Survey: 77% of Smart Device Users in India Consider Chipsets Highly Important in Shaping Experience

Smart device users rate performance (76%), graphics and gaming capabilities (66%), and 5G connectivity (62%) as the top three features dependent on chipset capabilities.
The awareness level for MediaTek’s chipsets is 61% across smart device users in India, driven by the brand’s leadership position in smartphones as well as in other categories like smart TVs and smart speakers.

New Delhi, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo – January 3, 2024

As the smartphone market in India matures, consumers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about the smart devices they own. They make well-informed decisions when purchasing smartphones, crucial devices for their daily activities. Recognizing the significance of chipsets as key differentiating factors in smart devices, Counterpoint Research conducted a consumer survey in India. The focus was to comprehend the awareness and importance of chipsets among people in India, a market that ranks as the second largest for smartphones globally and is one of the fastest-growing markets for various smart devices.

The survey revealed that 77% of the country’s smart device users consider chipset capabilities highly important in influencing their device experience. The survey also shed light on the significance of chipsets across different smart devices such as smartphones, earphones/TWS, smart TVs and laptops.

Many of the advanced features we find in our current smart devices are enabled and enhanced through the evolution of the underlying chipsets. These chipsets shape consumer experiences and help OEMs differentiate their offerings at a time when we are transitioning to next-generation 5G networks. According to the survey respondents, performance (76%), graphics and gaming capabilities (66%), and 5G connectivity (62%) are the top three features dependent on chipset capabilities.

In terms of brands, the survey showed that 61% of the respondents were aware of MediaTek’s chipsets across smart devices in India, driven by the company’s leadership position in smartphones as well as in categories like smart TVs and smart speakers. MediaTek was the world’s top smartphone chipset brand in Q3 2023 with a 31% market share, according to Counterpoint’s latest Global smartphone AP Shipments. The Taiwan-based company develops systems-on-chips (SoCs) for mobile, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT devices, and is also involved in other key technology areas.

Source: Counterpoint Research Consumer Survey Insights, December 2023

Commenting on the importance of chipsets and MediaTek’s role in the chipset ecosystem, Research Director Tarun Pathak said, “For any electronics device, we believe that personalized experiences will be the real differentiator for consumers going forward. This means deeper integration of advanced technologies leveraging artificial intelligence for a seamless, reliable and personalized experience with a relentless focus on ultra-fast connectivity. Therefore, companies like MediaTek are well positioned in this space as the tech industry shifts its focus from smart connected devices to smartly connected devices.”

Methodology: This Counterpoint Research survey was commissioned by MediaTek to understand chipset awareness among smart device users in India. With a sample size of more than 1,200 respondents, the survey was conducted online across India. We expect the survey results to have a statistical precision of +/- 4%.

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media, and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

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86% of Respondents Highlight Indian Festive Season Smartphone Buyers Going Online, Amazon Top Preference: Survey

Of those planning to purchase a smartphone this festive season, 31% mention upgrading to the latest technology as the key reason for the purchase.
40% prefer to purchase smartphones online, whereas 46% are comfortable taking either of the two routes.
Amazon is the top preferred online channel for 48% of those planning to make online purchases (86% of the total respondents).
Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi and OnePlus are the most preferred brands this festive season.
42% of the respondents plan to purchase a premium smartphone (INR 30,000 or ~$360 and above).
5G, latest processor and RAM are the top specifications that the respondents will consider when making the purchase.

New Delhi, Buenos Aires, Denver, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – October 5, 2023

Of Indian consumers planning to purchase a smartphone this festive season, 31% mention upgrading to the latest technology as the key reason for the purchase according to a survey conducted by Counterpoint Research.

For 18% of respondents, 5G is the top specification to consider, followed by the latest processor (14%) and RAM (9%). In terms of budget, 42% plan to purchase a premium smartphone (INR 30,000 or ~$360 and above). And with respect to channel preference, up to 86% could purchase via online, with Amazon as the top preferred platform.

Conducted in October among consumers in India planning to buy a smartphone this festive season, the survey covers topics like key reasons for making the purchase, brand preference, preferred price point, desired specifications and offers. Further, future preferences combined with the current smartphone purchase journey provide insights into consumers’ switching pattern or loyalty towards brands and purchase channels.

Key Takeaways from India Pre-festive Season Smartphone Consumer Survey

Source: India Pre-festive Season Smartphone Consumer Survey, October 2023

Commenting on the festive season smartphone demand, Senior Analyst Arushi Chawla said, “Many people time their purchases with the festive season keeping in mind the auspiciousness of the occasion and also the competitive offers during the period. With the smartphone becoming the most important electronic gadget, consumers are cautious about its quality and features. That is why they consult multiple sources before making the purchase while increasingly opting for premium smartphones.”

When asked about the top preferred smartphone brand, Samsung was at the top with 33%, followed by Apple (18%), Xiaomi (11%) and OnePlus (10%). In terms of purchase channel preference, 40% prefer to purchase smartphones online, whereas 46% are comfortable taking either of the two routes. Among these 86% of respondents considering the online route, Amazon is the top preferred online channel for 48%, followed by Flipkart with 41%. The top five reasons for people to prefer Amazon are attractive offers, availability of top brands, availability of latest devices, delivery speed and reliable delivery.

Commenting on smartphone purchase preferences, Research Director Tarun Pathak said, “Consumers want the latest technology not only to experience it but also to meet their increasing requirements. This is reflected in our survey where 5G emerged as the top specification desired by consumers. 5G will continue to push smartphone demand in the coming years. Its presence has now reached lower price bands (<INR 10,000 or ~$120). Further, it is interesting to see that 20% of the respondents prefer switching to online platforms from offline modes, with the top reason for 43% of this segment being the availability of the latest devices. During the festive season, the OEMs and platforms aim to attract buyers with competitive offers. We expect this festive season to be better than the last year.”

The survey also finds that 22% of the respondents consider cashbacks/rewards as their top preferred offer when making the smartphone purchase. This is followed by bank offers (21%) and no-cost EMI (16%). And when it comes to the most preferred no-cost EMI tenure, six months is preferred by one-third of the respondents.

Disclaimer

This survey was commissioned by Amazon India to understand people’s smartphone purchase preferences this festive season. Counterpoint Research conducted this survey in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to capture a sample size of more than 1,200 respondents. An online survey was performed to collect quantitative insights from those respondents in the 18-35 age group who plan to purchase a smartphone this festive season. We expect the results to have a statistical precision of +/- 4%.

Background

Counterpoint Research
press(at)counterpointresearch.com

Key Consumer IoT Themes at CES 2023: Gaming, Entertainment, Wearables, Smart Devices

After two years of virtual presence, the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was back in Las Vegas this month. Major consumer electronics and technology brands like Samsung, LG, Huawei and HTC participated in the event. The consumer IoT (CIoT) announcements at the event mainly revolved around gaming, high-quality display products, advanced audio processing technologies, smart security solutions, seamless connectivity (Matter), artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. We have covered below some of the major CIoT announcements at CES 2022:

Gaming monitors by Samsung and LG

World’s first dual UHD gaming monitor by Samsung

Odyssey Neo G9 is the world’s first gaming monitor with a dual ultra-high-definition (UHD) resolution. It has a 1000R curved 57” screen with 7,680×2,160 resolution and a 32:9 aspect ratio.
The display is equipped with quantum micro-LED technology for a better visual experience.
It is supported by the world’s first DisplayPort 2.1, which is capable of transferring data at twice the speed of the previous version.
For a smooth gaming experience, it offers a 0.1ms response time and 240Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with OTT apps (Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube) and the Samsung Gaming Hub streaming platform.
With the new monitor lineup, Samsung is focusing on enhancing the immersive experience of gamers through superior quality visual display and better refresh rate.

