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`JANUARY 27
`AirPods dominate wireless headphone market as global growth
`hits 90% for 2020
`
`Michael Potuck - Jan. 27th 2021 7:46 am PT  @michaelpotuck
`
`17 Comments     
`
`New data is out today from Strategy Analytics on the wireless headphone market and its estimates reveal a
`strong 2020 for their sales on the whole as AirPods continues to dominate the category. Apple’s wireless
`headphones took an almost 50% share as the overall market saw an impressive 90% increase.
`
`https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/27/airpods-dominate-wireless-headphone-market/
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`The new report from Strategy Analytics says that the global total of Bluetooth headset shipments pushed past
`300 million for 2020.
`
`One of the most popular segments is “True Wireless Stereo” (TWS) Bluetooth headsets which Apple’s AirPods
`lineup continues to take the lion’s share of.
`
`Strategy Analytics says that true wireless stereo headphones saw a big 90% increase in shipments for 2020
`with AirPods taking just under 50% of the global market share.
`
`No surprise here, the report cites the pandemic as driving the wireless headphone growth in 2020 with the
`most shipments happening in the 2H 2020.
`
`https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/27/airpods-dominate-wireless-headphone-market/
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`AirPods dominate wireless headphone market as global growth hits 90% for 2020 - 9to5Mac
`9/15/21, 3:41 PM
`“TWS headsets drove global sales volumes in the Bluetooth headset segment,” comments Ken
`
`Hyers, Director at Strategy Analytics. “While the pandemic slowed demand briey during the rst
`half of the year, sales rebounded strongly during the second half. The Work From Home shift
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`benetted the entire Bluetooth headset category in terms of sales volume growth.”
`
`While AirPods still dominate the market, the report highlights that its share is decreasing as more competitors
`enter the market, many of which are priced below AirPods.
`
`“Apple maintained a commanding lead in the TWS segment in 2020, but its commanding share is
`shrinking as competition intensies. Strong competition is expected from Xiaomi, Samsung, and
`Huawei in 2021. The TWS headset market is already hugely overcrowded and despite a strong sales
`outlook, there will inevitably be consolidation in the years ahead,” says Ken Hyers.
`
`But notably, Apple just expanded its AirPods lineup even further with the launch of AirPods Max. While they
`are its highest-end offering, it’s another way Apple can capture more market share.
`
`As for future outlook on Bluetooth headphones, Strategy Analytics believes there is a lot of room for growth. It
`estimates only 1 in 10 people around the world have a Bluetooth headset.
`
`“There is still plenty of potential in the broader Bluetooth headset market,” comments Ville-Petteri
`Ukonaho, Associate Director at Strategy Analytics. “Our research shows that installed base and
`penetration of Bluetooth headsets is still low; less than one in ten people own a Bluetooth headset
`globally, so there is still signicant room for growth. As leading vendors are no longer bundling wired
`headsets with new smartphones, we see huge potential for Bluetooth headsets.”
`
`FTC: We use income earning auto aliate links. More.
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`Apple AirPods
`AirPods offers a cord-free wireless audio experience with up to 5 hours of battery life. They are
`rechargeable through the included case that get you up to 24 hours on a single charge. AirPods 2 and
`AirPods Pro support wireless (Qi) charging, Hey Siri, and include the H1 chip.
`
`About the Author
`
`Michael Potuck
`@michaelpotuck
`
`Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac. Since joining in 2016 he has written more than 3,000 articles
`including breaking news, reviews, and detailed comparisons and tutorials.
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`Raymond Chuang • 8 months ago
`I think the wireless headphones from Apple--including the Beats models--have one big advantage: the
`W1 or H1 chip in the phone for quick connectivity. I have the Beats PowerBeats (4th generation) and
`love its very easy pairing to my iPhone 12.
` 2 △ ▽
`Share ›
`•
`
`Ken Weimer
` • 8 months ago
`> Raymond Chuang
`That is only a one time set up though...after the initial set up they all (largely) act the same
` 1 △ ▽
`Share ›
`•
`
`Warren Buffduck
` • 8 months ago • edited
`> Ken Weimer
`Yet it did. Ask the guy how he spent the 0.4 sec he won
`△ ▽ 1
`Share ›
`•
`
`CubanMissiles • 8 months ago
`I see the chart and went to the source article and did not see a breakout. So the chart says Apple not
`AirPod and Apple I would think includes Beats. SO, although Apple has slightly under 50% of the
`https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/27/airpods-dominate-wireless-headphone-market/
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`5/7
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`AirPods dominate wireless headphone market as global growth hits 90% for 2020 - 9to5Mac
`9/15/21, 3:41 PM
`market, it still leaves the question of how much of that is Beats vs AirPods.
