Source: IoT Media
Author: Ai Li
Reprinted by the Internet of Things think tank
Guide
As one of the important components of the Internet of Things, the development of Bluetooth also promotes the development of the Internet of Things, and in the application scenarios of Bluetooth, the Internet of Things is also an important market force.
Recently, the Bluetooth Technology Alliance (SIG) and ABI Research released the "2022 Bluetooth Market Update", which shares the latest market insights and trends, in order to help global IoT decision-makers understand the key role played by Bluetooth technology in its technology route planning and market, and to improve the ability of enterprise Bluetooth innovation and promote the development of Bluetooth technology. The following are the details of the report.
In 2026, annual shipments of Bluetooth devices will exceed 7 billion pieces for the first time
For more than two decades, Bluetooth technology has met the growing demand for wireless innovation. Although 2020 has been a turbulent year for many markets around the world, in 2021, the Bluetooth market began to rebound rapidly to pre-pandemic levels. Analysts predict that from 2021 to 2026, the annual shipment of Bluetooth devices will increase by 1.5 times, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9%, and bluetooth device shipments will exceed 7 billion pieces by 2026.
Bluetooth technology supports a variety of radio options, including Classic Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), and Dual Mode (Classic Bluetooth + Bluetooth Low Energy/Classic+LE).
Today, given that all key platform devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. contain classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy, most Bluetooth devices shipped over the past five years are also dual-mode devices. In addition, many audio devices, such as in-ear headphones, are also shifting to dual-mode operation.
ABI Research predicts that due to the continued strong growth of connected consumer electronic devices, coupled with the upcoming release of LE Audio, the annual shipment of single-mode Bluetooth low energy devices will be almost the same as the annual shipments of dual-mode devices in the next five years.
Platform Devices VS Peripherals
All platform devices are compatible with classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy
With the adoption rate of Bluetooth low energy and Classic Bluetooth reaching 100% in mobile phones, tablets and PCs, the number of dual-mode devices supported by Bluetooth will reach full saturation of the market, with a compound annual growth rate of 1% from 2021 to 2026.
Peripherals are driving the growth of low-power single-mode Bluetooth devices
Driven by continued strong growth in peripherals, shipments of low-power single-mode Bluetooth devices are expected to more than triple over the next five years. In addition, if both low-power single-mode Bluetooth devices and classic, low-energy dual-mode Bluetooth devices are considered, by 2026, 95% of Bluetooth devices will have Bluetooth low energy technology, with a compound annual growth rate of 25%. In 2026, peripherals will account for 72% of Bluetooth device shipments.
Bluetooth full-stack solution to meet the growing market demand
Bluetooth technology is very versatile, and today its applications have expanded from the initial audio transmission to low-power data transmission, indoor location services, and reliable large-scale device networks.
1. Audio transmission
Bluetooth technology first freed devices such as headphones and speakers from the need for wiring, revolutionized the audio landscape, and revolutionized the way people use media and feel the world. Key use cases include: wireless headphones, wireless speakers, in-car systems, and more.
It is estimated that in 2022, the shipment of Bluetooth audio transmission equipment will reach 1.4 billion pieces. From 2022 to 2026, the compound annual growth rate of Bluetooth audio transmission equipment will be 7%, and the annual shipment volume will reach 1.8 billion pieces by 2026.
As people's demand for greater flexibility and mobility increases, the application of Bluetooth technology in wireless headphones and wireless speakers will continue to expand. It is estimated that in 2022, shipments of Bluetooth headsets will reach 675 million pieces, and Bluetooth speaker shipments will reach 374 million pieces.
Bluetooth audio transmission adds a new product to the Internet of Things market
In addition, building on two decades of innovation, LE Audio will enhance the performance of Bluetooth audio by delivering higher audio quality at lower power consumption, driving continued growth across the audio peripherals market (headphones, in-ear headphones, etc.).
At the same time, LE Audio can also support new audio peripherals. In the field of Internet of Things, LE Audio is more widely used in Bluetooth hearing aids, increasing support for hearing aids. According to statistics, about 500 million people worldwide need hearing aids, and it is estimated that by 2050, 2.5 billion people will suffer from hearing impairments of varying degrees. With the implementation of LE Audio technology, hearing aids with smaller form factors, less interference and more comfortable to wear will appear, thereby improving the quality of life for people with hearing impairments.
2. Data Transfer
Every day, billions of new Bluetooth low energy data transmission devices are available in every sector to help consumers live more conveniently. Key use cases include wearable devices (fitness trackers, smart watches, etc.), PC peripherals and accessories (wireless keyboards, trackpads, wireless mice, etc.), healthcare monitors (blood pressure monitors, portable ultrasound and X-ray imaging systems), and more.
