Portable Audio Devices

The sales of portable audio devices also drive “aftermarket” sales of earphones and headphones when consumers choose to upgrade from the loose-fitting, low-cost earphones that are bundled with most devices. The portable audio market is no longer dominated by MP3 players that just play music. Smartphones, especially, have driven increased sales for aftermarket ear-phones. The music player market now features devices with a wide range of screen sizes, often with touch-screen technology, which can be used for games, video playback, web browsing and other activates as well as music listening.

Smartphones

It is widely expected that smartphones will become the dominant music player for most consumers. (In Q3 2010, the shipped number of Apple iPhones exceeded that of iPods for the first time.) Smartphone sales growth is continuing at a very rapid rate, and several surveys predict that in 2011, sales will reach more than 450 million units. Smartphones will become the most important driver of aftermarket ANC earphone sales.

Tablets

Traditionally, earphones are not bundled with PCs. However, when Tablet PCs become more widely adopted and used whilst travelling, their sales will further boost demand for ANC earphones. Market reports predict Tablet PC sales of around 70 million units in 2011 with rapid growth, and total sales of about 200 million units predicted for 2015.

Portable Media Players (PMPs)

PMP sales have been the biggest driver of aftermarket headphone and earphone sales during the last few years. The first thing that many customers do is purchase new and better earphones to upgrade the ones that come with the player. The number of PMPs sold is now decreasing somewhat because consumers are switching to players with additional functions, such as smartphones. Despite this decline, the total estimated PMP sales are still considerable (about 70 million units in 2010).