Qualcomm: Audio trends to watch in 2021

The next era of truly wireless audio

The adoption of truly wireless earbuds is continuing to ramp up all around the world, and 2021 is bringing new developments that will take this exciting audio technology into the next era.

One such development is the forthcoming Bluetooth LE Audio standard. With LE Audio, consumers will not only be able to listen wirelessly, but also share their media with others. This is just one of the ways LE Audio will help evolve Bluetooth wireless experiences.

Another trend is the widespread diversification within the truly wireless earbud category, with consumers of virtually all demographics choosing truly wireless earbuds – and using them for a wide range of activities, and for long periods of wear. This means that alongside robust connectivity for on-the-go use, feature differentiation – such as support for active noise cancellation, ultra-long battery life, and other advanced features – is needed at a range of price points, not just the premium tier.

Gaming has been growing in popularity globally and, in 2021, we expect to see a shift from console to mobile gaming gain momentum and accelerate this strong growth trajectory. What does this mean for consumer audio? Mobile gaming enthusiasts need truly wireless earbuds that can deliver immersive sound and the ultra-low latency connectivity required to support an incredible wire-free gaming experience.

HD music streaming

According to our State of Play report, sound quality remains the ultimate driver for consumer audio products, and streaming is now the primary way consumers access their music. These trends are not new, but what is new is the rapidly increasing demand for high definition (HD) music streaming.

Several streaming services now offer HD music libraries, catering to the growing listener base seeking media with rich, pure sound quality that allows them to hear their music the way the artist intended. For example, high definition can improve the clarity on high-pitched vocals and percussion instruments so that listeners enjoy a more immersive experience across a wider spectrum of recorded sound. To get a true HD experience wirelessly requires audio excellence in the smartphone as well as the consumer’s wireless headphones or truly wireless earbuds. This year we’re expecting to see an increasing demand for mobile and audio accessory devices with end-to-end support for HD audio.

Remote working

In 2020, millions of people worldwide found themselves suddenly working remotely due to the pandemic. Employees, entrepreneurs, teachers, students, CEOs, developers, doctors, team leaders, volunteers, and creators – virtually all remote workers are taking more voice and video calls than ever before, and this shift seems likely to remain as a way of doing business. Clear sounding, glitch-free intelligible voice quality can support efficient communication on calls, as well as keeping listener fatigue to a minimum. That’s why we think consumers will be looking for audio devices that can help them work as well as play in 2021.