In 2022, the shipment volume of Bluetooth-based data transmission products will reach 1 billion pieces, and it is expected that in the next 5 years, the compound growth rate of shipments will be 12%, and by 2026, it will reach 1.69 billion, and 35% of IoT connected devices will use Bluetooth technology.
As more and more people's home spaces have both private and working attributes, people's demand for Bluetooth connected homes and peripherals increases, and the demand for Bluetooth PC accessories continues to rise;
At the same time, people's pursuit of convenience in life has also promoted the increase in demand for Bluetooth remote controls for TVs, fans, speakers, game consoles and other products;
The improvement of living standards began to make people pay more attention to their own healthy lives, and health data received attention, which led to an increase in shipments of Bluetooth-connected consumer electronics, personal IoT devices such as wearables and smart watches; tools, toys and toothbrushes; and increased shipments of products such as health and fitness equipment.
Shipments of various bluetooth data transmission devices
(Source: ABI Research)
According to ABI Research, shipments of personal Bluetooth consumer electronics will reach 432 million units in 2022, and this shipment will double by 2026.
In 2022, shipments of Bluetooth remote control devices are expected to reach 263 million pieces, and in the next few years, annual shipments of Bluetooth remote controls are expected to reach 359 million.
Shipments of Bluetooth PC accessories will reach 182 million units in 2022, and by 2026, this shipment will increase to 234 million.
The Market for IoT Applications for Bluetooth Data Transmission is gradually expanding
As people's understanding of Bluetooth fitness tracking and health monitoring devices deepens, consumer demand for wearable devices is also increasing. Annual shipments of Bluetooth wearables are expected to reach 491 million by 2026.
Over the next five years, Bluetooth fitness and health tracking devices will grow 1.2 times, with annual shipments increasing from 87 million units in 2022 to 100 million units in 2026. Bluetooth healthcare wearables will achieve strong growth.
However, with the increasing number of smartwatch functions, in addition to daily communication and entertainment, it also has the functions of fitness and health tracking devices. This has gradually shifted the momentum to smartwatches. It is expected that in 2022, the annual shipment volume of Bluetooth smart watches will reach 101 million. By 2026, this number will grow 2.5 times to 210 million.
The progress of science and technology has also made the scope of wearable devices continue to expand, and Bluetooth AR/VR devices and Bluetooth smart glasses have begun to appear.
These include VR headsets for gaming and online training; wearable scanners and cameras for industrial manufacturing, warehousing and asset tracing; smart glasses for navigation orientation and recording lessons.
By 2026, annual shipments of Bluetooth VR headsets will reach 44 million and smart glasses will reach 27 million.
3. Location service
Bluetooth technology is also widely used as a device positioning technology to meet the growing demand for high-precision indoor positioning services. Mostly used in smart homes, smart buildings, smart transportation and other fields.
By using one Bluetooth device to determine the presence, distance, and orientation of another device, Bluetooth technology provides flexibility unmatched by any other radio positioning technology, enabling building managers and owners to adjust the application scale of indoor positioning solutions to meet the different and changing needs of buildings.
Bluetooth location service devices with the integration of indoor and outdoor positioning technology, its application scope and methods have become rich. Key use cases include: asset tracking (people/equipment), indoor navigation, digital keys, personal item tracking.
Bluetooth location service device shipments are expected to be 252 million pieces in 2022, and from 2022 to 2026, the compound annual growth rate of shipments is expected to reach 25%, and shipments will increase to 568 million. There is a growing awareness of the benefits of Bluetooth location services, which will continue to support the accelerated growth of its market.
Item tracking has become the main service object of Bluetooth location services
In recent years, personal belongings tracking solutions have been continuously applied, such as the launch of Samsung Galaxy SmartTag last year, apple's Apple AirTags have also been launched, which has further made the innovative technology of personal belongings tracking widely recognized, making a major contribution to the growth of Bluetooth location service device shipments.
By 2026, ABI Research predicts that annual shipments of Bluetooth personal tracking devices will exceed 140 million, and new experiences, new label shape requirements, higher accuracy, and large-scale deployment of tracking network services by leading label and mobile service providers will accelerate the development of this market.
The demand for asset tracking is driving the continued growth of Bluetooth location services
In 2022, annual shipments of Bluetooth asset tracking devices will reach 128 million pieces. More and more commercial and industrial facilities are turning to Bluetooth asset management solutions to optimize resource and inventory control. It is estimated that by 2026, the annual shipment of Bluetooth asset tracking devices will reach 350 million.
