-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueDesigning Through the Noise
Our experts discuss the constantly evolving world of RF design, including the many tradeoffs, material considerations, and design tips and techniques that designers and design engineers need to know to succeed in this high-frequency realm.
Learning to Speak ‘Fab’
Our expert contributors clear up many of the miscommunication problems between PCB designers and their fab and assembly stakeholders. As you will see, a little extra planning early in the design cycle can go a long way toward maintaining open lines of communication with the fab and assembly folks.
Training New Designers
Where will we find the next generation of PCB designers and design engineers? Once we locate them, how will we train and educate them? What will PCB designers of the future need to master to deal with tomorrow’s technology?
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
Smartwatches, Smart Rings Set to Lead Another Growth Surge for Wearables Market
February 3, 2025 | ABI ResearchEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The wearables sector, following a pandemic-driven surge in 2020, is poised for a return to growth. Fueled by continued post-pandemic consumer interest in healthcare and the availability of advanced devices, the market will be led by smartwatches and emerging smart rings. These devices are increasingly used for tracking fitness, health metrics, and chronic disease symptoms. According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, worldwide shipments of wearables totaled 375 million in 2023, with projections to reach 591 million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 7.7%.
“Health and fitness tracking remain the driving forces behind wearables post-pandemic, with advancements in connectivity and integrated sensors offering consumers more features at lower prices,” says David McQueen, Research Director at ABI Research.
Smartwatches, which accounted for over 40% of shipments in 2023, will continue to dominate, boosted by Apple’s Watch series and growing shipments from brands like Huawei and Honor. New features, such as blood pressure monitoring using an inflatable wrist strap, and expansion into emerging markets like India, will drive further growth. However, some categories, such as fitness bands, may see decreased demand as use cases overlap with other devices.
Smart rings, a rapidly growing sector, are gaining traction due to their simplicity and comfort. Used for contactless payments, health tracking, and smart home integration, smart rings offer precise data through proximity to the skin. While the market is fragmented, companies like Oura and McLEAR are leading, with major brands like Samsung and Apple expected to drive broader consumer awareness. The smart ring market is predicted to grow to 70.5 million shipments by 2029, though it will still account for just 6% of the wearables market.
Despite their momentum, wearables have yet to fully embrace cellular connectivity, which could enable real-time data transmission for new use cases, particularly in healthcare. While 4G smartwatches dominate the connected wearables market, the introduction of 5G Lite (RedCap) and chipset innovations from Qualcomm and MediaTek could expand cellular-enabled devices, especially smartwatches.
“The next phase of growth will likely come from enhanced functionality—better battery life, improved fitness metrics, and more affordable designs,” McQueen concludes. “Gesture control and advancements in blood glucose measurement could also be game changers for the sector.”
Suggested Items
New IPC Standard Sets First Global Benchmark for E-Textile Wearable Reliability
04/29/2025 | IPCIPC announces the release of IPC-8981, Quality and Reliability of E-Textile Wearables. This first-of-its-kind standard sets baselines for testing and classifying e-textile wearables, addressing key challenges in product reliability, performance, and quality assurance.
Wearable Technology Market Worth $152.82 Billion by 2029
10/30/2024 | PRNewswireThe global wearable technology market is expected to be valued at USD 70.30 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 152.82 billion by 2029; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.8% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™.
Wearable Technology Market to Grow by $87.3 Billion from 2024-2028
09/10/2024 | PRNewswireReport on how AI is redefining market landscape- The global wearable technology market size is estimated to grow by USD 87.3 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio.
Worldwide Shipments of Wearable Devices Grew 8.8% Year Over Year in Q1 2024 While Average Selling Prices Continue to Decline
06/04/2024 | IDCThe wearables market began 2024 with a growth spurt as global shipments of wearable devices grew 8.8% year over year in the first quarter (1Q24) to 113.1 million units, according to new data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker.
Global Shipments of Wearables Devices Saw Modest Growth in 2023 with Improved Demand Expected in 2024 and Beyond
03/20/2024 | IDCNew data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker shows that the wearable devices market declined 0.9% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2023 (4Q23).