It’s hard to imagine a world without headphones and earphones. In little over a century, they’ve evolved immensely, becoming integral parts of consumers’ lives and transforming the way they interact with the world around them.
And their appeal is far from slowing down. If recent market research is anything to go by, the global headphone and earphone segment is on track towards becoming an USD $15.8 billion industry by 2025[1]. Changing the world in more ways than one, these innovative wearable creations enable users’ new ways to listen and communicate. In addition, they’ve become more than just convenient accessories – they’ve become everyday lifestyle companions to meet consumers’ evolving needs.
To understand the dramatic technological innovations that have unfolded since the first-ever headphones emerged in the late 1800’s, it’s worth taking a trip through the decades to observe key milestones in their development. Long before the days of voice-enabled assistants, subscription-based music streaming platforms, or wireless audio technology, headphones were bulky and cumbersome. First designed for and used by telephone operators, headphones then progressed to become a means for listening to music in isolation. From here, they grew smaller and more user-friendly, with added portability and connectivity thanks to the arrival of smarter more portable devices to connect with.
As modern technology has evolved, it remains widely considered that headphone and earphone innovations have created some of the greatest inflection points in music and audio history. As the earwear category grows, it’s expected the industry will ship 10.6 million units by the end of 2021 with a 58.5% CAGR from 2017–2021[2]. While design and technology has changed, the proposition of these accessories has remained the same: they empower users to enhance their relationship with the world and enable them to do things they couldn’t do before.
By advancing into convenient, ergonomically designed necessities that help get users from A to B in more seamless ways, headphones and earphones have also become must-have social accessories. Consumers are often within an arm’s reach of headphones or earbuds; they’ve become essential towards transforming the way we listen to music, view personal content, and communicate. A Cloud Cover Music study found that around 42 percent of respondents listen to some form of media the entire workday[3], with 71 percent agreeing that the perceived effect of music increased their productivity. They are also playing an increasing role in leisure activities, with the fitness and sports end-use segment in the global earphone and headphone market displaying a CAGR of more than 15%[4]. Wireless headphone technology is changing the way we communicate, and the way we are heard. Pushing the everyday capabilities of ‘hearables’ to new heights, Samsung is at the forefront of innovating meaningful technology that uplifts users’ audio journeys. With the creation of Samsung Galaxy Buds, users can stay in tune with the world around them like never before. Completely wireless, Bluetooth enabled, and featuring top quality sound by AKG, Galaxy Buds provide users the ability to stay immersed for longer in more innovative ways.
An in-ear lifestyle companion – Galaxy Buds have been designed to offer cord-free freedom for consumers seeking truly seamless, on the go lifestyles. With an ergonomic design, users’ can go about their days in comfort thanks to the light compact size. Letting consumers’ hear and be heard, the adaptive dual-microphone uses one inner microphone and one outer microphone in each earbud. This lets them transmit their voice clearly, no matter how loud or quiet their surrounding environment. With up to six hours of Bluetooth streaming, up to seven hours of charge, and the ability to make five hours worth of calls, Galaxy Buds are the ultimate in-ear companion to support consumers’ busy lives.
Smart in numerous ways – If users own one of the latest Galaxy mobile devices, Galaxy Buds can integrate with the intelligent assistant Bixby on the go. This enables them to use their voice to perform tasks such as make calls, send text messages or check the battery life of their Galaxy earbuds. To help users blend into their environments while still enjoying a supreme listening experience, Enhanced Ambient Sound allows them to hear their surroundings, even while the buds are in their ears. Galaxy Buds can also be wireless charged thanks to Wireless PowerShare, meaning they be charged on the go from a compatible device, such as the Galaxy S10.
The headphone and earphone innovations of today speak volumes. By empowering consumers’ to hear as well as be heard, Samsung’s meaningful innovations are redefining the hearables category and redefining consumers’ lifestyles with audio technology that helps them do more of what they can’t.