Other notable launches by Samsung

ViewFinity S9 is the newest addition to its monitor lineup. It comes with a 5K 27” screen for the first time. It is specially designed for creative professionals such as graphic designers and photographers.
Smart Monitor M8 has been launched in two variants – 27” and 32” – with 4K resolution. The main highlights of the device are its slick design and focus on advanced security through Samsung Knox Vault.

LG’s latest flagship gaming monitor 32GQ950

This is LG’s first-ever 45-inch curved OLED gaming monitor which offers a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms (GTG) response time for low-latency gaming applications.
It has an ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio and 800R curvature with a 3,440×1440 resolution.
It also sports an anti-glare and low reflection (AGLR) panel design to adjust the lighting in a bright room setting.
LG also quietly showcased a new gaming laptop (LG UltraGear 17G90Q) and UltraGear gaming speakers. With these new devices, it appears that LG is also shifting its focus toward gaming.

Lenovo tablet launch

Lenovo Tab Extreme

Lenovo Tab Extreme comes with a 14.5-inch OLED display and is also supported by Dolby Vision and HDR10+ to deliver superior quality while watching movies or series. It has eight speakers which are tuned by JBL.
It is equipped with a Dimensity 9000 chipset, 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of internal storage, 12,300 mAh battery, 68W fast-charging support and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.
The touch display can also be operated with the in-house Lenovo Precision Pen 3.
The device is mainly targeted towards the enterprise segment. It will be available in the second half of this year in the US market for $1,199. At this price point, it is mainly competing with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and Apple’s iPad Pro.

Interesting TV launches

World’s first smart TV metaverse experience

Source Digital (a data-driven engagement platform) and Sansar (a social VR platform) showcased their metaverse offerings and capabilities on a smart TV to find new ways of monetizing the digital experience of users. The companies formed a partnership in July last year.
Through their user-friendly application, users can immersively watch real-time events such as concerts and sports events in a 2D or 3D setup. It also allows consumers to interact and engage with other people and even purchase merchandise.
The Sansar app is available on webOS LG smart TVs. Users will benefit from a personalized content experience. Last year, Samsung also partnered with Nifty Gateway to develop the first-ever smart TV non-fungible token (NFT) platform.

Samsung introduces new Neo QLED, Micro LED and OLED TVs

The Neo QLED lineup is powered by the company’s advanced Neural Quantum Processor and comes in 4K and 8K variants. The TVs are equipped with a single chip module for built-in Matter, Thread and Zigbee for seamless connectivity.
Samsung also released its bezel-less MicroLED TVs in display sizes of 50, 63, 76, 89, 101, 114 and 140 inches.
Samsung’s 2023 OLED lineup is now available in 55, 65 and the new ultra-large 77 inches models with 144 Hz refresh rate. For the first time, these Samsung OLED TV models receive AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro certification.
With these new devices, Samsung is aiming to enhance the viewing experience with better picture quality and offering a multi-device compatibility feature which is mostly absent in premium devices.
To deliver a smooth connected device experience, this time, SmartThings syncs not just with Samsung devices but also with third-party appliances and other IoT devices. Samsung has also integrated features like Chat Together (real-time chat), ConnecTime (video calls), 3D Map View and Samsung Gaming Hub to drive user engagement.

Skyworth showcases world’s first outdoor Google TV

The new model S1 is equipped with eight speakers and is supported by Dolby Atmos and HDR10 for an enhanced audio-visual experience.
The brand is focusing on providing high peak brightness and introducing high contrast to upgrade the product experience in its new smart TV.
In addition to S1, the brand also released the W82 Transformable OLED TV, Q52 Mini LED TV, G3B QLED+ TV, and the Coolita OS smart TV system.

LG releases world’s first wireless OLED TV

LG Signature OLED M (model M3) TV is the world’s first 97-inch wireless TV that comes with an OLED display. LG is setting the benchmark for innovation with this new device.
The device supports content at 4K 120Hz and uses the company’s Zero Connect technology which is a wireless solution for the transmission of video and audio in real time.
This model also won the CES 2023 Innovation Award in two categories.

New smartwatches and TWS models from leading brands

Citizen releases Smart Sport and CZ Smart Casual

The claimed unique thing about these wearable devices is that they come with a built-in self-care advisor which offers personalized recommendations to create better routine habits.
Both these devices are supported by Google WearOS and the key differentiating factor is the case size and design.
These smartwatches are equipped with a heart rate sensor, SPO2, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, built-in speaker, NFC and fast-charging support. Prices range from $350 to $435. These smartwatches will be available in the US from March 2023.

Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition

The watch has mechanical hands that function like a vintage watch and a digital display that can be used to track health-related features and get weather-related updates.
This smartwatch is specifically designed for mechanical watch lovers and will be available at a price point of $299.

Verizon’s Gizmo Watch 3 for kids

This smartwatch comes in two attractive colors – blue clay and mint – and is specifically designed for kids to track their location for safety purposes.
It is priced at $149 and is capable of recording videos, along with the ability to send and receive messages and phone calls. It has built-in cellular connectivity.
Verizon is also offering $100 discount on the second Gizmo Watch 3 purchase for families with multiple kids.

Motorola launches new ANC earbuds: Moto Buds 600

It is the latest audio offering by the brand that comes at a price of $149.99.
The device is equipped with fast pair technology and comes with Bluetooth multi-point technology which allows the buds to be connected to two different devices simultaneously.
The device also supports Google Assistant and Wireless Charging.

JBL announces JBL Tour Pro 2 wireless earbuds

It offers the world’s first smart charging case. These earbuds come with a touchscreen on the charging case to quickly access the volume buttons, manage music, receive calls and receive social media notifications in real time without referring to an app or smartphone.
These earbuds will be available in the US for $249.95.

boAt showcases advanced audio products

boAt has partnered with tech firms such as Dolby, Dirac, Mimi and CEVA to showcase its advanced range of audio products.
boAt showcased its new Rockerz 330/333 ANC neckbands which are powered by Dirac Opteo technology.
Some of the other products launched in partnership with Dirac include the Rockerz Apex neckband, Nirvana Nebula, Airdopes Synth TWS and Nirvana 525 ANC neckband.
These new products are aimed at providing personalized audio offerings to enhance the user experience.
All the new TWS devices aim at improving the listening experience along with the diffusion of fast-charging capabilities so that they can be used for a longer duration.

Smart security products by Amazon

Amazon expanded its Ring product lineup with a new dashcam ‘Ring Car Cam’ and video doorbell ‘Ring Peephole Cam’

Ring Car Came comes with a dual-facing camera for interior and exterior view recording from the vehicle. It is also equipped with smart sensors to detect events around the vehicle. It is available for preorders at $199.99.
Ring Peehole Cam is a video doorbell that is equipped with a 1080p HD camera and motion detectors for smart security. It is now available in the US for $129.99.

