The latest Canalys forecast expects shipments of smartphone accessories, namely wearable bands and TWS devices, to exceed 200 million units and 350 million units respectively in 2021.
Canalys research shows that wearable bands and TWS earbud categories will be more resilient against the Covid-19 pandemic, with shipments projected to grow at 32 percent in 2020.
In addition to Greater China and North America, smart accessory growth in the Asia-Pacific and European regions is expected to be strong.
Canalys Research Analyst Cynthia Chen said: “Consumers’ attention to health and wellness has increased significantly during the pandemic, which is a great opportunity for wearable devices, such as those from Xiaomi, Garmin, Fitbit and Huami etc.”
Engagement in indoor activities such as remote learning, working from home and home entertainment, as well as outdoor sports and recreation also continued to rise.
There will be demand for TWS headphones, such as those from Apple, Samsung, Jlab and QCY etc., the report said on Monday.
TWS earbuds are expected to grow 39 percent in 2021 to reach over 350 million units, much more robust than wearable bands, which are expected to grow at 12 percent in the same year. Asia Pacific region will surpass North America to become the second-largest region for wearable bands and TWS headphones in 2024.
