Folk sure like to stick electric toothbrush heads in their ears: True wireless stereo sales buck coronavirus trends
- Reference: 1592820011
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/06/22/true_wireless_stereo_canalys_figures/
- Source link:
Across the board, [1]Canalys stats show all vendors traded well, although there are few highlights. Apple, predictably, is one, with unit sales up 60 per cent to 18.1 million compared to the same period last year.
A lot changed in the hinterlands between the two quarters, including the launch of the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro. It also helps that the AirPods 2 hit shelves in the twilight moments of March 2019, which wouldn't have done much to boost Apple's sales in that quarter while being of some benefit to Q1 2020's figures.
Apple has some competitive advantages its rivals don't have. Although it wasn't the first to launch wireless earbuds (that honour goes to little-known firm Onkyo), it was the first to popularise them, giving AirPods a cultural cachet that other devices lack. AirPods also offer tighter integration with iOS, making them more compelling to iPhone users.
Then there's Huawei, which despite falling towards the bottom of the pack, behind Redmi and Samsung, managed to record incredible shipment growth of 261 per cent in Q1 2020, with two million delivered to the channel. It's worth noting, however, that Huawei has a tendency of bundling accessories ( [2]like its GT-series smartwatches ) with phone pre-orders. As a result, it's almost certain that shipment growth isn't a result of organic consumer demand.
There's also a larger, more nebulous hole in the market represented by "Others". Shipments by miscellaneous vendors were up 87 per cent to 13.7 million, representing a market share of 31.2 per cent.
Much of that will come from vendors like Jabra, Cambridge Audio, and Sennheiser, but it's indicative of a wider commoditisation in the wireless earbud market. In just a few years, they've transformed from a luxury item to something you can buy on Amazon for less than £20.
Canalys reckons the wireless earbuds sector will deliver over 200 million units this year. ®
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[1] https://www.canalys.com/newsroom/canalys-tws-smart-audio-shipments-Q1-2020?ctid=1498-2689f2311afcfcc11fa82c75861267b6
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2020/06/18/smartwatch_shipments_up_despite_coronavirus/
[3] https://go.theregister.com/tl/1956/-8472/kubernetes-your-hybrid-cloud-strategy?td=wptl1956
Airpods have another advantage
The device transmits to both earbuds at the same time. Where as with the knock offs the device transmits so one primary earbud, and that retransmits to the secondary at battery and latency costs. You can get magnitudes more battery life with non "true" ones that have a wire between the earbuds. Qualcom and MediaTek who make the chips in the knockoffs for some reason have been unable to copy what Apple does, they have recently managed to allow dynamic switching of which earbud is the primary, e.g. allowing use of one earbud while the other charges, and the one closest to device receives a better source signal.
Re: Airpods have another advantage
"knock-off". I don't think that means what you think it means.
I find 'earbuds' (and I have tried a couple of different types) uncomfortable and I suspect they are a wee bit insecure for vigorous activities. I do like wireless headphones (and have 'invested' in a set of high-end Sony's - mainly because losing the wires stops me getting things tangled up. I guess I will have to wait for 'direct to brain' transfer...
maybe you should try the ones AC above suggests:
" You can get magnitudes more battery life with non "true" ones that have a wire between the earbuds."
Then you can clothes peg them to your collar for security.
I've never liked any of these devices as i dont like being out of sync with the surrounding environment, not hearing local noises , and singing loudly and unconsciously at anyoner in the vicintity
Might have to get some in an attempt to eliminate feedback in zoom/whatsapp chats etc
It does not make them any more comfortable for my ears. Clearly, if others find them comfortable then, unfortunately, it is my lugholes that are to blame, so I am not going to petition for custom buds - them's the downsides (one of many) of having odd ears :-)
The fit may depend a lot on the shape of your ear: I have relatviely small channels so generally struggle with in-ear solutions. Out cycling they generally work loose after an hour so. But then, as someone who wears glasses, find anything that is secured over the ear uncomfortable. :-/
My Jabra Sport did sterling service for several years, though I tended to ride with one ear free so that I could hear my surroundings. Switched to Sony's sport model with an external driver this year which don't exclude the surroundings as much but the cable is a bit short and floppy which means it catches quite easily and can start pulling at the bugs, but I reckon I might be abe to solve this with a small length of tubing.
"Apple ...was the first to popularise them..."
>Despite the economic effects of the pandemic, true wireless stereo (TWS) devices like earbuds, headphones and speakers have proved robust, with Q1 global shipments up 86 per cent.
I suspect Q2 global shipments will also be up, thanks in a large part to Zoom et al. People look so much more natural wearing an earbud rather than a traditional full headset.
Are they good with earwax?
Do they brush them out?
(Sticking with Sennheiser on ear)
Re: Are they good with earwax?
Are they good with earwax?
Only if you cover them with glue.
Although it wasn't the first to launch [product] (that honour goes to little-known firm [company]), it was the first to popularise them, giving [Apple brand name] a cultural cachet that other devices lack.
Isn't that the Apple business model in general?
re: Isn't that the Apple business model in general?
Indeed it is. They are rarely first to bring any tech to market but when they do, it is often implimented better than the rivals (not always I hasten to add) and naturally, they'll make you pay through the nose for the pleasure (sic) of owning a device that was probably made in some chinese sweat shop and sold by Apple.
Dr Who
Funny that no one has mentioned how much the apple airpods resemble the recent Cyberman ear pieces.
I'm still astonished...
that no manufacturer has gone the hearing aid design route.
The drivers in my RIC aids are phenomenal, and with the relatively large size of the pack behind my ear they provide for ~ 5 days of battery life with bluetooth streaming alot of that time. Take out the T-Loop and reduce the ridiculous amounts of DSP on board and you have an incredibly comfortable "all day" set of ear wear. Without the need for an embedded mic the minor collisions and scrapes that occur with glasses would be completely unnoticed.
OK, I have custom moulds for my receivers, but I also have the open cup "default" ones, and they let in ambient sound practically unaffected (can change with the closed domes for some isolation), the custom moulds give me a very controlled audio environment though.
The battery life and comfort are unmatched on the market - and for no particularly good reason.
Earbuds ...
... provide all the music and news that a bear needs when they wake up in the morning.