Right here’s excellent news for shopper tech retailers: your clients truly wish to spend extra money on true wi-fi stereo (TWS) earbuds and headphones.
In accordance with a survey carried out by Qualcomm of seven,000 shoppers within the U.S., the U.Ok., Germany, China, India, Japan, and South Korea, this previous summer season, Value sank to the second highest buy consideration for TWS gear. The survey discovered that buyers are extra prepared to pay extra for “all-day” consolation, premium sound together with spatial audio, and longer battery life than final yr.
These survey outcomes are mirrored in TWS precise gross sales this yr. In accordance with Tech Insights, TWS shipments in Q2 2023 rose 15% YoY, and income rose 5.1% YoY. TWS earphones accounted for 57% of whole income, and sub-$30 fashions accounted for simply 49% of gross sales. Extra optimistically, within the face of a collapsing smartphone market, IDC says that “earware” shipments will rise 4.5% this yr and can develop one other 3.1% by 2027.
“This yr’s State of Sound responses confirmed that earbuds and headphones at the moment are thought-about essential for actions similar to working, commuting, gaming, and exercising,” famous Dino Bekis, Qualcomm VP and GM, Wearables and Combined Alerts Options. “Globally, the demand for true wi-fi earbuds and headphones is rising, with listeners utilizing their gadgets extra typically and for longer durations of time, each day.”
Desired TWS Options
So what TWS options and advantages are your shoppers prepared to spend extra money on? In accordance with the Qualcomm survey, 45% of respondents stated that consolation was essentially the most fascinating TWS headphone/earbud characteristic. This is smart since 58% of survey respondents say they don their buds each day, in comparison with simply 22% final yr.
Whereas Value dropped to the second most necessary TWS buy driver, battery life is third. 40% of survey takers stated they have been prepared to pay additional for a TWS gadget providing “all-day put on,” a pay-extra willingness share that rises to a whopping 59% for TWS gadgets costing greater than $100.
Not surprisingly, shoppers are also extra prepared to pay for higher sound than final yr, with 73% stating “I ensure that sound high quality on my gadgets will get higher and higher with each buy,” up from 67%. Demand for larger music high quality is also at an all-time excessive; 69% of shoppers listed lossless audio high quality as a probable buy driver, and 81% of respondents responded that they’d heard of spatial audio whereas 43% stated they have been accustomed to it.
“Clearly, premium audio experiences are persevering with to develop in significance for listeners around the globe,” the report concluded. “With the elevated assist for premium audio from streaming providers and different forms of media, paired with technological developments throughout value factors, that is more likely to be influencing shopper consciousness.”
Oh, and a 3rd of respondents wish to take a look at the audio high quality within the retailer, so retailers could wish to purchase extra take a look at samples from TWS earbuds and headphone suppliers.
Good Information for OTC Listening to Aids
Not solely do shoppers need better-sounding wi-fi buds and headphones, however in addition they desire a better-sounding ambient world. A complete of 60% of world respondents – 66% within the U.S. – listed listening to personalization, i.e. a one-time listening to take a look at for customized audio present in an rising variety of earbuds and particularly self-fitting Bluetooth bud-styled OTC listening to aids such because the Sony CRE-E10 and the HP Listening to Professional, as a probable buy driver for his or her subsequent earbuds/headphones.
The report additionally famous that greater than two-thirds of respondents work in a public area similar to a espresso store, a typical space within the dwelling, or a shared workspace, and so want audio gadgets to assist them ‘hear and be heard’ each within the workplace and in different work environments. This interprets into shoppers wanting higher-quality ambient listening to modes on their telephones.
To help improved ambient conditions, 73% of respondents will search for noise canceling of their subsequent TWS buds or telephones in comparison with 68% final yr, and the significance of “crystal clear” voice calls elevated to 73% from 67%.
Customers additionally don’t wish to swap out buds or headphones for various actions. A complete of 68% of survey respondents search audio gadgets optimized for a number of use circumstances similar to working, commuting, gaming, and exercising.
As well as, a shocking 75% of shoppers cited a want for Auracast, the published Bluetooth commonplace, of their subsequent TWS gadget.
“This yr’s responses counsel that listening to enhancement may develop into extra mainstream within the private audio market sooner or later,” the report famous.
See additionally: 1MORE Introduces S50 And S30 Sports activities Headphones With Open Ear Design
