1.3 - Mobile device accessories and connectivity
CompTIA A+ Core 1 objective 1.3 covers mobile device accessories and short-range connectivity. Bluetooth pairing is the short-range wireless technology used to connect headphones, keyboards and speakers to a phone. NFC enables contactless tap-to-pay and quick device pairing over a very short range. A docking station turns a laptop into a desktop workstation, adding power, displays and ports through a single connection. A smartwatch that tracks heart rate and shows notifications is an example of a wearable device. You should match a described accessory or connection need to the correct technology. Expect scenario questions that name a use - pair earbuds, tap to pay, dock a laptop, track fitness - and ask which accessory or wireless technology provides it. Range is the giveaway: NFC works over centimetres while Bluetooth reaches several metres, so read the distance in the question.
Pair headphones/keyboard = Bluetooth. Tap-to-pay / quick pair = NFC. Laptop to desktop, one cable = docking station. Heart-rate watch = wearable.
Practice questions
1. Which accessory turns a laptop into a desktop workstation with one cable for power, displays and peripherals?
- KVM switch
- Docking station (correct answer)
- USB hub
- Port replicator (passive)
A docking station connects power, multiple displays, Ethernet and USB through a single connection (often USB-C/Thunderbolt).
2. Which technology enables contactless 'tap-to-pay' on a phone?
- GPS
- NFC (correct answer)
- Infrared
- FM radio
NFC (Near-Field Communication) enables tap-to-pay and quick device pairing at very short range.
3. Which short-range wireless technology is used to pair headphones with a phone?
- NFC tap pairing
- Bluetooth pairing (correct answer)
- GPS positioning
- Wi-Fi 6 networking
Bluetooth pairs peripherals (audio, keyboards) over short range. NFC is for very short tap interactions.
4. A smartwatch that tracks heart rate and notifications is an example of a:
- A rack server
- A wearable device (correct answer)
- A network switch
- A central mainframe
Wearables (smartwatches, fitness bands) pair with phones via Bluetooth and sync health/notification data.
5. Which mobile accessory reads chip/swipe payment cards for point-of-sale on a tablet?
- A capacitive drawing stylus pen
- A mobile credit card reader (POS) (correct answer)
- A wireless handheld game controller
- A ventilated laptop cooling pad
A mobile credit card reader attaches via the jack/USB-C/Bluetooth to accept card payments on tablets/phones.
6. A pressure-sensitive pen used to draw/take notes on a tablet is a:
- A rolling desktop trackball
- A stylus / digitizer pen (correct answer)
- A wired optical mouse
- A clip-on video webcam
A stylus/digitizer pen offers precise, pressure-sensitive input on tablets and 2-in-1s.