Federica Laricchia
Research expert covering the global consumer technology industry
Entertainment devices - statistics & facts
After a day spent working or studying, everybody needs to relax: be it watching movies, listening to music, or playing games. Today, consumers can choose from an array of technological products to perform such activities. Known as entertainment devices, they can be defined as devices used for viewing and playing various types of media. As part of the consumer electronics industry, entertainment devices include TVs and streaming devices, smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, and extended reality (XR) devices, such as virtual reality headsets.
Shifting preferences amid a changing world
Since the second half of the 20th century, TVs have acted as the dominant source of entertainment in many households. While the number of TV viewers is still forecast to slightly increase in the coming years, many people are now opting to watch news, videos, and movies via streaming services on laptops, tablets, and smartphones. For instance, a 2022 Statista survey shows that over 60 percent of the worldwide population now use smartphones to watch videos, while around 44 percent use such devices to watch movies or series. Meanwhile, smart speakers, which are loudspeakers powered by a virtual intelligent assistant that can be controlled by spoken commands, are modern devices used for listening to music and podcasts, and playing audio games. But, for those who want to listen to music privately, headphones and earphones are available. Apple is the leading true wireless stereo vendor, holding around 30 percent of the market.Enhancing the gaming experience
Today, gaming is one of the most common hobbies worldwide. Consumers can play their favorite video games on a variety of devices, such as PCs or consoles at home, or portable gaming devices on planes and trains. The market offers desktop PCs and laptops that are specifically programmed to play video games. For instance, the gaming laptop market size amounted to roughly 12 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 and is expected to increase in the coming years. Furthermore, after falling in 2022, the video game console market is forecast to increase again, reaching a size of around 107.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. The United States recorded the highest gaming revenue worldwide in 2022, followed by China, Japan, South Korea, and the UK. Given the increasing interest around the metaverse and XR, consumers have started purchasing devices that can enhance their gaming experience. Examples are virtual reality headsets, with sales forecast to reach almost 22 million units in 2023.
