Annual shipments of Bluetooth devices will top seven billion by 2026, according to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, the industry body for the technology.
The group is expecting 2022 shipments to exceed five billion, after a few slow years hampered by the pandemic.
“Every year, the Bluetooth SIG member community works hard to deliver innovations that improve the capabilities of Bluetooth technology and help shape new market trends,” said Mark Powell, CEO at Bluetooth SIG.
“The forecasts in the 2022 Bluetooth Market Update reflect the tireless work of the many Bluetooth SIG members who are developing innovations that create a more connected world.”
The group’s findings are interesting, with Bluetooth Low Energy Audio expected to drive shipments of Bluetooth earbuds to 619 million a year, making up two thirds of all wireless headsets. It will also accelerate the production of smart hearing aids and other health products.
VR and AR will also be a big driver, with Bluetooth-compatible VR headsets rising by 51 per cent by 2026, and AR units by 68 per cent.