Other notable smart device launches

Ring showcased a first view of its smart home security drone. It is a mini-drone that can be used as a flying security camera to spy on unusual activities at home.
Shelly, a division of Allterco Robotics, introduced eight new smart home products. The main products include a smoke alarm detector, energy meter, Android wall panel, door/window sensor, smart logs, and a Bluetooth device that can control all other smart home devices. The aim is to make these devices affordable for a large group of people.
Smartsound unveiled the world’s first AI-based smart stethoscope series under the names Skeeper R1, H1 and P1. These stethoscopes are designed to identify and monitor heart and lung sounds for remote medical treatment and home care.
Smart appliances by Samsung
- Bespoke AI Oven: This smart oven is equipped with a ‘Sense Inside’ feature which can recognize up to 80 different dishes through an AI-based image recognition system, thus offering greater convenience and helping avoid overcooking of the food. It is the first AI food recognition algorithm that has received verification from UL solutions. It is currently available in Europe and will be available for sale in North America in Q3 2023.
- Bespoke 4-door Flex refrigerator comes with a massive 32-inch touchscreen: It comes with a four-door design, and a very large display to control all other smart home devices, play music, watch videos and do grocery shopping through the SmartThings app.
- Bespoke washer and dryer pair that use AI to optimize temperature settings and determine the ideal amount of detergent for each load.
Roborock refreshed its S8 series of robot vacuums: The top model in the refreshed series is the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra which has a 6kPa suction power as compared to 5.1kPa offered in the previous version. The new series focuses on enhancing cleaning efficiency through advanced features. The price of the Roborock series starts from $749.
Withings U-Scan urine analyzer: It is a Wi-Fi-connected device that is placed inside the toilet to analyze urine. It helps in providing nutrition and hydration information along with information on women’s menstrual health.

Conclusion

Most of the smart TV players focused on delivering superior quality and fast-gaming experience through bigger-size, high-quality OLED displays and better refresh rates. This time, the focus was also on multi-device connectivity features along with Matter support. Most of the technology companies focused on improving the customer experience.

In the wearables segment, the emphasis continued to be on health-related aspects and fast-charging support. Another important area that gained traction was smart security solutions due to the need for child and elderly care and to serve the needs of working professionals.

The CIoT market holds tremendous potential to grow in the coming period owing to an increased focus on affordability and integration of the latest tech innovations.

IFA 2022 Focuses on Enhanced User Experience in Consumer IoT Products

This year’s edition of Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), Europe’s biggest consumer electronics show, showcased some interesting product announcements and trends that will set new standards across the consumer electronics ecosystem. New product technologies on display at the show held in Berlin from September 2 to 6 included bigger screen size OLED and Mini LED TVs, bigger and better soundbars, foldable laptops and bendable TVs, digital charging cases, and smartwatches with more features, among others.

The chief focus of the show this year revolved around major consumer electronics segments like smartphones, smart TVs, TWS, tablets, home appliances and smartwatches. Big players such as LG, Sony, Lenovo, Huawei, Asus, Jabra, Fitbit and TCL launched new and amazing products at the event to enhance user experiences. We give below the major CIoT announcements at IFA 2022:

Foldable laptops by Asus and Lenovo

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

Asus launched the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, a foldable laptop that has a 17” screen when expanded and a 12.5” screen when folded.
The device comes with an Asus ErgoSense Bluetooth keyboard and touchpad to make it easy to work with.
Once the magnetic keyboard is on screen, you can use it as a regular laptop. When expanded, it can have an expanded tablet.
The devices are equipped with a 1080p OLED display, 12th generation Intel Core i7 processors, Harman Kardon-certified quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Priced at $3,499, the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold is an expensive laptop.
The laptop will be beneficial for people who travel a lot and need a large screen, or those who work in creative fields. The device can also be used for entertainment, as it supports both Dolby Atmos and Vision.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 2022

Lenovo launched the 2022 version of its ThinkPad X1 Fold (review), an upgrade from the 2020 version. The latest version has smaller bezels, a 16.3” screen when unfolded and a 12” screen when folded.
The folding laptop comes with a 1080p OLED display and has Windows 11 OS.
The device comes with a detachable keyboard, which when attached turns the device into a 12” laptop.
The laptop is equipped with 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processors, with up to 1TB of storage and up to 32GB of RAM.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is priced at $2,499 for the base variant and $2,999 with a keyboard and a pen.

New smartwatches, smart bands and smart glasses from leading brands

Garmin Venu Sq2 and Venu Sq2 Music

Garmin launched two new smartwatches — Venu Sq2 and Venu Sq2 Music edition.
Both the smartwatches come with a 1.41” AMOLED screen, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, 5ATM water resistance and support for both Android and iOS.
They also support contactless payments through Garmin Pay and have smart notifications for text, email and other alerts.
Both have the Health Snapshot feature which lets users have a two-minute session and record health metrics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen level, respiration, and stress.
The Venu Sq2 is priced at $249.99, whereas the Venu Sq2 Music is priced at $299.99.
The Venu Sq2 Music offers built-in storage for offline music playback from streaming services. It can store up to 500 songs.
Both smartwatches are compact and lightweight. They are among the best in terms of features and come in a low price range.

Huawei Watch D

Huawei launched the Watch D, already launched for the Chinese market earlier this year.
The watch comes with IP68 certification, AMOLED display and over 70 sports modes with a battery life of around seven days.
The Watch D has advanced health monitoring features, such as blood pressure, ECG, skin temperature and blood oxygen tracking.
The Watch D will be priced at €449 in Europe.
The Watch D is more expensive than its competitors, but with additional health features, it could stand out.

Fitbit Inspire 3, Versa 4 and Sense 2

The Fitbit Versa 4 is a smartwatch thinner and lighter than the Versa 3. It also has a tactile button, making it easier to operate. The Versa 4 will have a revamped Fitbit OS with Google Wallet, and Google Maps with turn-by-turn directions. The watch has 40 sports modes, and Sleep Profile to analyze sleep.
The Fitbit Sense 2 is a lighter and thinner version of the Sense series. It has continuous EDA (cEDA), which measures skin perspiration response and signs of stress, and is used in conjunction with the Heart Rate Sensor.
The Inspire 3 smart band is Fitbit’s entry-level and lowest-cost device. It has a color display, blood oxygen monitor and Fitbit features such as Active Zone Minutes and sleep tracking, and supports 10 days of battery life.
It has an improved display and newer features. The mechanical button offers improved functionality. The Inspire 3 will offer more choices to the consumer in the entry-level smart band market.

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 and GTS 4 Mini

Amazfit launched the GTR 4 and GTS 4 smartwatches.
The GTR 4 features a 1.43” AMOLED screen, whereas the GTS 4 has a 1.75” AMOLED screen. Both the watches are 5ATM resistant and feature 150+ sports modes.
Both the smartwatches have a new feature called BioTracker 4.0 optical sensor, which offers improved heart rate tracking, and an upgraded GPS for more accurate route tracking. Besides, they have more than 150 sports modes and can be connected via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Both the GTR 4 and GTS 4 are priced at €199.
Amazfit also launched the GTS 4 Mini, a smaller and cheaper version of the GTS 4. The GTS 4 Mini has a 1.65” AMOLED display, 120+ sports modes, and health and fitness tracking capabilities, such as heart rate and SpO2. The watch is priced at €99.
The GTR 4 and GTS 4 have a dual-band GPS antenna which improves the route tracking capability. Besides, the two have features like fall detection and offline voice assistant that will attract users.

