The Headphones Market Is Booming for 1 Key Reason

Does it seem like more people around you are in their own little audio world? Are you buying AirPods to upgrade old ones every couple of years like you’d replace a worn-out wallet? 

Companies that make headphones and earbuds, including some of the world’s largest tech companies such as Apple, Samsung and Sony, can expect boom times ahead, according to a new report. S&S Insider, a market research firm, predicts that worldwide sales of these portable audio products will nearly double from where they were last year, $58.41 billion, to $114.81 billion in 2032. In the US, sales are expected to nearly triple over the same time period, from $760 million to $2.13 billion.

The study says that that the market growth is being driven by affordable prices, features such as smart assistants and active noise canceling, and lifestyles centered on smartphones and smartwatches. Central to it is the widespread popularity of wireless audio devices, especially true wireless stereo earbuds.

“Fitness enthusiasts, commuters, professionals, and students are all shifting away from wired solutions, which is driving the market for wireless headphones and earbuds,” S&S Insider said in a press release for the report.

Earbuds (or “earphones” as the report often calls them) accounted for nearly 62% of the market’s revenue in 2024.

The findings align with the increasingly wide range of headphones products CNET is evaluating, from over-the-ear models to open-environment-friendly earbuds. 

Apple’s iPhone 17 launch earlier this month also introduced the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds, which can do live language translation and which have improved sound quality at the same price as the previous top-of-the-line AirPods Pro 2 model.