Global headphone unit shipments has grown considerably from 2013 to 2024. In 2024, 586 million headphones were shipped worldwide, up from around 309.5 million recorded at the beginning of the given period.

Apple is the global leader in the true wireless stereo (TWS) market, shipping more ** million units in the third quarter of 2024. Other TWS manufacturers are slowly catching up with Apple, like Samsung and Xiaomi, which shipped around ** and ***** million TWS units in the same quarter, respectively.

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Wireless Headphones Market Size 2025-2029

The wireless headphones market size is forecast to increase by USD 32.3 billion at a CAGR of 20.7% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing penetration of smart devices and the popularity of music streaming services. One of the key trends in this market is the advancement of noise-cancellation features, with noise-cancelling headphones gaining popularity among consumers. These headphones use pre-programmed filters and smart technologies, such as radio frequency and smart assistants, to eliminate external noise and enrich the audio experience. Over-ear wireless headphones with noise cancellation are particularly popular due to their ability to provide superior sound quality and comfort. However, the high price point of these advanced headphones remains a challenge for the market, with production facilities working to increase efficiency and reduce costs to make these technologies more accessible to a wider audience.

What will the size of the market be during the forecast period?

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The market continues to evolve, driven by technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences. Headphones come in various types, including over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear designs, each catering to different user needs. Technology plays a pivotal role in the market, with Bluetooth and radio frequency technologies dominating the wireless headphone landscape. Infrared technology, though once popular, has been largely surpassed by these alternatives. Device applications extend beyond music playback, with headphones being used for gaming, virtual reality, and even as hands-free devices for taking calls. Functionality includes noise cancellation, with active noise-canceling units becoming increasingly sophisticated through the integration of AI-assisted noise separation.



Ingress protection is a crucial consideration for consumers, ensuring their headphones can withstand various environmental conditions. The device application allows you to connect your headphones via the headphone port or through a Wi-Fi connection for a wireless experience. Smartphone manufacturers have significantly influenced the market, driving demand for wireless headphones with customization options and advanced features. Consumer spending on these devices continues to rise, as users seek high-quality audio experiences and seamless connectivity. Production facilities have adapted to meet the growing demand, with manufacturers investing in advanced technologies to improve efficiency and product quality. As the market evolves, headphones will continue to offer users enhanced functionality and superior sound quality.

How is this market segmented and which is the largest segment?

The market research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Application

  Music and entertainment
  Gaming
  Fitness
  Virtual reality


Product Type

  On-ear wireless headphones
  In-ear wireless headphones
  Over-ear wireless headphones


Geography

  North America

    Canada
    US


  Europe

    Germany
    UK
    France
    Italy


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  South America

    Brazil


  Middle East and Africa

By Application Insights

The music and entertainment segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Wireless headphones offer consumers a private and high-quality audio experience, making them increasingly popular in the music and entertainment segment. The market's growth is driven by the proliferation of music culture and entertainment, with music streaming services expanding their subscriber base and market presence. Bluetooth technology enables wireless connectivity, providing convenience and freedom from cords. Charging capabilities ensure uninterrupted use, with configurable features allowing users to control naturally the volume, tracks, and calls. AI-enabled solutions enhance the audio streaming experience, delivering superior sound quality with excellent bass and treble. Consumer spending on headphones continues to increase, with industry reports projecting steady growth in the coming years.

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The music and entertainment segment was valued at USD 5.05 billion in 2019 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

North America is estimated to contribute 37% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period.

Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.

For more insights on the market share of various regions, Req

In 2022, the number of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices shipped worldwide reached **** million units, with forecasts suggesting that this is set to fall to **** million units in 2023. AR/VR market AR, VR, and mixed reality (MR) are the cornerstones of the extended reality (XR) field. XR technologies extend the reality we experience by either merging the virtual and the “real” worlds, or by creating a fully immersive experience. AR/VR headset vendors include Meta, Sony, and HTC who offer VR devices, while Microsoft, Magic Leap, Vuzix, and Apple offer AR headsets and glasses. Metaverse Whether it be at work, in an office, going to concerts or sports events, or even trying on clothes, the metaverse provides a space for endless, interconnected virtual communities using VR headsets, AR glasses, smartphone apps, or other devices. The potential metaverse market opportunity ranges from **** trillion U.S. dollars to ***** trillion U.S. dollars, depending on the share of the digital economy that shifts to the metaverse and market expansion. Regarded as the next iteration of the internet, the metaverse is where the physical and digital worlds come together.