TCL NXTWEAR S

TCL launched the NXTWEAR S smart glasses which offer enhanced comfort and conveniences. The smart glasses have a dual 1080p Micro OLED display, front and correction lenses.
The wheel on the left temple can be used to adjust volume, whereas the one on the right can be used to adjust brightness and 2D/3D mode switch.
The NXTWEAR S will be available from Q4 2022 in selected regions.

Lenovo Glasses T1

Lenovo launched the T1 smart glasses, which let users connect devices like PCs, tablets and smartphones with USB C and watch content on a bigger screen. The glasses have a Micro OLED display, swappable noise clips, adjustable arms, and support prescription lenses.
The glasses have 1920X1080 resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate and are TUV Low Blue Light certified to reduce strain on the eyes. The glasses also have inbuilt speakers.

TWS category saw some interesting launches

Jabra Elite 5

Jabra launched the Elite 5, a mid-range offering and placed between the Elite 3 and Elite 7 Pro.
The Elite 5 features hybrid noise cancellation and is powered by the Qualcomm QCC3050 chipset. It also has an IP55 rating, 6mm drivers and support for Google Assistant and Alexa. Other features include the 6-mic call and wind-noise suppression technologies for a better call experience.
Another interesting feature is Spotify Tap Playback, which allows users to launch Spotify and pick up from where they left off with a single button press.
The Jabra Elite 5 is priced and £149.

JBL Tour PRO 2

JBL launched the Tour PRO 2, a TWS with the world’s first charging case having a touchscreen display.
The case features a 1.45” LED touchscreen to manage music, customize earbuds, receive calls and manage notifications. The TWS features a 10mm driver, ANC and JBL Spatial Sound.
The Tour PRO 2 comes with a 10mm audio driver and is Bluetooth 5.3 compatible. It lasts 10 hours, and 40 hours with the case.
The charging case is the first of its kind in the industry. It lets users control most of the functionalities of the case, instead of touching their smartphones.
The JBP Tour PRO 2 is priced at €249.

Tablets saw new models from leading brands

HONOR Pad 8

HONOR launched the Pad 8. It has a 12” 2K display and runs on Android 12.
The tablet is powered by the Snapdragon 680 4G, 7250mAh battery and a Type-C port.
The device makes it possible to operate phone and tablet on the same screen. The smart multi-view feature allows up to four windows at the same time.

Huawei MatePad Pro 11

Huawei launched its newest tablet, the MatePad Pro 11. The tablet has an 11” OLED display with120Hz refresh rate and 2560×1600 resolution. It also features Huawei Pencil, Huawei Notes and multitasking.
The tablet has six speakers and four mics, a dual rear camera with a 13MP main camera and an 8MP wide-angle camera, and a 16MP front camera.
The MatePad Pro 11 will run on HarmonyOS 3, with a configuration of 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.
The tablet is priced at €649. Early-bird offers include free Huawei M-Pencil Elegant Edition and a folio cover.

Nokia T21

Nokia launched its newest tablet, the Nokia T21, at IFA 2022. The tablet has a 10.4” 2K display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It has 128GB of internal storage which can be expanded to 512GB. The rear and front cameras are 8MP.
The tablet comes with two years of Android updates and three years of security updates.
The Nokia T21 is a compact size tab that will attract those looking for a smaller-screen device.

Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) and P11 Pro (2nd Gen)

Lenovo launched two new tabs at IFA 2022 — P11 (2nd Gen) and P11 Pro (2nd Gen).
The P11 Pro (2nd Gen) is an 11.2” OLED display tab with 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision support. The P11 Pro comes with a detachable keyboard with a built-in trackpad, and an optional Lenovo Precision Pen 3. The tab has quad JBL speakers and Dolby Atmos.
The P11 (2nd Gen) is an 11.5” 2K display tab with a 120Hz refresh rate. The tab has quad speakers with Dolby Atmos. Along with the tab are available optional Lenovo Precision Pen 3 and keyboard pack.
The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen) is priced at €499, whereas the Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) is priced at €299.

Smart TVs saw bigger OLED/Mini-LED displays and bendable TVs

LG OLED Flex and LG OLED evo Gallery Edition 97”

LG launched the OLED Flex, a 42” OLED TV and the world’s first bendable OLED display, which can be bent from a flat to a curved screen using a button on the remote.
LG is targeting the gaming segment with this TV, as curved screens are more suitable for gaming. The TV has a host of features for gamers, such as Dolby Vision support, 4K resolution with 120Hz refresh rate, variable refresh rate, and ultra-low latency mode.
LG also launched the world’s first OLED TV with a 97” display. The TV will be a part of its C2 series.

TCL Mini LED TVs

TCL launched the EISA Premium-awarded Mini LED TV C835 series, a 4K Mini LED TV with Dolby Atmos for an immersive sound experience, and the EISA Best Buy-awarded QLED TV C735 series with 144Hz refresh rate for a better viewing experience.
TCL also launched the C935 series, a premium Mini LED series with 1,920 local dimming zones and 2.1.2 channel up-firing speakers.
The company also launched the world’s largest Mini LED TV at 98”.
The new offerings from TCL will help it to increase its share in the Mini LED segment and offer more choices to consumers.

Toshiba QA5D, UF3D and UK4D

Toshiba launched QLED TV sets and TVs with Fire TV at IFA 2022.
The QA5D series is Toshiba’s first QLED TV series, offering better picture quality. The TVs have Toshiba’s TRU Picture Engine technologies, which offer enhanced picture quality. The TVs also have Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision and run on Android.
The UF3D series is Toshiba’s first with Fire TV in the UK and is ideal for someone who prefers Alexa. The series also has Toshiba’s TRU Picture Engine, Dolby Vision and Atmos.
The UK4D series is powered by Toshiba’s own operating system, and also comes with Alexa. The series has frameless models. It also supports Toshiba’s TRU Picture Engine and Dolby Atmos and Vision.
Toshiba also announced that models launched in 2019 would have the TikTok TV app, giving more entertainment choices to the consumers.

Other notable product launches

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Chromebook: Lenovo also launched the IdeaPad 5i Chromebook, a 16” Chromebook with 2.5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, giving a smooth scrolling and video-viewing experience to the user.
TECNO Megabook T1: TECNO launched its first laptop at IFA 2022, the Megabook T1. It is an ultra-thin laptop that is 14.8 mm thick with a 15.6” display and weighs 1.48 kg. The entire body is made of aluminum and has a fingerprint sensor over the power button. The device has a 70wh battery supporting up to 17.5 hours, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
LG launched the MoodUP refrigerator with color-changing LED door panels. With the LG ThinQ app, users can choose from 22 colors for the upper door panel and 19 colors for the lower door panel. The refrigerator also has a Bluetooth speaker.
B&O launched the Beosound Theatre soundbar. It has 12 drivers and 800W of power and supports 7.1.4 Channel Dolby Atmos. The Beosound Theatre has a new three-dimensional sound directivity, which is a combination of direct, side- and up-firing speakers. Besides, the soundbar can be wall-mounted or floor-standing.
JBL launched the Bar 1000, a 7.1.4 Channel Dolby Atmos-supported soundbar and wireless subwoofer. The Bar 1000 has two battery-powered detachable speakers which work in concert with four upward-firing speakers attached to the sound system.
Sennheiser unveiled the AMBEO Soundbar Plus, a compact and affordable version of the AMBEO Soundbar Max. It is a 7.1.4 Channel system, has nine drivers, with two upward-firing ones, and supports Dolby Atmos.

