from one device to another, or simply to increase the storage capacity of the phone.

Wi-Fi SDs are Wi-Fi communication devices on a special SD card inserted into the SD card slot. They can move pictures to a local computer or an online photo-sharing service.

Additionally, many devices have USB On-The-Go and support USB storage, in most cases using either a special USB micro-B flash drive or an adapter for a standard USB port. Such adapters can also be used with various other USB devices, such as hardware mice and keyboards.

Chargers and external batteries

Micro-B USB plug

See also: Solar cell phone charger

Smartphone chargers have gone through a diverse evolution that has included cradles, plug-in cords and obscure connectors. However, devices built between 2010 and 2020 generally use micro-USB connectors, while newer devices tend to use USB-C. Apple devices often use proprietary connectors.

External batteries are most commonly stand-alone devices, which can be cabled to the phone's primary charging connector.