What is the minimum order quantity for phone cases from China?

Phone cases typically have MOQs of 100 to 200 units per design per device model. Custom packaging or custom colors may push this to 500 units. Simple cases with in-stock designs can sometimes go as low as 50 units.

Are phone chargers from China safe to import?

They can be, but only if you verify the charging chips used in the product. Counterfeit charging ICs are common and can cause device damage or fires. Always ask for the chip brand, request teardown photos, and use a third-party inspection service to verify components before shipping.

What is MFi certification and do I need it for Apple accessories?

MFi (Made for iPhone) is Apple's licensing program for accessories using Apple-proprietary connectors. If you're selling Lightning cables or adapters, your factory must hold an MFi license and use genuine Apple authentication chips. Without it, the product will be rejected by iOS or stopped by software updates. Ask to see the factory's MFi license documentation.

Where is there still margin in phone accessories?

Margin exists in premium materials, custom branding, new phone model timing, and B2B sales. Generic cables and standard chargers are highly competitive with thin margins. Focus on differentiation through packaging, materials, or niche positioning rather than competing on price.

How do I brand phone accessories with my own label?

Most Chinese phone accessory factories offer custom branding options at 300 to 1,000 unit MOQs. This includes logo printing, custom colors, and retail packaging. Budget $200 to $500 for packaging design, and negotiate custom branding into your first order. It's the fastest way to separate your product from commodities.

Sourcing Phone Accessories from China: Wholesale Guide

Phone accessories are one of the most-sourced product categories from China. The factories are everywhere. MOQs are low. And there’s a buyer for almost every price point. The problem is that competition is brutal in most sub-categories, and some products carry real safety risks if you cut corners. This guide covers what works, what doesn’t, and how to stand out in a crowded market.

What’s in the Phone Accessories Category

The category covers a wide range of products. Not all of them have the same opportunity profile.

Phone cases are the highest-volume accessory. They’re lightweight, cheap to ship, and easy to customize. Factory prices run $0.50 to $2 per unit for standard TPU or PC cases. Retail prices on Amazon run $10 to $25. That’s strong margin on paper, but competition is fierce. The key to making cases work is niche design, custom branding, or device-specific positioning (military-grade protection cases, wallet cases, and so on).

Screen protectors are similar to cases. Tempered glass protectors cost $0.30 to $1 at the factory. The market is flooded, so differentiation matters. Privacy screen protectors and specific device fit (for newer phone models before big suppliers catch up) are where you can still find room.

Chargers (wall adapters) are more competitive and more regulated. GaN chargers have become the premium segment. Factory prices for a 65W GaN multi-port charger run $8 to $15. Retail prices in the US range from $25 to $45. The margin exists, but compliance costs are real, and the category has severe safety consequences if you ship bad product.

USB cables are easy to source but hard to margin at retail. The $5 cable market on Amazon is dominated by large established sellers. Braided cables with specific features (right-angle connectors, short travel lengths, high-wattage fast charging) can still command a premium.

Wireless chargers (Qi and MagSafe-compatible) are a growing segment. Factory prices for basic Qi pads run $3 to $8. MagSafe-compatible chargers are pricier due to the alignment magnets. Competition is increasing but there’s still room for premium positioning.

Power banks deserve their own section. See the charger-specific notes below about battery safety.

The Biggest Risk: Counterfeit Chips in Charging Products

This is where sourcing phone accessories goes from “competitive” to “dangerous” if you’re not careful.

Charging cables and wall adapters depend on specific ICs (integrated circuits) to handle power delivery safely. The e-marker chip in USB-C cables, the charging IC in wall adapters, and the battery management system in power banks all have to work correctly.

Counterfeit versions of these chips exist in large volumes. A cable or charger built with a fake chip can deliver incorrect voltage. That damages connected devices. It can also cause fires.

The reputational and legal risk is enormous. In the US, a product fire traced back to your imported charger will result in CPSC investigation, product recall, and civil liability. This is not theoretical. It happens.

