Bluetooth audio product shipments are expected to reach 1.42 billion pieces in 2022| the latest report on the Bluetooth market

Recently, the Bluetooth Technology Alliance released the "2022 Bluetooth Market Update", the report shows that the global Bluetooth device shipments reached 4.7 billion units in 2021, and it is expected to reach 5.1 billion units in 2022.

In addition, the report also shares the latest Bluetooth market insights and trends, helps global IoT practitioners to understand Bluetooth technology in a timely manner, plays a key role in its technology route planning and market, and at the same time, can help enterprises improve Bluetooth innovation capabilities and promote the development of Bluetooth technology.

It is estimated that the annual shipment of Bluetooth devices will reach 7 billion units in 2026

The data report provides global Bluetooth device shipments for 2017-2021 and global Bluetooth device shipment forecasts for 2022-2026.

Global Bluetooth device shipments 2017-2021:

Global Bluetooth device shipments in 2017 were: 3.6 billion units;

In 2018, the global shipment of Bluetooth devices was: 3.8 billion units;

Global Bluetooth device shipments in 2019 were: 4.1 billion units;

Global Bluetooth device shipments in 2020: 4.1 billion units;

Global Bluetooth device shipments in 2021 are: 4.7 billion units.

Global Bluetooth Device Shipment Forecast for 2022-2026:

Global Bluetooth device shipments are forecast to be 5.1 billion units in 2022;

Global Bluetooth device shipments are forecast to be 5.5 billion units in 2023;

Global Bluetooth device shipments are forecast to be 6 billion units in 2024;

Global Bluetooth device shipments are forecast to be 6.5 billion units in 2025;

Global Bluetooth device shipments are forecast to be 7 billion units in 2026.

For more than 20 years, Bluetooth technology has met the growing demand for wireless creation. Although 2020 was a turbulent year for many markets around the world, with the epidemic effectively under control, the Bluetooth market began to rebound rapidly to pre-pandemic levels in 2021. Analysts expect the outbreak to recover faster than initially predicted in 2022, with annual shipments of Bluetooth devices growing 1.5 times from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 9%.

Bluetooth technology supports a variety of radio options, including Classic Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), dual mode (Classic Bluetooth + Bluetooth Low Energy).

Today, classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy (LE) are included in all key platform devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and more. As a result, most of the Bluetooth devices shipped in the last five years are dual-mode devices. In addition, many audio devices, such as earbuds, are also transitioning to dual-mode operation. Due to the continued strong growth of connected consumer electronic devices, coupled with the upcoming release of LE Audio, annual shipments of single-mode Bluetooth low energy devices will be almost on par with annual shipments of dual-mode devices over the next five years.

Bluetooth full-stack solution to meet the growing market demand

Bluetooth technology is widely used, initially for audio transmission, and then expanding to areas such as low-power data transmission, indoor location services, and reliable large-scale device networks. Bluetooth technology provides a full-stack, adaptable solution to meet the growing demand for wireless connectivity.

1. Audio transmission

Bluetooth technology first freed devices such as headphones and speakers from the annoyance of cables, revolutionized the audio field, and revolutionized the way people use media and experience the audio world. Key use cases include: wireless headphones, wireless speakers, in-car systems, and more.

According to the report, it is expected that in 2022, the shipment of Bluetooth audio transmission equipment will reach 1.42 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.

Nowadays, almost all wireless speakers use Bluetooth technology. As the market demand for greater flexibility and mobility increases, the use of Bluetooth technology in speakers will continue to expand. In 2022, 374 million Bluetooth speakers are expected to be shipped, and 425 million per year by 2026.

Earbuds are the main driver of headphone growth. Shipments of Bluetooth headsets are expected to reach 675 million in 2022, while Shipments of Bluetooth earbuds are 263 million, accounting for 39% of all wireless Bluetooth headsets. By 2026, annual shipments of Bluetooth earbuds will triple to 619 million, or 66 percent of all wireless headphones.

LE Audio will add a new broadcast audio feature that will enable audio source devices (e.g., smartphones) to broadcast one or more audio streams to an unlimited number of audio receiving devices (e.g., earbuds, speakers, hearing aids). Broadcast audio opens up important new opportunities for innovation, including enabling personal and location-based audio sharing.

In addition, LE Audio will provide enhanced audio performance. LE Audio delivers higher audio quality at lower power consumption, enabling audio developers to meet growing consumer performance demands and driving continued growth in the audio peripherals market for headphones, earbuds, and more.

Building on more than 20 years of innovation, LE Audio will enhance the performance of Bluetooth audio, provide greater flexibility for better form factors, and increase 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 transmission

Every day, from fitness trackers and health monitors to toys and tools, billions of new Bluetooth low-power data transmission devices help make life easier for consumers. The main application cases are: sports/fitness, computer peripherals and accessories, health and wellness, etc.

The report shows that 35% of IoT connected devices rely on Bluetooth technology, with Bluetooth data transmission shipments of 970 million pieces in 2021 and 1.07 billion pieces expected in 2022. It is expected to grow at a compound growth rate of 12% over the next five years and reach 1.69 billion shipments by 2026.

