The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a global health crisis like no other and continues to influence all aspects of our work and lives. Many industries were affected by COVID-19, and, at the time of its onset, analysts could not have predicted the full impact the pandemic would have on market forecasts. While delayed growth across many Bluetooth® markets was to be expected, the recently released 2021 Bluetooth Market Update reports that analysts anticipate seeing annual growth resume as we move through 2021.

One-Year Shift in Market Forecasts

Overall, previously expected growth in Bluetooth® annual device shipments effectively shifted out one year. While a few markets remained resilient to the impact of the pandemic, others are just beginning to recover. Audio streaming is one such example. Audio streaming device shipments were affected by slowdowns associated with COVID-19, but the market will soon see substantial recovery and expansion.

For other markets, warehouse closures, factory shutdowns, and worldwide shipping delays reduced the availability of device supplies. Consumer spending slowed to a trickle as the phone, tablet, and PC market saw a significant delay in purchases with minimal recovery in shipment volumes.

According to the report, markets like automotive bounced back quickly while location services markets flattened as COVID-19 delayed deployments around the globe. The impact of the pandemic slowed location services implementations by 25 percent (compared to pre-pandemic 2020 forecasts), as mitigating the spread of the pandemic prohibited professionals from traveling and installing equipment within facilities. Growth is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels throughout 2021, rising to 550,000 implementations by 2025.

“Most markets are expected to recover close to previous projections by 2024, but much will also depend on the longer-term economic impact of COVID-19 across different regions and specific device market trends.” 
– ABI Research

New Market Opportunities

During this challenging time, some Bluetooth® markets found opportunities to thrive. The global shift to work from home drove growth for Bluetooth PC accessories. And with people spending more time at home, there is greater demand for Bluetooth home automation solutions that help make our lives more convenient, safe, and connected.

An increased focus on health and wellness grew demand for Bluetooth wearables. Additionally, due to strong interest in safe return solutions, analysts expect to see a sizeable increase in Bluetooth real-time locating system (RTLS) deployments.

Overall, despite the one-year shift in market trends caused by the pandemic, recovery and growth forecasts predict that more than six billion Bluetooth enabled devices will ship annually by 2025.

Download the 2021 Bluetooth Market Update to learn more about Bluetooth market forecasts and trends.

FEATURED REPORT

The Bluetooth® Market Update

See the most important trends and forecasts for Bluetooth® technology, and learn how the Bluetooth community continues to solve new connectivity challenges and address new market opportunities.

SEE THE LATEST REPORT

Silicon Labs Channel Sounding: Bluetooth Distance Measurement for IoT and Automotive Applications

At Embedded World North America, Electropages stopped by the Silicon Labs booth to speak…

Bluetooth 6: What's New In The Latest Bluetooth Release?

Bluetooth technology is constantly growing, not only enhancing existing applications but also enabling entirely…

Taking Find My Applications to the Next Level with Telink

Discover how Telink’s solutions enhance Find My applications with cross-platform compatibility and Bluetooth Channel…

Bluetooth Channel Sounding Release and Lambda:4 Demo at Bluetooth SIG Event in Bellevue September 2024

To celebrate the release of the Bluetooth Core Specification 6.0 including the Channel Sounding…

The Auracast™ PA System That Fits in Your Pocket

Watch how Auracast™ broadcast audio enables a simple clip-on microphone to provide a high-quality…

Growing the Auracast™ Ecosystem

Discover a small sampling of the expanding Auracast™ product ecosystem, showcasing an array of…

More Than One Way to Unmute Silent TVs

From native integration to retrofit solutions, explore the ways silent public TVs in noisy…

How Auracast™ Broadcast Brings Low-Latency, Live Audio to Life

Discover how Auracast™ transforms live audio experiences by significantly reducing latency and overcoming one…

Bluetooth Channel Sounding Brings Crucial Ranging to New Bluetooth Devices

The Bluetooth SIG has relentlessly pushed forward the capabilities and feature sets of the…

How Sennheiser Is Using Auracast™ Broadcast Audio to Create an Enhanced Audio Experience

With more than 75 years of experience delivering audio innovation, the Sennheiser brand strives…

New Auracast™ Devices Validate the Potential of This Latest Bluetooth Audio Innovation

Upon its release, bold claims were made about how Auracast™ broadcast audio would enhance…

Bluetooth Channel Sounding: How It Works and What It Means

Bluetooth® Channel Sounding is a new secure, fine-ranging capability that promises to enhance the…

The Perfect Fit for an Auracast™ Retrofit

Learn about Auracast™ broadcast audio retrofit solutions and opportunities.

Bluetooth® Core Specification v6.0 Feature Overview

Bluetooth® Core Specification version 6.0 includes several feature enhancements. This paper provides an overview…

Bluetooth® Channel Sounding Communications Guide

This communications guide includes Bluetooth® Channel Sounding key messages and positioning details. This document…

Bluetooth® Channel Sounding: A Technical Overview

This paper provides a detailed technical overview of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding, a secure fine ranging…

2024 Bluetooth® Market Update

The 2024 Bluetooth® Market Update examines the direction and adoption of Bluetooth technology.

Auracast Broadcast Audio Retrofit Solutions and Opportunities

This report by ABI Research delves into the opportunity for public spaces to offer…

What's the Range of Auracast Broadcast Audio?

Get the answer to the question everyone’s asking. Find out what the coverage area…

Can You Add Auracast Support to Existing Devices?

Are you waiting for native Auracast™ support? You might not have to. Find out…

EJOT | INDUTRAX Case Study

EJOT, headquartered in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany, is a group of medium-sized companies with production…

Galleria Borghese, Rome Case Study

The Galleria Borghese Museum, based in Rome, houses works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, Correggio,…

No More Queueing At The Hotel Check-in

Over two thirds of the British population now own a smartphone, using it for…

Introducing Bluetooth® LE Audio

Now available for free digital download, get your copy of this in-depth, technical overview of the LE Audio specifications.

Designing and Developing Bluetooth® Internet Gateways

Learn about Bluetooth® internet gateways, how to make them secure and scalable, and design and implement your own...

An Introduction to Bluetooth Beacons

Learn how to build your own Bluetooth beacon or integrate beacon technology into your existing products and apps.

NOTICE: The Bluetooth SIG updated its Terms of Use on 29 October 2024Learn more
 Get Help