`
`I think this article needs to be more clear on this.
`
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`•
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`Screensplainin'
` • 8 months ago
`> CubanMissiles
`Beats ARE on the graphic according to the key right next to the pie-chart. They're represented
`by a bluey-gray color, so they're one of those tiny slivers of 'pie' between 'QCY' and 'Others'.
`Which presumably means the giant 'Apple' slice of pie does just represent AirPods (and AirPods
`Pro).
`
`△ ▽
`
`•
`
`Share ›
`
`CubanMissiles
` • 8 months ago
`> Screensplainin'
`This is me totally embarrassed. Thanks for the call out. This certainly makes it look that
`Beats is tiny. I wonder if that was worth the $3B investment - I know the Music Service
`came from Beats, but still.
` 2 △ ▽
`Share ›
`•
`
`Ken Weimer
` • 8 months ago
`> CubanMissiles
`Keep in mind this is ONLY True Wireless share...Beats currently has one model
`that qualifies.
` 1 △ ▽
`Share ›
`•
`
`Screensplainin'
` • 8 months ago
`> CubanMissiles
`I know what you mean - I'm never NOT surprised by the prices tech companies
`frequently pay for other tech companies!
` 1 △ ▽
`Share ›
`•
`
`Tysonmoth
` • 8 months ago
`> CubanMissiles
`Beats is still bigger than Sony and is almost as big as Bose.
`
`Take the big slice of "Apple" out of that chart and Beats (and everyone else) will
`look a lot bigger.
`Share ›
`•
`
`△ ▽
`
`BeIgianWaffle • 8 months ago
`Not a surprise. I think Apple will nearly as dominant in this space as they are in the smartwatch and
`tablet market. I only hope that AirPods prices won't surge over time.
` 1 △ ▽
`Share ›
`•
`
`Warren Buffduck
` • 8 months ago
`> BeIgianWaffle
`What do you expect ?
`It's mass deployment strategy is to obtain markets dominance, then captivate users and then
`maximize revenue.
`△ ▽ 1
`Share ›
`•
`
`Windreaper
` • 8 months ago
`> Warren Buffduck
`You mean deliver great products and services to Apple customers that they actually want
`to purchase? You think that all of this is an accident or conspiracy? Apple’s strategy isn’t
`https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/27/airpods-dominate-wireless-headphone-market/
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`9/15/21, 3:41 PM
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`AirPods dominate wireless headphone market as global growth hits 90% for 2020 - 9to5Mac
`to purchase? You think that all of this is an accident or conspiracy? Apple s strategy isn t
`market dominance.
` 3 △ ▽
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`Warren Buffduck
` • 8 months ago
`> Windreaper
`Ah. Elementary school went out again. Did anyone insult your friend ? How dare
`they
`
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`TV
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`△ ▽
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`•
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`Share ›
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`disqus_NMX
` • 8 months ago
`> Warren Buffduck
`Sometimes Warren, you say some really cool and interesting things.
`
`But other times, if someone provides a different opinion, or a logical rebuttal, it's
`like you take it as a personal attack, and you switch into abuse mode.
`
`The problem is, you throw around insults so regularly that people grow to distrust
`your opinion. It's so often that when you write something that I find cool and
`interesting, I see your name and it makes me hesitate to click the upvote button,
`as I don't want to associate with the flame wars guy.
`
`I think it's a shame, because clearly you do have a lot great things to add to the
`discussions. Just something for you to think about.
` 2 △ ▽
`Share ›
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`Warren Buffduck
` • 8 months ago • edited
`> disqus_NMX
`I see your point. Yet this is towards someone who is mostly here to add durky
`nonsense (or 200x the same phrases from some apple investor brochure) and
`personal attacks - only to irritate not just me but soo many others. Stalking me
`(even internationally) with trivialisations and obstinate behavior in languages he
`even doesn’t understand. Making regular interaction impossible - at least for me.
`You shouldn’t take too much notice, yet I am sorry if it disturbs you (that at a
`certain level will be unavoidable - particularly when it comes to his permanent
`Teslaphobia)
`Never mind, don’t upvote if you hesitate about intentions...yet I can admit I can be
`a tiring person with all that irony but not a hater or flamewar guy 😜 - so feel free
`to intervene when necessary
`△ ▽ 1
`Share ›
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`https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/27/airpods-dominate-wireless-headphone-market/
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