Mobile Device Sensor Market Worth $1.2 billion at End of 2012

​The ever growing popularity of mobile devices and increasing usage of MEMS sensors are set to drive sales for MEMS sensor vendors. New market intelligence from ABI Research projects the MEMS sensor market in mobile devices will be valued at $1.2 billion by the end of 2012 and reach $2.8 billion in 2017.

“Although mobile device unit shipments are the primary driver for the bulging MEMS sensors market; there are numerous other factors in play propelling MEMS sensor growth in the mobile device sector,” says senior analyst Josh Flood. “Smartphone users expect their device to be intuitive and capable of interacting without pressing a button. Sensors make this possible — from changing the device orientation view to turning or tilting the device whilst playing a game.”

The most common sensor is the accelerometer, enabling devices to switch from a portrait to landscape display by simply turning it. More than 4 out of every 5 smartphones shipped this year will contain an accelerometer and ABI Research estimates 32% of MEMS sensor shipments will be accelerometers in mobile devices. Nevertheless, gyroscopes were the largest portion of the MEMS sensor market in revenue terms and will reach $350 million this year.

MEMS sensors will play a key role with mobile service and application companies. The sensors enable mobile network operators, app designers, and mobile device operating systems to offer better and more interactive features to different mobile devices. Smartphones are the largest market for MEMS sensors in mobile devices. The total annual revenues for sensors will be $1.3 billion by the end of 2012. MEMS sensor revenues for smartphones are forecast to be worth $4.4 billion in 2017. Media tablets were the second largest market for MEMS sensors in mobile devices and are predicted to be almost $835 million in 2017.

The report “Sensors in Mobile Devices and Their Role in Service Enablement” provides further details on MEMS sensors including accelerometer, gyroscopes, magnetometers, altimeters, and microphones. Cameras and imaging sensors are tracked and analyzed separately.  Additional information is also provided by ABI Research’s Mobile Device Enabling Technologies Research Service which analyzes the technology segments affecting growth and segmentation in the global mobile devices marketplace.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.