What you do about it:

Ask for the specific chip model used in any charging product
Request teardown photos from sample units
Have your inspection service verify chip markings against manufacturer databases
Never buy chargers from suppliers who can’t name the chip brand

MFi Certification for Apple Accessories

If you’re sourcing anything designed to work with Apple devices, you need to understand the MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad) program.

Apple controls which accessories can use their proprietary Lightning connector (now being phased out in favor of USB-C). Any Lightning cable or adapter that doesn’t have genuine Apple authentication chips will either be rejected by iOS or stop working after an iOS update.

MFi licensing isn’t available to importers directly. The factory has to hold the MFi license. If a supplier claims MFi but can’t show you their license documentation from Apple, the chips are counterfeit. Walk away.

For USB-C accessories compatible with Apple devices, the requirement is different. You need USB-IF certification (the organization that governs USB standards), not MFi. Ask for the USB-IF certification for any fast-charging cable.

For a deeper dive on certifications and compliance for imported electronics, see our FCC and UL compliance guide.

MOQs for Phone Accessories

MOQs in this category are low compared to most electronics. That’s one of the reasons it’s popular with first-time importers.

Phone cases: 100 to 200 units per design per model
Screen protectors: 200 to 500 units
USB cables: 200 to 500 units
Wall chargers: 200 to 500 units
Wireless chargers: 200 to 500 units
Power banks: 300 to 500 units

Custom packaging typically requires higher MOQs, often 500 units minimum. Custom-printed packaging (retail-ready boxes with your brand) can push you to 1,000 units on some products.

Where Competition Is Highest

The most competitive segments are:

Generic USB-A cables (no differentiation possible, race to the bottom)
Standard 5W phone chargers (market is saturated)
Generic TPU cases for flagship phones (Amazon is flooded)
10,000 mAh power banks with no brand story

If you enter these segments, you’re competing on price. Margins get thin fast.

Where Margins Still Exist

The money is in differentiation, niche positioning, and timing.

Newer phone models. When Apple or Samsung releases a new phone, there’s a 60 to 90 day window before the market floods with cases. If you already have a factory relationship and a design ready, you can be first with a specific case model.

Premium materials. Leather cases, metal-framed cases, carbon fiber covers. They cost more to produce ($5 to $15 FOB) but retail at $30 to $60 and face less competition.

Brand story and packaging. The same $1 charger cable sourced from the same factory as everyone else becomes a $12 product with thoughtful retail packaging, a strong brand, and a lifetime replacement guarantee. Packaging and story cost real money, but they’re what separate commodity sourcing from brand building.

B2B and wholesale. Corporate buyers, phone repair shops, and electronics retailers need reliable volume suppliers. A relationship where you’re supplying 5,000 cables a month to a regional distributor at thin margin beats fighting Amazon’s algorithm every day.

How to Differentiate Your Sourcing

Custom branding on phone accessories is accessible even at small volumes.

Most factories can do:

Custom color options at 500 unit MOQs
Logo printing or debossing at 300 to 500 units
Custom retail packaging (hang tags, boxes, inserts) at 500 to 1,000 units
Custom cable colors and braid patterns at 500 to 1,000 units

Spend $200 to $500 on packaging design before you place your first real order. Good packaging creates perceived value that lets you price above commodity sellers.

For tips on how to negotiate custom branding into your order, see our negotiating with Chinese suppliers guide.

Finding Suppliers

Alibaba is the obvious starting point. For phone accessories, DHgate is also worth checking for lower MOQ options. Both platforms have heavy supplier competition in this category, which keeps prices honest.

For larger volume or factory-direct pricing, 1688.com is the Chinese domestic market equivalent. Prices are 20 to 40% lower than Alibaba in many categories. You’ll need a sourcing agent or someone who reads Mandarin. See our DHgate guide, Alibaba guide, and 1688 guide for platform-specific tips.

Always verify suppliers before sending money. Read our supplier verification guide to know what to check.