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Apple now has 25.2% of the worldwide smart personal audio market

Smart personal audio and wearable band devices were two consumer IoT [Internet of Things] segments that “stood the test of 2020 to reach new heights,” says the  Canalys research group. And Apple dominated sales.

Smart personal audio devices grew 20% in 2020 to reach 432 million units, while wearable bands grew 10% to reach 185 million units. Both segments continued to be strategic winners as countries emerged from the extended battle against COVID-19, where people grew more health-conscious and became active outdoors. 

Driven by strong consumer demand and a shift in vendor ecosystem strategies, TWS and wearable wristwatches, including basic and smart watches, stood out as dominant categories taking up more than half of their respective segments’ shipments, says Canalys.

Regarding global smart personal audio shipments and growth in the fourth quarter of 2020, Apple (and its Beats subsidiary) sold 37.3 million units for annual growth of 26.6%. For the full year of 2020, Apple (and Beats) sold 108.9 million units for annual growth of 29.6%. 

Apple now has 25.2% of the worldwide smart personal audio market.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.