Consumer technology trends are once again coming from many directions. Sudden shifts in customer preferences, macroeconomic conditions, and technological innovation can quickly catalyze entirely new product strategies for vendors. And within each device category, vendors must account for buying behaviors across different demographics, regions, and technology segments.
A little past the mid-point of 2026, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fueling renewed momentum across wearables, robotics, and connected devices. Other device markets are contending with higher component costs, slower upgrade cycles, and intensifying competition.
Knowing which trends have lasting commercial potential and which face structural headwinds will be critical for technology vendors planning products, partnerships, and investment priorities over the next 6 to 12 months.
Here are six consumer technology trends that ABI Research believes will shape the market.
Table of Contents
1. AI and No-Display Are Redefining the Smart Glasses Market
2. Traditional Gaming Hardware Faces a More Competitive Future
3. Smart Home Connectivity Is More Flexible
4. Consumer Robotics Continue to Add Intelligence and New Automation Capabilities
5. Memory Shortages Are Slowing On-Device AI Growth
6. Smart Rings Move Further into the Mainstream
1. AI and No-Display Are Redefining the Smart Glasses Market
Smart glasses are stepping into a new horizon. Instead of chasing immersive Extended Reality (XR) experiences, technology vendors are increasingly focused on lightweight devices designed for everyday use. AI is shifting the value proposition from entertainment toward contextual assistance, productivity, and hands-free access to information. Improvements in optics, battery life, and form factors make these devices more practical for daily wear.
Augmented Reality (AR) no-display glasses such as Meta Ray-Bans are also expected to experience rapid consumer adoption in the coming years. ABI Research forecasts no-display smart glasses shipments to grow from 3.34 million units in 2025 to more than 32 million by 2030, representing a 57.5% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).
Takeaway for Technology Vendors
The AR market winners are unlikely to be the companies with the most advanced displays. Instead, the market will favor vendors that make smart glasses comfortable enough to wear throughout the day while delivering AI features that solve everyday problems. Reducing discomfort and complexity are the key customer acquisition levers going forward.
2. Traditional Gaming Hardware Faces a More Competitive Future
Gaming consoles benefited from a strong holiday 2025 sales cycle, driven by PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and continued popularity of handheld gaming. However, that momentum may prove difficult to sustain.
Memory shortages are pushing hardware costs higher just as handheld PCs (Steam Deck, Lenovo Design, etc.) and increasingly capable smartphones give consumers more ways to play video games. ABI Research anticipates game console shipments to be muted as a result of higher price points over the next few years.
Takeaway for Technology Vendors
Future game console shipment growth will depend less on selling more consoles and more on keeping players engaged within a unique platform ecosystem. Exclusive content, subscription services, and differentiated gaming experiences will become even more important if replacement cycles continue to lengthen.
3. Smart Home Connectivity Is More Flexible
Smart home devices are no longer tied exclusively to standard Wi Fi and Bluetooth® connectivity. Vendors now have a wider range of wireless technologies suited for different coverage, power, and interoperability requirements. Wi Fi HaLow, Z-Wave Long Range, Zigbee Suzi, and Amazon Sidewalk are extending connectivity over greater distances, while standards like Aliro and Matter continue to simplify device compatibility. ABI Research forecasts smart home device shipments to increase from 1.1 billion in 2026 to 1.4 billion by 2030.
Takeaway for Technology Vendors
Consumers increasingly expect their smart home devices to work together without complicated setup. Supporting multiple connectivity standards is turning into a baseline expectation.
4. Consumer Robotics Continue to Add Intelligence and New Automation Capabilities
ABI Research projects consumer robotics shipments to reach roughly 133 million units by 2030, generating nearly US$34 billion in market value. Robotic vacuums may still dominate shipments, but the opportunity is becoming much broader. New, innovative products combine robotic arms, advanced navigation, climbing capabilities, and AI-powered object recognition to perform a wider range of household tasks (e.g., lawn care). As these systems become more capable, consumers will expect more than simple automation.
Takeaway for Technology Vendors
Robotics hardware is now easier to replicate. Long-term differentiation should be viewed through the lens of perception, navigation, and software, ensuring that robots adapt to more complex household environments with minimal user intervention.
5. Memory Shortages Are Slowing On-Device AI Growth
The ongoing memory crunch is causing a downstream effect on the consumer AI-capable devices market. Hardware economics are a major limiting factor in customer purchase decisions. Higher Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) and storage prices are increasing the cost of AI-enabled smartphones and PCs, making it harder for device Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to convince consumers that fancy features justify an upgrade. Although chipset innovation continues at a rapid pace, ABI Research has lowered its long-term on-device AI chipset shipment outlook as pricing pressures weigh on the market.
Takeaway for Technology Vendors
AI innovation alone will not offset higher component costs. Consumer device OEMs that improve memory efficiency, diversify supply chains, and reduce component dependencies will have greater flexibility to protect margins; they can keep prices under the threshold that consumers are willing to pay.
6. Smart Rings Move Further into the Mainstream
ABI Research forecasts that annual smart ring shipments will increase from 3.15 million units in 2025 to more than 23 million by 2031. Smart rings have quickly moved beyond a niche wearable technology thanks to a growing number of vendors entering the category.
Health and wellness tracking is the prevailing use case for smart rings; expanded technological capabilities and improved battery performance make for an even more compelling case for health-conscious consumers. Important to note, ABI Research sees smart rings establishing themselves alongside smartwatches, rather than competing directly with them.
Takeaway for Technology Vendors
Early consumer curiosity has helped smart rings create their own distinct wearables category. Maintaining growth will hinge on whether vendors can deliver rich health insights that users trust and integrate seamlessly with broader wearable and digital health ecosystems.
Looking Ahead
The biggest story in consumer technology is not the rise of any single device category. It is the convergence of AI, connectivity, and hardware innovation across nearly every consumer product. Concurrently, commercial realities are setting up roadblocks to technology adoption. Component shortages, pricing pressures, and longer replacement cycles are forcing technology providers to be more selective about which eggs are placed in each basket.
Companies that treat these trends as isolated developments risk falling behind more business-savvy competitors. Those that recognize how these markets intersect will be better equipped to prioritize product roadmaps, identify new revenue opportunities, and respond to evolving consumer expectations.
As part of ABI Research’s Smart Living & Consumer Technologies Research Service, our Consumer Technologies Market Data Overview: 3Q 2026 presentation explores these trends and more in a deeper analyst breakdown. Download today
Dimitris Mavrakis