Throughout 2020, Apple Dominates The TWS Headset And Smartwatch Markets

JAKARTA - Apple will resume its dominance in the wireless headset market in 2020, as reported in a report researched by Counterpoint Research. In the report, AirPods account for more than a quarter of all TWS shipments worldwide.

Notably, in Q3 2020, Apple products accounted for 29% of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headset shipments, while Apple Watch, other Apple products also accounted for 28% of all smartwatch shipments.

Apple has always performed better than its competitors, even though the cost of purchasing its products is usually higher than those of other competitors. With this achievement, Apple's TWS is likely to replace smartwatches in the future.

"Apple's strong iOS ecosystem, typically comprised of high-income consumers, has been the main driver of growth, particularly in terms of revenue," said Sujeong Lim, senior analyst at Counterpoint.

One of the reasons the TWS has seen an increase in shipments is due to the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack on some smartphones.

The research company estimates that the wireless headset industry will grow by 83 percent, reaching 238 million units. In addition, removing earphones from the sales box was another motivating factor.

"The trend of not having an audio jack and removing earphones from the sales box is a big driver to help grow the TWS segment," said another Counterpoint analyst, Liz Lee.

In addition, according to Lee, it also helps mobile media consumption continue to grow, making TWS the next must-have accessory.

Counterpoint believes that the global health crisis has prompted consumers to increase their interest in health and wellness, which could help the smartwatch market to develop more rapidly.

"We estimate growth to reach double digits in terms of medium, but if the average selling price drops rapidly, then the possibility of growth will be even higher," said Lim.

However, competing products from the Chinese brand, Xiaomi could be in second place with a 13% market share. Meanwhile, Samsung is in third place with 5% market share, JBL is in fourth position with 5%, QCY is in fifth position with 3%. Realme, a new player, is in tenth position with a 2% market share.