Conclusion

The focus of the tech companies was on improving customer experience. The new products offer various new features, such as bendable and foldable displays in TVs and laptops, enhanced health trackers in smartwatches, expanding choices in tablets and Chromebook, and a better audio experience with new soundbars. Home appliances are becoming more connected, and visually appealing to soothe the people and the environment.

In the wearables segment, there has been an increased focus on health-related aspects. The new launches in smartwatches and smart bands at IFA 2022 bring more health-related features. Also, the inclusion of new AI capabilities to measure health more accurately in real-time is likely to provide a boost to this segment.

Global Consumer Service Robotics Market Grew 25% in 2021

Global consumer service robotics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27% during 2021-2025.
House Cleaning Robots captured over two-thirds of the total market in 2021.
Personal and Education, and Logistics were the fastest growing categories in 2021.
Personal and Education Robots had the lowest ASP of around $279 followed by House Cleaning Robots ($626).

New Delhi, London, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, San Jose, Buenos Aires – August 2, 2022

Global consumer service robotics market posted 25% YoY shipment growth in 2021 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 27% over the next four years, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s IoT service. The growth was driven by the change in consumer preference, advances in technology and the availability of a wide variety of affordable products.

Commenting on the overall market, Senior Research Analyst Anshika Jain said, “House Cleaning Robots, which mainly comprise robot vacuums, is the most dominant category in the robotics industry, capturing over two-thirds of the total consumer service robotics market. COVID-19 has positively impacted the robot vacuum industry, resulting in increased demand from residential users.”

“With advances in AI, the prices of components and software are also coming down, making the robots more affordable. There have also been improvements in technologies like speech recognition and computer vision, which have helped to drive growth. In addition, favorable government policies along with the required funding support are also helping boost the segment,” Jain added.

Talking about market growth, Research VP Peter Richardson said, “The consumer service robotics market’s shipments are expected to grow at a CAGR of 27% over the 2021-2025 period with the Personal and Education category taking the highest share of 54% by 2025. The category offers the best near-term opportunity due to the rising need for elderly care (especially in combatting isolation), social security and new ways of learning for children. The ASP (average selling price) of this segment is also expected to fall further, which will make these devices more accessible to people in the future.”

“We estimate that the market opportunity of Personal and Education robots will exceed $4.5 billion by 2025 with substantial further growth expected beyond 2025 due to the aging population in many countries and increasing focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)-based learning. Robots developed for these two use cases will likely have a core set of technologies that can be broadly applied to other emergent segments as well,” Richardson added.

Market Segments Summary

In this analysis, the consumer service robots have been broken into House Cleaning, Personal and Education, Hospitality, Logistics, Medical and Others segments.

House Cleaning: Mainly comprising vacuum robots, the House Cleaning segment grew 22% in 2021 and contributed to around 68% of the total consumer service robot shipments. China was the largest market followed by Europe and North America. In this category, the leading players are iRobot, Ecovacs, Roborocks and All the top OEMs in this category offer in-house hardware and software platforms wherein the companies save all the data on the cloud through partnerships with cloud companies.
Personal and Education: This is a very fragmented market that mainly comprises companion and education-related robots. It captured around 31% share of the total consumer service robotics market in 2021 and registered 33% YoY growth. Out of all the categories, this segment had the lowest ASP in 2021 at around $279. The main drivers for this category include elderly care, fight against social isolation, personal entertainment and child education.
Hospitality: This category mainly includes robot front desk attendants used in the hotel service industry to help guests with basic tasks, and disinfection-related robots. Although this segment captured less than 1% share in the total market in 2021, it was one of the fastest growing segments, especially during COVID-19 as guests were looking for new contactless experiences and hotel chains were struggling to find labor due to shortages in the job market. The hotel robot market is in a nascent phase and the low penetration is attributed to high implementation and maintenance costs.
Logistics: This segment covers delivery robots, mainly used for doorstep food delivery by grocery chains, restaurants and hospitality businesses. The shipments for the delivery robots have remained low as they are expensive to deploy and require massive upfront investments. Starship Technologies, Nuro and Piaggio Fast Forward (a subsidiary of Piaggio) are the key players in this segment. These robots are mainly deployed in the North American market. The average price range for such robots is $2,500-$10,000.
Medical: This segment comprises surgical, exoskeleton and hospital delivery robots with 61%, 23% and 11% share respectively in the overall Medical category. In terms of regional share, North America is one of the biggest markets and captures almost half of the total segment.

The consumer service robots market holds tremendous potential in the coming years due to evolving use cases. The robot vacuum cleaner market is the most mature, but there is still significant growth potential. The Personal and Education segment is set to drive market growth in the coming period. Logistics (delivery robots) is another major area that has good potential to grow in the medium term due to further technological advances. Medical robots still seem a risky proposition as they need a lot of upfront capital expenditure, and the R&D outcomes are unpredictable.

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

Analyst Contacts:

Anshika Jain

Peter Richardson

Counterpoint Research
press(at)counterpointresearch.com

Amazon Prime Day Discounts in US Signal Slumping Consumer Demand

As inflation continues to soar in the US and across the globe, commentators are looking toward Amazon Prime Day as a barometer of consumer behavior and purchasing patterns may be changing in the US. Food, fuel and energy prices all continued to climb in the US through June, with inflation reaching 9.1%, the highest in 40 years. As a result, consumer sentiment is the lowest it has been since the financial crisis back in 2008. With prices soaring, it will be important for businesses to understand how consumer demand is changing, including for consumer electronics. If demand for devices drops, it could affect the bottom line of retailers, OEMs and component players.

The story of the past two years has been that supply has struggled to keep up with demand due to supply chain kinks related to COVID-19 outbreaks and consequent shutdowns in manufacturing. But this appears to be shifting, with inflation-related declines in demand resulting in swelling inventories. Strong discounts on certain items for Prime Day may suggest high inventories that Amazon is trying to pare down. The consumer electronics segment had steep discounts across a range of devices, suggesting that consumers may be slowing down their spending on tech and need extra incentives to purchase. Indeed, so far in 2022, smartphone sales at Amazon have been below their 2021 levels.

Android smartphone discounts included some of the steepest price cuts on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S22 series, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 3 5G, and Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Galaxy S22 Ultra was available for up to $420 off and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G for up to $700 off. There were also significant discounts of 21-43% on Motorola devices like the Motorola Moto G Pure, Moto G Power 2022 and the Motorola Edge 2021, as well as Tracfone devices. These are the steepest discounts we have seen yet in 2022 and that may be a signal that strong promotions are needed to move inventory and attract demand.