In Bluetooth location services solutions, asset tracking (RTLS) and location tags are the main drivers of continued growth. Commercial RTLS systems, including medical, accounted for the largest share of equipment shipments this year.
Hospitals and healthcare organizations can use Bluetooth location services solutions to optimize processes. Studies have shown that 58% of medical equipment in hospitals may be idle, and 10% of equipment will expire on hospital shelves. Bluetooth technology can help optimize device tracking and inventory control, improve operational efficiency, and minimize waste. It is estimated that in 2022, the number of Bluetooth location service deployments in medical systems will reach 25,000.
Bluetooth positioning accuracy is improved to achieve high-precision and low-latency applications
With the advent of high-precision distance measurement, Bluetooth technology will be able to better serve the growing number of secure access control applications, such as keyless entry and smart home access control applications.
In terms of vehicle access control, leading car and mobile phone suppliers support the digital key function of smart phones, and the Bluetooth car digital key can not only lock and unlock the door, but also bring more convenience to the driver. Bluetooth key and accessory shipments are expected to reach 24 million in 2022.
In the future, RSSI, direction finding, and the upcoming high-precision distance measurement capabilities will enable Bluetooth technology to be adapted to a wide range of powerful and flexible solutions.
In addition to improving the performance of item tracing and digital key solutions, by incorporating directional capabilities, Bluetooth RTLS solutions can improve accuracy from meters to centimeters, enabling new use cases that require greater precision and lower latency.
Thanks to Bluetooth direction finding, which is now measured in centimeters and milliseconds rather than meters and seconds, sports and entertainment venues around the world are able to track fast-moving athletes, balls and devices during competitions, aiding scientific training and fair play.
From improved accuracy to precise location at a lower cost, Bluetooth technology gives developers the reliability and flexibility they need to build more powerful and precise location service solutions.
4. Device network
Bluetooth technology automates the building's basic systems, including HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), lighting and safety, to save energy, reduce operating costs and extend the life of the building's core systems. Key use cases include: control systems, monitoring systems, automation systems, etc.
Bluetooth mesh networks are also gradually becoming the preferred wireless communication platform for many control systems, including advanced lighting solutions for smart buildings and smart industrial markets.
Bluetooth Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) monitor lighting, temperature, humidity, and occupancy to increase employee productivity, reduce building operating costs, or better meet the condition and maintenance requirements of production equipment, reducing unplanned downtime.
Driven by the increase in the deployment of Bluetooth connected lighting control and home automation solutions, analysts expect that the annual shipment of Bluetooth device network equipment will rise sharply in the next five years, and by 2026, the annual shipment of Bluetooth device network equipment will reach 1.2 billion.
Bluetooth is one of the key technologies to enable a network of smart home devices
In the home Internet of Things, Bluetooth has become the preferred application technology for many smart home solutions, and its role is constantly expanding.
Analysts predict that Bluetooth smart home device shipments will reach 552 million in 2022, and by 2026, the annual shipments of smart home automation devices will more than double, increasing to 1.1 billion units within five years. As the underlying technology of the device's network access configuration, Bluetooth technology is also widely used in smart home solutions.
The application of smart home automation controllers, smart lighting, and smart home appliances will also increase.
Bluetooth connected lighting control brings much more gain than lighting
The popularity of LEDs and the desire of users for higher energy efficiency, faster deployment capabilities and a higher quality user experience are driving the demand for Bluetooth commercially connected lighting control solutions.
Annual shipments of Bluetooth commercial lighting, switches and controllers are expected to reach nearly 8 million by 2026, many of which will help accelerate wider adoption of other commercial building use cases, such as environmental sensors. It is expected to grow 13-fold between 2021 and 2026, when annual shipments will reach more than 13.5 million.
Bluetooth connected lighting control systems provide the infrastructure needed for intelligent management to obtain more high-grained data and integrate with other building automation systems, including environmental sensors (air quality, temperature, humidity, etc.) and HVAC systems, enabling building managers to automate the control of core systems and extend their service life.
According to ABI Research, the commercial building automation market is expected to be one of the fastest growing Bluetooth IoT applications between 2021 and 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 76% and annual equipment shipments growing to nearly 50 million.
end
As one of the important components of the Internet of Things, the development of Bluetooth also promotes the development of the Internet of Things, and in the application scenarios of Bluetooth, the Internet of Things is also an important market force. In the future, the continuous evolution and improvement of Bluetooth technology will also bring greater imagination space to Internet of Things products, and we look forward to it together.