What you need to know

Wearable technology has been a growing consumer electronics category since Fitbit launched its first device in September 2009. 2019 was a great year for wearable tech, as products like wireless earbuds and smartwatches moved from the early adopters to a more mainstream audience. Wearable tech is still a relatively expensive segment for what is essentially accessories/add-ons for smartphones, so pricing will act as a barrier for many consumers. Those in the market for wearable tech will opt for brands and products that are both functional and also fashionable.

Definition

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel defines wearable technology as any technology designed to be worn. Wearable technology products include, but are not limited to, smartwatches, GPS watches, activity trackers, smart jewelry, wearable cameras, smart clothing, AR and VR headsets and smart headphones/earbuds.

This Report builds on research conducted for Mintel’s Wearable Technology – US, December 2018 as well as the December 2017 and 2016 Reports of the same title.

While the Report will discuss wearable technology as a whole, the Market Size segment of this Report focuses on wrist-worn devices like smartwatches and activity trackers, a subset of the wearable technology category.

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