AirPods dominate market as research firm forecasts 100m sales in 2020

Apple’s AirPods remain the clear leader in the wireless in-ear headphone market after the company shifted 6m units during Q4 2019 and held on to a considerable 47% total market share across the whole year.

New data released by Counterpoint Research on Tuesday found that rivals Xiaomi and Samsung are struggling to stop Apple’s juggernaut AirPods brand as both companies still only hold around a 6% market share each.

They were not helped by the recent launch of the premium AirPods Pro model, which went on sale in October and won rave reviews from customers and critics alike for its stellar sound production and improvements on the base model.

AirPods Pro helped Apple deliver 44% growth in sales in Q4 and that was despite a few supply shortages preventing it from realising its full potential over the Christmas period.

Counterpoint Research did note that Apple’s share fell slightly from Q3 but that it remains the clear market leader, a position that is unlikely to be challenged during the next 12 months.

Xiaomi did come in with “strong sales” for its Redmi Airdots in Q4 as it took second spot on the market share list ahead of Samsung, QCY and JLab.

The good news for all brands is that the wireless wearables market grew significantly in Q4 as sales soared 53% to 51m units, which increased the total number of sales for the year to more than 130m.

Counterpoint Research added: “The US was the main driver for the quarter, growing 76% QoQ and accounting for 35% of the global market on the back of seasonal promotions and Apple’s new model launch.”

It now expects AirPods to go from strength to strength in 2020 with a forecast of more than 100m sales, a return that will enable it to reign supreme in the market with ease.

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