Similarly, strong promotions were seen for televisions. There are already reports that demand for big box items like TVs has declined across retailers like Target, Walmart and Best Buy as customers hold off on upgrading to the latest and greatest. As TVs pile up in warehouses, we are starting to see steep discounts of up to 45%. Amazon offered its lineup of Fire TVs for 45% off with similar discounts available for other TV brands.

Smartwatches saw strong discounts, including up to $110 off on the Apple Watch Series 7, $60 off on the Apple Watch SE and up to $120 off on Fitbit smartwatches. Other tech discounts included up to $120 off on Jabra TWS earbuds and up to $120 off on Samsung headphones. Amazon products were on steep discounts, with Amazon Echo Dots available for up to 60% off, Fire TV Sticks for as low as $11.99 and Fire Tablets available for up to 50% off.

Directly following the shopping holiday, Amazon announced that this was its strongest Prime Day ever, with over 300 million items sold and consumer electronics being one of the strongest performing categories. The latest data on consumer spending during June suggest that consumers were yet to make major changes to their spending habits despite red-hot inflation. This could all change if inflation remains at record levels in the coming months and eats away at consumers’ savings accounts. Upcoming financial results from retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and Target will be a key indicator of how consumers are faring.

Key Consumer IoT Themes at MWC 2022: Wearables, Smart Office & Smart Home Solutions Galore

Mobile World Congress (MWC) which took place in Barcelona, Spain this year from February 28^th to March 3^rd showcased some interesting announcements and trends that will set new standards for upcoming products and technologies across the entire digital ecosystem.

Major highlights this year revolved around 5G, cloud, artificial Intelligence, robotics, cyber security, IoT, XR, and e-Sim technology. From a device perspective, we could see updates on not only smartphones but Consumer IoT (cIoT) devices as well from big players including Samsung, Lenovo, Radisys, Huawei, Honor, realme, and Nokia.

Here are the major cIoT announcements from this year’s MWC event:

Samsung’s three new laptops Galaxy Book 2 Pro, Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 and Galaxy Book2 Business

Galaxy Book 2 Pro and Book 2 Pro 360

Both these devices are equipped with 1080p AMOLED display, 12th generation Intel Core i7 processors, dual stereo speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Atmos support, WiFi 6E connectivity and S Pen Support. These are available in two sizes 13.3 inches and 15.6 inches.
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro is priced at USD 1,049 while the Pro 360 variant is available at USD 1,249 and will be available from April 1^st on the Samsung website.
For both devices, special emphasis has been put on display quality, security and enhanced battery backup The full HD camera is particularly useful for conducting business and client meetings effectively. One thing to observe about the Pro 360 model is its 2 in 1 design which has the capability to fold like a tablet, especially useful for heavy travelers.
Samsung is bringing Bixby for the first time into the laptop for voice control. This will enable the user to control other smart home devices as well through SmartThings Integration.

Galaxy Book 2 Business

Samsung announced the launch of its latest PC device ‘Galaxy Book2 Business’ which is built on Intel vPro Platform and is equipped with a 14-inch display, 8 GB RAM which can be extended to 64GB and 256 GB storage with an expansion limit of up to 1 TB.
The interesting thing to note is its own ‘defense-grade security technology’ feature that has the capability to detect and track malicious activities and inhibit PC attacks through the Tamper Alert function. Even after witnessing an attack, all the valuable data is secured through the Intel Hardware Shield.
This PC is basically designed for enterprise users, keeping in mind current security issues and serves the needs of working in a hybrid environment situation. The business IR camera in the laptop is capable of giving access only to authorized users through face detection. This is the first Samsung laptop to have facial recognition technology.

Lenovo launched a series of laptops in the ThinkPad and IdeaPad range along with Chromebooks, ThinkBooks, a portable monitor, and an updated tablet

ThinkPad X13s

ThinkPad X13s is the world’s first laptop that features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chipset. This new chip is capable of achieving battery life of up to 28 hours.
It features a 13.6 inch touch control display with an enhanced 5G connection, and a 5MP webcam. It is priced at $1099 and will be available in the U.S. from May 2022.
The emphasis has been put on the portability factor and enhancing the battery life with the new processor.

Other major product announcements by Lenovo

ThinkPad Extreme X1 Gen 5: This is ideal for gaming purposes and is embedded with a Core i9 processor and 64GB of RAM. Neat additions like the magnetic keyboard and stylus support from Lenovo show the full capabilities that foldable PC form factors can offer.
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 and 3i: Both are entry-level gaming laptops that are ideal for full HD gaming and 4K video editing. Both the models are same in terms of specifications however, the main difference is the processor. Gaming 3i is equipped with Intel’s 12^th Gen processor while Gaming 3 has AM
IdeaPad Flex 5 series: It has a flexible hinge that can be folded to use it like a tablet which will be available in two variants 5 and 5i. These are powered with AMD Ryzen 7 series and 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processors respectively.
ThinkBooks: Lenovo unveiled its latest ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 2 and ThinkBook 13s Gen 4i laptops. The devices are equipped with a smart pen to take notes, sketch designs and sign documents easily.
IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook: This tablet with detachable keyboard could be a good alternative for students as they can take notes during lectures utilizing the magnetic clip-on keyboard. It is available in the US starting May 2022 at a starting price of USD 399.
IdeaPad Duet 5i: In terms of design, it is very much similar to IdeaPad Duet 3 and the screen can be plucked off to use it as both a tablet and laptop. The main difference is that, it has an Intel 12^th Generation Core chipset instead of Windows 11 which makes it more powerful and ideal for office workers.
Tab M10 Plus (3rd Gen): This third-generation tablet has an improved display and narrow bezels. It has a new feature called ‘Reading Mode’ making it suitable for media consumption of all kinds.

There were numerous updates in its ThinkPad T series line-up as well to address the needs of a diverse work environment. The new type of solutions will help solve the need to work across hybrid environments. The foldable PC form factor and the flexible OLED displays are good additions to its portfolio to provide better touch response and content viewing experience to its customers.

Radisys demonstrated its Reach Smart Home solution for Smarter Living

Radisys showcased its end-to-end open telecom and digital engagement portfolio. The Radisys Reach Smart Home Gateway is the central point of the solution which enables the automation of home services as it connects seamlessly with sensors and cameras from multiple vendors with cloud back-end support.
Some other key features include a fully customizable, white-labeled mobile phone app, consolidated billing to integrate smart home offerings with existing services, remote management of smart home infrastructure and built-in analytics for providing personalized recommendations based on usage trends. And Radisys’ Smart Home Operator Dashboard provides meaningful business KPIs for advanced monetizing of new services.
The solution will provide service providers new opportunities to generate revenue streams and monetize the smart home by offering stickier services with broadband plans to increase customer loyalty.