In terms of personal Internet devices, as more and more people want to better understand their health, fitness and personal activities, and the pursuit of convenience in life, analysts predict that shipments of personal Bluetooth consumer electronics will reach 432 million pieces in 2022, and by 2026, the shipments will double.

In terms of home entertainment devices, more and more people are seeking greater convenience, which has promoted the increase in demand for Bluetooth remote controls for TVs, fans, speakers, game consoles and other products. Analysts predict that in 2022, the shipment of Bluetooth remote control devices is expected to be 263 million pieces, and in the next few years, the annual shipments of Bluetooth remote controls are expected to reach 359 million.

In terms of Bluetooth PC Bluetooth computer accessories, as the frequency of home office is getting higher and higher, the demand for Bluetooth connected homes and peripherals is also increasing. Analysts expect shipments of Bluetooth PC Bluetooth computer accessories to reach 182 million units in 2022, and that shipment will increase to 234 million by 2026.

3. Location service

Bluetooth technology is now widely used as a device positioning technology to address the growing demand for high-precision indoor location services. By enabling one Bluetooth device to determine the presence, distance, and orientation of another device, Bluetooth technology provides the flexibility unlike any other positioning radio, allowing building managers and owners to expand indoor positioning solutions to meet the changing needs of buildings. Key use cases are: asset tracking (people/equipment), indoor navigation, digital keys, personal item tracking.

Bluetooth location service device shipments are expected to reach 183 million in 2021, 252 million in 2022, and from 2022 to 2026, shipments are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 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.

Personal item finding solutions are the main reason for the increase in Bluetooth location services device shipments. The launch of the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag and Apple AirTags in 2021 have further fueled the widespread acceptance of personal item finding innovations. ABI Research predicts that annual shipments of Bluetooth personal tracking devices will exceed 140 million units by 2026, benefiting from new experiences, new form factors, higher accuracy, and a proliferation of tracking network services from leading label and mobile vendors.

According to the use case, the deployment of the 2022 Bluetooth RTLS system shows that indoor navigation accounts for 77%, proximity induction services account for 64%, employee safety and access control accounts for 23%, tool and equipment tracking accounts for 19%, asset/material/product process tracking accounts for 17%, and vehicle and fleet tracking and control account for 8%.

The increasing demand for asset location tracking is driving the growth of the Bluetooth location services market. More and more commercial and industrial facilities are turning to Bluetooth asset management solutions to optimize resource and inventory control. Analysts predict that in 2022, the annual shipment of Bluetooth asset tracking devices will reach 128 million pieces.

According to the industry division, the deployment of the 2022 Bluetooth RTLS system shows that retail and services account for 62%, warehousing and logistics account for 10%, smart offices account for 8%, health care accounts for 8%, and manufacturing accounts for 4%.

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.

4. Device network

Bluetooth device network solutions in home, business, or other environments can reliably and securely connect tens, hundreds, or thousands of devices across a network. The main application cases are: control systems, monitoring systems, automation systems, etc.

According to the report, Bluetooth device network equipment shipments will be 486 million pieces in 2021, and shipments are expected to reach 616 million pieces in 2022. Driven by growth in the deployment of Bluetooth networked lighting control and home automation solutions, analysts expect annual shipments of Bluetooth device network devices to grow significantly over the next five years, reaching more than 1 billion units by 2026.

In the 2022 Bluetooth smart home device shipments, analysts predict that smart applications account for 34%, smart lighting accounts for 33%, smart blinds account for 6%, smoke and air quality sensors account for 6%, and contact sensors account for 5%.

Bluetooth has become the technology of choice among many smart home solutions and is currently being expanded to other home IoT devices. 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. The main devices driving the forecast include smart home automation controllers, smart lighting, and smart appliances.

I love audio network summaries

The latest Bluetooth data report for 2022 shows that global Bluetooth device shipments will be 4.7 billion units in 2021, and shipments are expected to reach 5.1 billion units in 2022.

With the popularization of the concept of the Internet of Things and the increasing application of precautions, the Bluetooth device market continues to be hot. In 2021, the shipment volume of the smart wearable market continued to grow, of which the global shipment of TWS headphones reached 310 million units, an increase of 24.84% year-on-year; the global shipment of smart watches exceeded 100 million for the first time, reaching 127.5 million pieces, 28.31%; VR/AR equipment shipments exceeded 10 million units, reaching 11.67 million, with a growth rate of 73.44%.

According to IDC data from authoritative research institutions, the shipment volume of China's wearable market in 2021 will reach nearly 140 million units, an increase of 25.4% year-on-year. It is expected that in 2022, the shipment volume of China's wearable market will exceed 160 million units, an increase of 18.5% year-on-year. Among them, the earpiece market shipped 78.98 million units in 2021, an increase of 55.4% year-on-year; the watch market shipments were 39.56 million units, an increase of 21.4%; and the bracelet market shipments were 19.1 million units, down 26.3% year-on-year.

As an important part of smart wearable devices and Internet of Things devices, the development of Bluetooth is also promoting the development of smart wearables and the Internet of Things. In the future, with the continuous evolution and improvement of Bluetooth technology, it will also bring greater imagination space to smart wearable and Internet of Things products, which is worth looking forward to!