Rise of the smartphone accessory: VR headsets, 360 cameras and robot balls

Forget brightly coloured cases - 2016 will be the year of the hard-sell of phone add-ons, as manufacturers try to ensure brand loyalty

As the world's largest mobile trade show, MWC 2016, draws to a close in Barcelona, one thing is for certain: the days of the smartphone being the be-all and end-all are over. We're now in the second coming of the accessory, with virtual reality leading the charge.

Samsung, LG, Sony, Xiaomi, HP, Alcatel and others all lined up to announce their latest smartphones, some garnering interest, others less so. But while the new and shiny smartphones were plentiful, they were dwarfed by the sheer volume of add-ons.