# Earbuds beat watches in the $1 trillion wearables forecast

Source: https://idevice.com/earbuds-lead-the-1-trillion-wearables-forecast
Published: 2026-08-20

> Revenue across the period grows at twice the rate of shipments, so the average wearable sold keeps getting more expensive.

Counterpoint Research puts consumer wearables at more than $1 trillion in cumulative revenue between 2026 and 2032, and earbuds take the largest share of it. Hearables account for roughly $360 billion against $304 billion for smartwatches, with smart eyewear third at $168 billion. Together the two biggest categories are [forecast at $558 billion](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/19/report-smart-wearables-market-set-to-generate-more-than-1-trillion-through-2032/) over the seven years. Health patches come in at $120 billion and smart rings at $44 billion. Pendants, smart shoes and fitness bands are smaller again, and smart socks, smart clothing and smart belts are each projected below $10 billion.

Revenue across the period grows at a 12% compound annual rate against 6% growth in unit shipments, so the money arrives from [people buying more expensive devices](https://www.macobserver.com/news/consumer-smart-wearables-market-could-generate-more-than-1-trillion-by-2032/) rather than from more people buying their first one. Counterpoint expects the category to keep moving toward preventive health, where a device flags a problem before the wearer notices it. Apple already sells into the two largest segments with AirPods and Apple Watch, and Counterpoint estimates AirPods alone will pass $100 billion in cumulative revenue this year. Apple's Wearables, Home and Accessories business brought in $7.88 billion in fiscal Q3 2026, up 6% year over year and its strongest growth since fiscal Q4 2022.

## Sources

- [9to5Mac](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/19/report-smart-wearables-market-set-to-generate-more-than-1-trillion-through-2032/) (9to5Mac)
- [The Mac Observer](https://www.macobserver.com/news/consumer-smart-wearables-market-could-generate-more-than-1-trillion-by-2032/) (The Mac Observer)