Huawei launched seven new “Smart Office” products

The highlight of all these devices is how seamlessly they connect with each other (PC, smartphone, tablet and smart screen) to form a ‘Super Device’ for screen sharing and better collaboration. Huawei also showcased the Huawei Mobile App Engine, which is basically a mobile application for PC.
The major thing to note is that many of these products are launched for the first time in the market. For deeper analysis, please refer this link.
- MatePad Paper is Huawei’s first tablet with an E-Ink display.
- Huawei MateBook X Pro is the the world’s first product certified by TÜV Rheinland for pro-level dual colour gamut colour accuracy.
- Huawei MateBook E is Huawei’s first OLED laptop that combines the benefits of both traditional laptops and tablets.
- Huawei MateStation X is its first all-in-one PC with 28.2-inch screen size and 4K+ resolution display.
- While Huawei PixLab X1 is the company’s first entry into the printers’ market, the company also introduced its first portable speaker ‘Sound Joy’.
This clearly shows Huawei’s ambition to create smart offices for hybrid work requirements and create fresh experiences for global consumers. These devices will help to expand its IoT product portfolio and provide seamless integration across different devices. This will enhance customers’ lifestyle experience by providing them with better devices for multi-tasking and increased productivity.

Honor unveiled its new smartwatch ‘Honor Watch GS 3’ and earbuds ‘Honor Earbuds 3 Pro’

Honor Watch GS 3

This smartwatch comes with a stainless-steel material with 3D curved glass design and a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen. It comes with emerging features like Bluetooth calling and heart rate monitoring. In addition to these features, the watch supports fast charging and a QR code payment function.
The design of the smartwatch is inspired by traditional watches and is somewhat similar to the GT 3 model from last year.
The major highlight of the watch is its AI heart rate dual-engine algorithm, 8-channel PPG monitoring module, and frequency tracking algorithm which helps to accurately measure the heart rate in real-time.

‘Honor Earbuds 3 Pro’

It is claimed to be the world’s first TWS device that comes with a coaxial dual-driver design.
The device is priced at approx. USD 221 (EUR 199) and comes with a lot of other industry-first features as well like built-in temperature monitoring technology.
The interesting thing to note is its ‘abnormal temperature alert’ feature that sends an alert in case any abnormality is observed.
These features highlight the brand’s R&D efforts in the hearables

realme launched the Buds Air 3 and new Smart TV

realme expanded its true wireless portfolio with the launch of the Buds Air 3 model. This is the world’s first TWS device to be certified by TUV Rheinland Noise Cancellation meant for safety and quality.
The device offers a 46 dB adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature and fast charging support with up to 2 hours of playback with just five minute charge. realme will first start rolling out this new device in Europe.
This is a successor to the Buds Air 2 model from last year.
The biggest highlight of the Buds Air 3 model is its water-resistant design and active noise cancellation
The brand has focused on offering prominent features like ANC at an affordable price point in its recently launched devices, allowing it to grow its share in recent years. It was the second-largest TWS player in India in 2021 with a market share of 7%.

realme new Smart TV

realme introduced its new Smart TV for the European market which is going to be available in two different sizes – 32-inch and 50 inches priced at USD ~277 (EUR 249.99) and USD 555 (EUR 499.99) respectively.

The smart TV is equipped with Dolby Vision 4K display, bezel-less design, Dolby Atmos sound system, Voice Assistance feature and a MediaTek Quadcore Chipset.
The TV will be targeting the mid-segment and will be competing against devices from Xiaomi, Nokia, TCL and OnePlus. realme has quickly managed to grab a larger share of the India Smart TV market owing to its better features and attractive prices.
This new launch should help to enhance its brand outside the Indian market.

Nokia Released Nokia Go Earbuds2+ at ~USD 43 (EUR 39)

Nokia has expanded its audio accessories with the launch of its Nokia Go Earbuds2+ model. It will be available in select global markets.
The device features environmental noise cancellation, a 10mm dynamic driver, IPX4 water resistance and up to 24 hours of playback time.
Depending on the price band, it is providing audio offerings for both online and offline platforms. The smartphone player is looking to expand its IoT device portfolio and increase its revenue from the accessories business.

Conclusion

The majority of the laptops and other smart devices were launched with a special focus on the ‘security aspect’ and making these devices ‘connected with each other’ especially for business users due to the changing needs of a hybrid working environment. Along with this, there have been improvements in integrating these devices with smartphones, utilizing AI, adding third-party apps and voice control features for building a connected smart home ecosystem.

This is going to generate new revenue opportunities for both device players as well as service providers.

In the wearables segment, there has been an increased focus on health-related aspects. The new launches in smartwatches and TWS clearly show brand efforts to bring health-related features in wearables and hearables. As well, the inclusion of new AI capabilities to measure health more accurately in real-time is likely to provide a boost to this segment. Furthermore, increased emphasis has been put on fast charging technology and integrating voice assistance capabilities to these devices including smart TVs.

The cIoT market holds tremendous potential to grow in the upcoming period owing to an increased focus on affordability and integrating the latest tech innovations.

E-waste Management Needs Push from Industry, Consumer, Govt

Electronic items discarded as waste by the world weighed over 50 million tonnes in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available. This is a 20% increase from the previous five years. The volume is expected to soar in the following years thanks to the coronavirus-triggered surge in dependence on technology. During the 2020-2030 decade, we can expect to generate 40% more electronic waste. The corresponding global e-waste recycling rate will be only 20% (industry insights). In the discarded e-waste, most of the devices containing lithium-ion batteries (mostly smartphones) pose a significant risk to the environment. A major chunk of e-waste is getting dumped in Asian countries due to the rise of affluent consumers and affordability of electronic gadgets.

E-Waste Generated by Countries

Smartphones contribute to 12% of global e-waste. This number will continue to increase unless we take measures to check it. From the perspective of carbon emissions, smartphone production alone contributes 80-90% of carbon emissions by the device. Given this scenario, consumers, manufacturers and governments have certain responsibilities which they need to be serious about.

Why electronic devices, more so mobile phones, need to be carefully handled as e-waste?

An electronic device such as the mobile phone has over 60 different metals, present in very small quantities. Among all the metals used in mobile phones, rare earth metals play a crucial role. They can also cause soil and water contamination if not disposed of properly. Besides, demand for more mobile phones increases mining activities for these metals, which adversely impact the environment at the extraction stage itself. Since these metals are available in limited quantities, their higher consumption has already led them to be listed as ‘endangered metals’. Moreover, to make a single mobile phone, almost 6-7 kg of high-grade gold ore gets mined. The fact that most of the metal parts in a mobile phone can be recycled with very little waste generated is being conveniently ignored by most of the industry.

Is recycling the solution?

Recycling does seem to be the obvious solution. A first-of-its-kind nationwide effort was initiated in Japan to recycle e-waste to produce medals for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. At the same time, undertaking recycling without following proper norms for the collection and treatment of e-waste can adversely impact the environment as well as recyclers.

Tokyo Olympics Medals Made from Electronic Waste

Olympics Tokyo medals made out of E-Waste

Right to repair

The UK has cleared the Right to Repair legislation that gives consumers the right to repair their own electronic devices and requires the manufacturers to supply the necessary spare parts. The EU and US are expected to follow suit soon. This move can be considered a step towards having a circular economy, a topic already being debated in European and some other countries. France is one of the first countries to come out with a repairability index. The country’s repairability index has five electronic devices — smartphones, laptops, TVs, washing machines and lawnmowers. It mandates a clear display of information on the repairability of the electronic equipment being used. The objective is to encourage consumers to choose more repairable products and eventually make manufacturers improve the repairability of their products.

The success of the right to repair movement depends on how many countries and regions join it and take legislative and policy measures in the direction. Europe has an important role here in influencing other regions due to its large number of member countries and its ability to establish global standards and convince manufacturers to make design and other changes in their products.

