Strategy Analytics: Global Smart Speaker Sales Soared 96% To 30.3 Million In Q2 2019

Global sales of smart speakers continued to soar in the second quarter of 2019, reaching 30.3 million units, nearly double the same period in 2018, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics. With a 21.9% share, Amazon remained the leading brand. Google retained second place, followed by Baidu, Alibaba and Xiaomi. Apple’s smart speaker sales increased 81% compared to a year earlier, but its share fell slightly and it remained in sixth place.

Apparently Apple got it right. Once again. As smart speaker adoption continues to climb, more than half of existing owners would like to have a smart speaker with better sound quality than their current device, while a similar number would pay more for it. That’s one of the findings from the new “Audio Tech Lifestyles” consumer survey from Futuresource Consulting, conducted in the USA, UK, Germany, Japan and China.

Consumer appetite for premium headphones continues to grow, with global revenues rising five times faster than shipments in Q1 2019, according to the latest market tracker report from Futuresource Consulting. As the CE Team at Futuresource highlights in its latest update of the Worldwide Headphone Market Report, headphone market revenues have reached $5.9 billion. True wireless maintained its ascendance, outperforming all other form factors with growth of 223% in units and 188% in value.

True wireless headphones sales have enjoyed extraordinary growth in the past year. After a very successful Q4 2018, which saw shipments reach a total equal to the previous three quarters combined, Q1 2019 witnessed year-on-year growth of 223% in units and 188% in revenue. Consumers appear to enjoy the freedom that truly wireless products bring. Although, the continued domination by AirPods does still mean that the market remains a largely Apple phenomenon.

During its annual WWDC event, Apple introduced the all-new Mac Pro, a completely redesigned, breakthrough workstation for professional applications. Two years since Apple promised to go back to the concept of a modular and flexible computer for the professional market, the company finally delivered on the promise to push the limits of what a Mac can do. The most powerful Mac ever will be exactly what creative companies, audio recording studios, musicians, and production studios were waiting for, and more. And the new Mac Pro already received enthusiastic support from all pro-software companies, from Adobe to Autodesk, Blackmagic to Avid.

AirPlay2 is now available for KEF's LSX speakers, including multi-room audio capabilities. Users will now be able to ask Siri to stream music from Apple devices to LSX speakers throughout the house. Apple AirPlay 2 is a push update through the KEF Control App to KEF LSX Wireless Music Systems, available now. AirPlay 2 perfectly complements LSX’s ease of use with a streamlined setup process through the Apple Home app. All the KEF app functions are still available, including the powerful speaker sound settings.

With Apple getting ready for its traditional WWDC event on June 3, where the company usually focuses on OS updates and technology announcements for developers, there was a discreet refresh of its best-selling professional notebook. Now with an 8-core processor, the 15-inch MacBook Pro is the fastest Mac notebook ever. The new machine, featuring the new configurable Touch Bar is clearly targeted at the graphics creation and video-editing markets.

Always offering excellent design and the best price-to-quality ratio in every segment, RHA has been expanding its catalog of personal audio products with reassuring consistency. Sometimes with announcements of really cutting-edge or high-end products. Other times, a simple, but welcome refresh. This time, RHA introduced a new version to its popular MA650 lineup - a wired, in-ear headphone with a Lightning connection for Apple devices: the MA650i with Lightning. No more dongles needed!

DTS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Xperi Corporation, announced the availability of AirPlay 2 wireless streaming in select DTS Play-Fi products. AirPlay 2 support is now available on the McIntosh RS200 and Arcam rPlay, with additional products to be announced this year. The integration allows AirPlay 2 to work in conjunction with Amazon Alexa and DTS Play-Fi for an integrated multi-assistant control experience, and creating new possibilities for multi-room streaming.

The market for hearing enhancement products is set for disruption. Leading consumer electronics brands are now impinging upon the traditional markets for hearing aids by adding technologies that transform earphones into the growing category of hearables. Anticipating the cross-over opportunities between hearing aids and hearables and the rise of a unique new product category, market research firm Futuresource expands on the trend.