396 million wearables to be sold in 2020 despite COVID-19 — report

Sales of wearables were unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Image: IStock/dolgachov/ via AFP Relaxnews.

Around 396 million wearables are expected to be sold in 2020, which represents an increase of 14.5% over 2019, according to new data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) on Sept. 25. The marketing intelligence consultancy also predicted that this figure is set to grow to 637 million units sold by 2024.

Sales of “hearables”, that is to say headphones, account for close to 60% of all sales, with 234.3 million units sold in 2020. This category takes into account any audio headwear including hi fidelity units for home listening, wireless noise canceling and sports headphones, as well as simultaneous translation earphones.

Other wearable categories with burgeoning sales are watches, with 91.4 million units or 23.1% of overall sales, and wristbands and fitness trackers, with 67.7 million units or 17.1% of overall sales.

IDC predicts that the wearables market will continue to grow by 12.4% per year to reach 637 million units sold in 2024. CC

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