Advocacy against right to repair

Tech firms like Apple, Microsoft and Amazon have opposed certain aspects of the right to repair movement. They argue that opening their intellectual property to third-party repair services could lead to exploitation and impact the safety and security of devices manufactured by them. However, a few firms including Apple Microsoft have recently given in to this movement. Starting early next year, Apple plans to make parts and tools available to those in the US who are comfortable with undertaking their own repairs. The decision will initially apply to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 after which it would be extended to Mac computers with M1 chips. The facility will be expanded to other countries later in 2022.

Unfolding future

For the longest time, tech companies have been working to reduce the lifespan of their products and make their repair difficult and expensive. This has pushed the consumers to buy a new product instead of repairing it. Right to repair and other such movements are a step towards changing this narrative. Going forward, producers and manufacturers are expected to bear maximum responsibility, but support from governments and consumers is equally important.

At a time when changing smartphones has become a very common practice, changing the consumer mindset towards the concept of sustainability and the need for longevity of their devices is both the key and a challenge. France is now rejecting the ‘throwaway culture’, making considerable strides towards its sustainability dream. Its ‘anti-waste Bill’ in 2019 and now repairability index speak for its intentions.

Such interventions by governments, along with incentives, will not only hold good for the environment but also make sound economic sense by ensuring our devices stay in use as long as possible.

Consumer is King as US 5G Device Prices Set to Hit New Low in 2021

The year 2020 saw growing adoption of 5G devices throughout the United States, driven in part by the launch of the first 5G enabled iPhone in the fourth quarter. While this flagship helped push 5G further into the mainstream for consumers, there was also considerable movement towards 5G in the low-to-mid price segment in the second half of 2021. With expanding 5G coverage and OEMs looking to meet demand at different price points, 2021 may well see a $200 5G device.

In the first half of 2020, there were no carrier compatible 5G smartphones with retail prices below $400, but the release of T-Mobile’s REVVL 5G, the LG K92 and TCL 10 5G changed that. Additionally, releases like Google’s Pixel 4a 5G, Motorola’s One 5G and Samsung’s Galaxy A51 5G were all on promotion at points during Q4, bringing their prices below $400 and adding competition to a 5G price segment that did not exist just months before. By all indications, competition among 5G devices in this price band will become even more fierce in 2021.

What to Expect in 2021

So far this year, OnePlus has introduced the Nord N10 5G to the US market at $300, Motorola has released the One 5G Ace at $399 and ZTE has unveiled the Blade X1 5G at $384. With a growing array of devices for consumers to choose from, OEMs are packing their 5G devices in this range with improved specs and differentiating features. For example, the Motorola One 5G Ace comes with a 5,000mAh battery that is marketed as lasting up to two days on a single charge. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G features 30W fast charging and 90Hz refresh rate. With battery life being one of the most common pain points for consumers, features like a 5000 mAh battery and 30 W fast charging should help OEMs attract customers. As the price band becomes more crowded in 2021, consumers can expect competition to push OEMs to include even more impressive specs. Improved cameras, higher refresh rates, more RAM and more powerful processors will be on the radar.

Consumers can also expect even more competitive pricing. As 5G coverage expands, more people will want access at all price points, driving OEMs to produce even lower cost 5G phones. These devices will likely have to cut corners on specs to hit this price point but will bring 5G to an even larger segment of the population. Given that most of the devices mentioned above feature 6GB of RAM, a 4000mAh or higher capacity battery and a 6” or larger display, there is certainly some room to cut costs. When we consider that the OnePlus Nord N10 5G has all these features, plus a 90Hz refresh rate, and costs $300, we should expect to see a $200 5G device, and potentially a sub-$200 device, in 2021.

Consumers will have broader access to 5G networks from carriers and a more diverse array of 5G price points to choose from in 2021. According to our monthly channel share tracker, 65% of devices sold in December were 5G capable. This number should surpass 80% in 2021 with the further introduction of 5G devices in new price bands. But sales of popular non-5G devices like older iPhones and the lower market share of individual low-cost devices will create a ceiling, as could the current chip shortage. While most users will only have access to sub-6GHz bands on low-to-mid price devices in 2021, this may change at the upper bounds of this range as mmWave is deployed in more cities and users expect more from their device. With competition driving more impressive specs and the expansion of 5G coverage driving 5G devices into new price points, consumers will be the winners in 2021.

Top

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Gaming monitors by Samsung and LG

World’s first dual UHD gaming monitor by Samsung

Other notable launches by Samsung

LG’s latest flagship gaming monitor 32GQ950

Lenovo tablet launch

Lenovo Tab Extreme

Interesting TV launches

World’s first smart TV metaverse experience

Samsung introduces new Neo QLED, Micro LED and OLED TVs

Skyworth showcases world’s first outdoor Google TV

LG releases world’s first wireless OLED TV

New smartwatches and TWS models from leading brands

Citizen releases Smart Sport and CZ Smart Casual

Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition

Verizon’s Gizmo Watch 3 for kids

Motorola launches new ANC earbuds: Moto Buds 600

JBL announces JBL Tour Pro 2 wireless earbuds

boAt showcases advanced audio products

Smart security products by Amazon

Other notable smart device launches

Conclusion

Foldable laptops by Asus and Lenovo

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 2022

New smartwatches, smart bands and smart glasses from leading brands

Garmin Venu Sq2 and Venu Sq2 Music

Huawei Watch D

Fitbit Inspire 3, Versa 4 and Sense 2

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 and GTS 4 Mini

TCL NXTWEAR S

Lenovo Glasses T1

TWS category saw some interesting launches

Jabra Elite 5

JBL Tour PRO 2

Tablets saw new models from leading brands

HONOR Pad 8

Huawei MatePad Pro 11

Nokia T21

Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) and P11 Pro (2nd Gen)

Smart TVs saw bigger OLED/Mini-LED displays and bendable TVs

LG OLED Flex and LG OLED evo Gallery Edition 97”

TCL Mini LED TVs

Toshiba QA5D, UF3D and UK4D

Other notable product launches

Conclusion

Related Posts

Market Segments Summary

Related Posts

Samsung’s three new laptops Galaxy Book 2 Pro, Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 and Galaxy Book2 Business

Galaxy Book 2 Pro and Book 2 Pro 360

Galaxy Book 2 Business

Lenovo launched a series of laptops in the ThinkPad and IdeaPad range along with Chromebooks, ThinkBooks, a portable monitor, and an updated tablet

ThinkPad X13s

Other major product announcements by Lenovo

Radisys demonstrated its Reach Smart Home solution for Smarter Living

Huawei launched seven new “Smart Office” products

Honor unveiled its new smartwatch ‘Honor Watch GS 3’ and earbuds ‘Honor Earbuds 3 Pro’

Honor Watch GS 3

‘Honor Earbuds 3 Pro’

realme launched the Buds Air 3 and new Smart TV

realme new Smart TV

Nokia Released Nokia Go Earbuds2+ at ~USD 43 (EUR 39)

Conclusion

Related Posts

Why electronic devices, more so mobile phones, need to be carefully handled as e-waste?

Is recycling the solution?

Right to repair

Advocacy against right to repair

Unfolding future

Related Posts

What to Expect in 2021

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