Spending on wearable technology to surge to $52 billion by 2020: Gartner

Worldwide spending in the wearable technology market will increase by close to a third to hit $52 billion in 2020, analysts estimate. 

This year, spending on wearables -- including smartwatches, ear-worn gadgets, intelligent clothing, and head-mounted displays (HMDs) is set to reach $41 billion, Gartner said on Wednesday.

The research agency believes that smartwatches and HMDs are going to prove to be the most popular forms of wearable technology for consumers, growing by 34 percent and 48 percent in 2020, respectively. 

Smartwatches, devices that replace traditional timepieces to display not only a clock but also connect to your mobile device to facilitate app access, call acceptance, and fitness tracking -- among other purposes -- are predicted to become a key ingredient for increased spend. 

The smartphone and tablet market are saturated and now smartwatches appear to be following suit. Apple's Watch product, Samsung's Galaxy Watch line, and Huawei's Watch range are all competing for a slice of the market, and as this rivalry escalates, analysts expect prices to drop. 

See also: Why your smartwatch and wearable devices are the next big privacy nightmare

This may not impact premium models, such as those offered by Apple and Samsung, but for others -- including Huawei and Xiaomi -- prices decreasing by roughly 4.5 percent across 2020 and 2021 could bolster spending patterns. 

"While brand leaders, Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch command premium pricing in the smartwatch segment, lower-priced players such as Xiaomi and Huawei will counterbalance high-priced smartwatches with lower cost smartwatches," says Ranjit Atwal, senior research director at Gartner.

CNET: Fitbit stock surges on report that Google parent Alphabet may buy company

While smartwatches and HMDs secure the top positions in terms of spending, likely due to their generally high price points, smartwatches and ear-worn devices secured the highest positions in terms of estimated shipments. 

In 2020, smartwatch shipments are predicted to reach 86 million units, whereas ear-worn gadgets will reach 70 million units worldwide, dominated by Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and Bose. 

According to Gartner, it is not just sliding price points that will influence the market in the future. As our sensors improve and become smaller, so-called "miniaturization" will also spur growth. 

TechRepublic: IDC: Why hearables are the new wearables

Miniaturization of sensors, able to fit in health-related gadgets and smart clothing, will "enable device makers to integrate sensors that can track sleep or medical conditions into wearables that are almost invisible to end-users," the agency says. 

In turn, consumers that are reluctant to use wearable technology which is too conspicuous may be enticed into purchasing new devices. It is expected that by 2023, ten percent of all wearables are predicted to be unobtrusive and difficult to spot. 

IT budgets, cyberattacks, wearables and in-app purchases: Tech research data round-up

Previous and related coverage

• Ear-worn devices are the next wearables battleground, IDC says
  
• Wearables: Fit For Business?
  
• Wearables market evolves in Brazil
  

Have a tip? Get in touch securely via WhatsApp | Signal at +447713 025 499, or over at Keybase: charlie0