Chinese handset brands focus on accessories to drive profitability in India

NEW DELHI: Chinese handset companies plan to strengthen their accessory business to drive revenue and profitability in India after having captured a majority share of the smartphone market.

Xiaomi, the biggest smartphone seller in India, has been building its accessory and Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem business on top of its handsets and smart TV products. Realme and OnePlus are preparing to amplify their focus on accessories, while Vivo is set to enter the segment next year.

“In 2020, we want to be a tech lifestyle brand and not just a smartphone brand,” Madhav Sheth, chief executive officer at Realme India, told ET. “We will keep on exploring various categories… We will get into different accessory segments. We already have general accessories like chargers and cables.”