Consumer Electronics

The conversation around hearing health is rapidly evolving, and nowhere was this more evident than at the Audio Collaborative 2025 conference. The panel on “The Future of Hearing Health” brought together leading voices from across the industry - Rasika D’Souza (Futuresource), Blair Werp (Qualcomm), Alastair Moore (RNID), and Elfed Howells (Elevear)  who set to the stage to discuss how technology, design, and innovation are shaping a more inclusive and healthier audio future. 

Futuresource Consulting has appointed David Watkins as its new Director of Consumer Electronics & Media, reinforcing the company’s commitment to intensifying its global influence across entertainment, devices and connected ecosystems.

The global wearables market continues to expand in all directions, but its centre of gravity is shifting. Futuresource Consulting’s new Global Wearables Market Outlook 2025 report reveals that while wrist-worn devices are entering a new phase of maturity, a fresh surge of innovation is emerging in smart glasses. This category is growing at pace, and reshaping how consumers think about connected technology ecosystems. 

Growth in the global home audio market may have stagnated, but the surrounding conversation is changing fast. That’s according to Futuresource Consulting’s latest Audio Tech Lifestyles consumer research study, which reveals that while home audio device ownership across key product categories remains healthy, there is strong momentum behind how consumers are embracing artificial intelligence. 

The future of audio is open for debate, and some of the biggest names in the industry are stepping up to the mic. Audio Collaborative 2025, the annual strategy summit hosted by Futuresource Consulting, returns to London’s Soho Hotel on 12 November, with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. joining as Diamond Sponsor and HARMAN confirmed as Gold Sponsor. 

Futuresource Consulting has released the latest episode of its acclaimed Future Sessions video series, featuring Carl Hibbert, Research Director, in conversation with Mats Larsson, Head of Storage Media. This insightful session explores the evolving landscape of HDD and SSD technologies, market disruptions, and the strategic pivots shaping the future of data storage. 

The global storage media market is navigating shifting currents of demand and decline, with regional markets diverging and country-level volatility reshaping vendor strategies. From India’s double-digit surges in surveillance HDDs in Q1 of 2025, to clear EMEA contractions and shifting vendor dynamics in ASEAN, the battleground is increasingly local.

The esports industry is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by the rapid integration of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). These immersive technologies are not just enhancing the viewing experience—they are fundamentally reshaping how fans engage with esports events, turning passive spectators into active participants.

At Futuresource, we’re seeing a transformative shift in the XR (Extended Reality) landscape. In our latest Future Session, Nikolaos Tzoumerkas, Lead Analyst XR unpacks the trends redefining the space, from immersive gaming to AI-powered smart glasses. 

The global gaming audio market returned to growth in 2024, with volume rising by 5.4% to achieve 40.9 million units, according to Futuresource Consulting’s latest industry report. Following two years of decline, this rebound marks the beginning of a new growth phase, with shipments projected to exceed 54 million units by 2029.

Futuresource Consulting explores the fast-evolving in-car audio and entertainment landscape in its latest Future Sessions video episode

As automotive technology accelerates toward electrification, autonomy and software-driven innovation, the audio experience within vehicles is undergoing a radical transformation.

The global headphones market recorded a 4.3% year-on-year increase in shipments during Q1 2025, pushing past 106 million units. Yet beneath this headline growth, Futuresource Consulting’s latest data reveals sharp contrasts between global regions, shaped by marked differences in economic and policy pressures.

The global XR (Extended Reality) hardware market is gaining serious momentum, fuelled by a wave of innovation across Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and emerging wearable categories. 

Global set-top box (STB) shipments fell 1.4% year-on-year in 2024, to end the year at just over 181 million units, according to Futuresource Consulting’s latest market outlook report. With Pay-TV subscriber numbers continuing to retreat and alternative content platforms accelerating their expansion, the STB market is navigating a pivotal phase of transformation. 

Following a period of turbulence, the global consumer TV market is beginning to regain its footing. That’s according to Futuresource Consulting’s latest consumer TV display market outlook report, which shows a 0.9% year-on-year increase in global TV shipments for 2024, reaching 218 million units. This marks the beginning of a slow but steady growth trajectory through to 2029, with annual volumes forecast to hit 230 million units.