Purchasing a smartphone can be a costly investment, and a number of smartphone accessories exist that can protect the screen and body from all kinds of damage. Other smartphone accessories aim to enhance or facilitate the use of the phone's features and applications or to customize the device to fit the owner's aesthetic sense.
One of the more practical smartphone accessories is a screen protector. Smartphone screens are usually manufactured with high quality material to provide an optimal visual experience, but just a few scratches, dings, and cracks can mar the screen and render it unusable. Screen protectors are made of clear, resilient film that adheres to the screen and appears to be nearly invisible. To protect the entire body of the phone, smartphone cases are sold in a number of build variations. They are usually made of silicon or plastic and offer various levels of protection. These cases can, however, also be stylish and attractive, with artistic designs or constructed of luxurious materials like leather.
Smartphones are often equipped with a number of features unrelated to voice communication. These include internet capabilities, a music player, and a database of entertaining and useful applications, all of which give the smartphone even more versatility. Headphones that plug directly into the phone transform it into a portable mp3 player, while frequency modulation (FM) tuners allow songs stored on the phone to be transmitted over an FM station on a car radio. Headsets, designed with both safety and efficiency in mind, are available that allow the user to speak to someone without holding the phone. Data cables that link the phone to a computer facilitate the transfer of photos, music, documents, and other files from one device to the other.
Other practical smartphone accessories include car chargers that charge the phone's battery through the car outlet. Some accessories extend the battery life by acting as a separate, temporary battery source that is independently charged and to which the phone can be attached when its battery dies. External keyboards, monitors, and other smartphone accessories that enhance the phone's computing abilities are also available.