The true wireless segment has grown 178% year-on-year, with Apple achieving a whopping 80% market share, according to Futuresource.
According to the market research firm, Q1 2018 saw true wireless account for 31% of all in-ear product revenues in Q1 2018. As the average retail price continued to drop from $171 to $161 in Q1 2018, Apple AirPods maintained their dominance of the true wireless scene, compelling competitors to introduce lower-priced products at less than $150.
Wireless capability had already penetrated 45% of headphones in Q1 and is instrumental in driving further uptake for many other features and form factors, including true wireless, neckbands, noise-cancelling and additional smart features.
On a worldwide basis, the overall headphones market totalled 79.1 million units in Q1, with retail revenues topping $4 billion. "Brands are enthusiastically adding features, resulting in a 17% rise in the average retail price to $52. Across all categories, the highest price increase is in over-ear products, due to the impact of noise-cancelling and wireless technologies," commented Rasika D'Souza, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting."
Amongst other findings in the Headphones Quarterly Report for Q1, Futuresource notes that JBL achieved 100% year-on-year growth and is growing its presence across all segments, including in/on-ear, wired/wireless and sport.