After two years of growth, overseas shipments of headphones decreased by X% to X units in 2024. In general, exports, however, posted a strong expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of X%. The volume of export peaked at X units in 2023, and then plummeted in the following year.

In 2023, overseas shipments of headphones decreased by -15% to 6.5M units, falling for the second consecutive year after two years of growth.

In 2023, overseas shipments of headphones were finally on the rise to reach 12M units after two years of decline.

In 2023, shipments abroad of headphones decreased by -11.4% to 2.4M units, falling for the second year in a row after two years of growth.

In 2022, **** million augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headset shipments were recorded. In 2023, AR/VR headset shipments are expected to reach ***** million units, of which VR devices will account for **** million.

Apple leads the true wireless stereo (TWS) headset market, accounting for around 17 percent of the market as of the third quarter of 2024. Apple built their strong position in the market on the back of the Apple AirPod range, and the rest of the market is starting to gain ground, with Apple's overall share of the market falling from 48.1 percent in 2019 to 17.1 percent at the end of the given period.

The global annual sales of Apple AirPods fluctuated between 2017 and 2024. After peaking at *** million unit sales in 2020, the annual sales of Apple's AirPods decreased. In 2024, this number amounted to ** million units.

Meta was the leading extended reality (XR) headset vendor in terms of shipments in 2024, occupying ** percent of the market in the third quarter of the year. Meta's device range includes the Quest 3 and Quest Pro. Pico ranked second among vendors, accounting for around ** percent of shipments.

In the third quarter of 2024, Meta remained in the lead among augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headset companies, accounting for around 70.8 percent of total shipments. Other notable AR/VR headset vendors include Apple, with the release of the Vision Pro helping the company to secure a spot in the rankings.

In 2024, unit sales of virtual reality (VR) headworn devices were expected to amount to 5.89 million, rising to 6.73 million units in 2025. Forecasts suggest that by 2028, VR headworn device sales will surpass 9.5 million units.

In 2024, unit sales of augmented reality (AR) headworn devices were expected to amount to **** million, rising to **** million units in 2025. Forecasts suggest that by 2028, AR headworn device sales will surpass *** million units, contributing to an installed base of **** million. Enterprise AR Enterprise spending on AR glasses is forecast to experience significant growth in the coming years. The enterprise setting includes data visualization in corporate environments, as well as AR glasses software purchases by brands as they look to create AR experiences for customers. AR headset use cases AR headset vendors such as Microsoft, Magic Leap, and Vuzix continue to innovate, developing devices that are helping to support the increased adoption of AR across a range of sectors. For instance, in healthcare, such devices can be used for remote diagnosis and assisted surgeries, while in manufacturing, AR headsets can be used for real-time remote assistance, inspection, and maintenance tasks.

The global volume in the 'VR Headsets' segment of the consumer electronics market was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total *** million pieces (+***** percent). After the tenth consecutive increasing year, the indicator is estimated to reach **** million pieces and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the volume of the 'VR Headsets' segment of the consumer electronics market was continuously increasing over the past years.Find other key market indicators concerning the average revenue per user (ARPU) and sales volume change.The Statista Market Insights cover a broad range of additional markets.

In the 2024 financial year, Sony sold nearly **** million units of its PlayStation 5. This marked a decrease from the previous financial year. It was also the third-highest number of PlayStation 5 annual sales reported since the console’s release. Sony's current-generation console, the PlayStation 5, was released during the holiday season in 2020 when it sold some *** million units during that quarter. The PlayStation 5 ranked as the best-selling current-generation console in 2023. PlayStation’s decades of dominance Sony’s PlayStation brand has been a significant player in the video game industry since its inception. Sony released the first PlayStation in 1994 and has released four more versions since then. The PlayStation 2 holds the record as the highest-selling console of all time, with over *** million units sold. The popularity of Sony’s PlayStation lineup is visible in that all their previous generation home consoles are among the top-10 best-selling consoles of all time. In 2022, PlayStation dominated the global game console market with an impressive share of **** percent — having been surpassed drastically by Xbox in 2023. This market domination also translated to high annual sales revenue, as Sony’s game and network services generated nearly ** billion U.S. dollars in revenue in FY 2022 and has been the company’s largest business segment since 2014. PlayStation VR headset a first for home consoles Sony’s commitment to innovation is evident in its support for new technologies. The PlayStation 4 was the first console from a mainstream game console company to support virtual reality. Sony released PlayStation VR 2 in early 2023, and its popularity quickly became clear when it accounted for around ** percent of all extended reality (XR) headsets sold globally in the first quarter of 2023.