Belkin is a popular brand of mobile accessories, electrical gadgets and computer peripherals that sells a wide range of devices worldwide. Unlike some of its competitors like Anker Innovations and Spigen, Belkin has a more interesting ownership history. It is one of several brands indirectly owned by Foxconn, more accurately known as Hon Hai Technology Group. The company is widely recognized as the contract manufacturer of some of the world’s most popular gadgets, including iPhones, Google Pixel phones, and even various gaming consoles.
Foxconn acquired Belkin in 2018 through its subsidiary Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), which, like Foxconn, is publicly traded and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Before FIT purchased Belkin, it was a private company led by founder Chet Pipkin and other executives.
It was established in 1983 by Pipkin and has come a long way from its origins in Pipkin’s parents’ home in Hawthorne, California to becoming a multinational consumer electronics brand owned by Foxconn. In 2021, Pipkin stepped down as CEO to become executive chairman, and Steve Malony was promoted to CEO and continues in this role starting in 2026. Other key executives include Jay Singh as CFO and Brian Van Harlingen as CTO.
Belkin started manufacturing printer cables
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Belkin’s very first product was the “Hamlet” cable for connecting the Apple IIc computer to non-Apple printers. The company quickly diversified into surge protectors and USB storage devices, followed by stereo cables, iPad accessories, docks, wall adapters, wireless power banks and much more. The company also launched the WeMo brand in 2012 to focus on smart home products. However, it wasn’t very successful and the company essentially shut it down in January 2026 by ending support for its cloud-based apps and services that served as the back-end to various smart home products.
Belkin also purchased networking equipment company Linksys from Cisco in 2013, which was later sold to Foxconn, like other Belkin subsidiaries. However, Linksys changed hands again, and by 2025 it was fully owned by Fortinet, a cybersecurity company. Belkin also launched Phyn, a water management technology brand, in partnership with Uponor in 2016; Uponor later sold its stake to Belkin in 2021. Phyn was also sold to a group of investors led by television personality Jonathan Scott. He also runs Future Venture, which focuses on robotics, spatial computing and AI.
As of July 2026, Belkin sells power supplies, wireless chargers, docking stations, phone cases, screen protectors, audio hardware through its SoundForm brand, USB cables, adapters and other accessories for mobile and portable game consoles.
