Consumer Electronics

Futuresource webinar to explore the future of smart glasses as competition intensifies across the wearables market

Futuresource Consulting has announced the next instalment of its Consumer Tech Outlook Webinar Series, examining one of the most closely watched developments in consumer technology: the rise of smart glasses  

Wireless innovation and gaming ecosystem expansion set to drive global gaming audio market to 52.8 M units by 2030

Futuresource Consulting's latest Global Gaming Audio Report highlights continued growth opportunities as wireless technologies, content creation and gaming lifestyle trends reshape the market.

Audio market enters a new phase as volume growth masks structural pressure, says Futuresource

As the global consumer audio market stabilises, new insights from Futuresource Consulting’s Audio Brand Leader Board point to a category undergoing deep foundational change. Despite signs of outward resilience, contrasting dynamics across price tiers, categories and brands are reshaping the competitive landscape. 

The Next Generation Audiophile is Here, and the Audio Industry Needs to Catch Up

Gen Z and Millennials are now defining how audio is discovered, evaluated and bought. They are setting new expectations around convenience, identity, value and feature relevance, while forcing hardware brands to think harder about the lifelong customer journey. 

The EU is Rewriting the Rules of Headphone Design. How will the industry respond?

New Futuresource Consulting report dives into how EU battery regulation could reshape product architecture, pricing and competition.

The way headphones are designed is about to change. From February 2027, new EU regulations will require portable batteries in consumer devices to be user-replaceable. This is a direct challenge to the sealed, miniaturised designs that have defined the modern headphone market. 

Smartwatches Still Lead, but 10 Million Emerging Devices Are Changing the Shape of Wearables

The wearables market continues to expand, though the conditions shaping that growth are changing rapidly. That’s according to the latest Global Wearables Market Outlook report from Futuresource Consulting, which forecasts 229 million shipments worldwide in 2026, a 5.1% increase year on year.  

Projector ASPs Rise by 26% Long Term, as Pricing Volatility Reshapes the Market, According to New Futuresource Data

Projector pricing is becoming a dynamic signal of competition, strategic positioning and market intent. That’s one of the central findings from a new free report released by Futuresource Consulting, drawing on its global price tracking service, which monitors retail pricing daily across more than 50 countries and 1,000 websites.

Cinemo Announced as Platinum Sponsor for Futuresource Audio Collaborative 2026

Futuresource Consulting welcomes Cinemo as Platinum Sponsor for this year’s Audio Collaborative event, taking place at London’s Ham Yard Hotel on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. The one-day summit will bring together the industry’s leading voices to explore the technologies, behaviours and business models shaping the future of sound. 

Soundbars Enter New Phase as Consumer Purchase Journey Evolves

The latest Futuresource consumer research reveals how AI, influencers and retail demonstrations are reshaping soundbar buying behaviour. Soundbars have surfed the wave of television upgrades for some time now. Consumers increasingly add a soundbar to a new TV to improve the overall home entertainment experience, creating a natural upsell opportunity for both manufacturers and retailers. 

Headphones Market Slows as Upgrade Fatigue Sets In, While Premium Demand Holds Firm

According to the latest quarterly tracker from Futuresource Consulting, global headphone shipments grew by just 1% year-on-year in Q4 2025, surpassing 223 million units. Yet value increased at a slightly greater rate of 3%, signalling a market that is increasingly driven by consumers trading up into higher-value devices.

The Headphones Purchase Journey Begins in the Dark Funnel, According to New Research

Nearly three-quarters of headphone buyers have a retail brand in mind before they begin researching their next purchase. That’s according to new primary consumer research from Futuresource Consulting, which highlights how much of the decision process now happens long before formal research begins. 

Futuresource Audio Collaborative Returns to London: Save the Date for the Industry’s Most Perceptive Conversations

Futuresource Consulting has confirmed that its flagship one-day event will return to London on Wednesday 11 November 2026, bringing together the industry’s leading voices at the Ham Yard Hotel for a day of insight, debate and high-value networking.

From large language models to large AI hearable vendor?

OpenAI is expected to introduce its first proprietary hardware product in the second half of 2026, according to comments made this week by Chief Global Affairs Officer, Chris Lehane.  He described the forthcoming AI device as one of OpenAI’s most anticipated initiatives for the year but declined to provide details on form factor or functionality.  

Futuresource Consulting joins Global Audio Summit 2026 as an event partner

Futuresource Consulting is pleased to confirm its role as an event partner for the Global Audio Summit (GAS) 2026. The event will be held on 25–26th March 2026 at the Shanghai Zhangjiang Science Hall.

The Audio Industry in Numbers: Futuresource Insights from Audio Collaborative 2025

Last month, Futuresource Consulting’s Audio Collaborative 2025 opened with a data-rich session that set the tone for the day. In his keynote, Futuresource’s Head of Audio, Guy Hammett, delivered a comprehensive overview of the forces shaping the consumer, automotive and professional audio markets worldwide. 

Sound thinking, as Audio Collaborative 2025 champions connection, curiosity and industry transformation

In a year defined by rapid shifts in audio, entertainment and intelligent listening, Futuresource Consulting’s Audio Collaborative 2025 brought the entire industry together. Taking place on 12th November at London’s Soho Hotel, it presented a day of expert perspectives, generous knowledge-sharing and rare cross-sector conversation. 

The future of hearing health: Insights from Audio Collaborative 2025

The conversation around hearing health is rapidly evolving, and nowhere was this more evident than at the Audio Collaborative 2025 conference. The panel on “The Future of Hearing Health” brought together leading voices from across the industry - Rasika D’Souza (Futuresource), Blair Werp (Qualcomm), Alastair Moore (RNID), and Elfed Howells (Elevear)  who set to the stage to discuss how technology, design, and innovation are shaping a more inclusive and healthier audio future. 

Futuresource appoints industry leader David Watkins to drive new phase of CE growth

Futuresource Consulting has appointed David Watkins as its new Director of Consumer Electronics & Media, reinforcing the company’s commitment to intensifying its global influence across entertainment, devices and connected ecosystems.