IN 2020, the wearables market saw global sales of US$68.9 billion (RM279 billion) worldwide, up nearly 50% in one year, according to Gartner. This spectacular increase should continue in 2021 with an estimated turnover of US$81.5 billion. Wireless headsets alone account for nearly half of this market.
Wireless earpieces, such as AirPods, are offering a huge boost to sales of wearables. This category includes devices for listening to music at home, those designed to block out the noise in public transport, those specially adapted for fitness activities as well as those specialised in instantaneous translation. In 2020, they alone accounted for US$32.7 billion in sales, far ahead of watches (US$21.7 billion) and connected bracelets (US$4.9 billion).
And Gartner's forecasts are particularly optimistic for the coming years, with overall industry revenues estimated at US$81.5 billion in 2021 (+18%) and US$93.8 billion in 2022 (+15%).
Connected devices worn on the ear or wrist are experiencing particularly strong growth, as they are seen by consumers as a valuable aid to daily life, whether for teleworking, health monitoring or fitness activities. – ETX Studio, January 19, 2021
