Smart Speaker and Audio Device Statistics 2026
This page collects figures on the audio devices people use every day and how they listen on them: smart speaker ownership in the US and UK, smart speaker and home audio sales, earbud and headphone shipments, podcast and online audio reach, and the hearing test and hearing aid features now built into consumer earbuds. Sources are survey firms and research centers (Edison Research, Pew Research Center, the Reuters Institute, National Public Media), market trackers (Omdia, IDC), company disclosures (Amazon, Apple, Sonos, Spotify, YouTube) and public health agencies (FDA, NIDCD, WHO). Most figures describe 2025 and 2026. A few voice assistant and baseline figures date from 2019 to 2024 and are labeled with their year.
By the HearSmart research desk · Updated November 7, 2026 · 52 numbers drawn from 22 publishers and reports
Short answer
39% of Americans aged 12 and older, about 112 million people, owned a smart speaker in 2026, and 45% of UK adults did in 2025, according to Edison Research. Earbuds dominate audio hardware: Omdia counted 82.1 million true wireless earbuds and 108 million smart personal audio units shipped in Q2 2026, and IDC says earwear made up 64.9% of all wearables shipped. Podcast reach hit a record 58% of Americans monthly (Edison), and since the FDA authorized Apple's AirPods Pro hearing aid software in 2024, mainstream earbuds now double as over-the-counter hearing aids.
Headline numbers
- 39%39% of Americans aged 12 and older owned a smart speaker in January 2026, the biggest one-year gain since 2021, according to Edison Research.Edison Research
- 45%45% of people in the UK aged 16 and older owned at least one smart speaker in 2025, up from 25% in 2021, according to Edison Research's Infinite Dial UK.Edison Research
- 108 millionWorldwide smart personal audio shipments, which include earbuds and headphones, were broadly flat at 108 million units in Q2 2026, according to Omdia.Omdia
- 82.1 millionGlobal true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud shipments fell 0.7% year over year to 82.1 million units in Q2 2026, the first annual decline since Q2 2023, according to Omdia.Omdia
- 64.9%Earwear such as earbuds and headphones made up 64.9% of global wearable shipments in Q2 2026 and grew 5.4% year over year, IDC reports.IDC
- 58%58% of Americans aged 12 and older, about 167 million people, listened to or watched a podcast in the past month in early 2026, an all-time high in Edison Research's tracking.Edison Research
- 1 billionYouTube says it had more than 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content worldwide as of January 2025.YouTube
- 118The FDA's 2024 authorization of the first over-the-counter hearing aid software, for AirPods Pro, was based on a clinical study of 118 people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss at several US sites.U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Reading the numbers
Smart speakers are a mature but not shrinking category. Edison Research found US ownership stuck between 33% and 36% from 2021 to 2025, then rising to 39% of people 12+ in 2026, about 112 million Americans. The UK passed the US along the way, reaching 45% of adults 16+ in 2025 with Amazon Alexa devices in 37% of that population. On the supply side, Omdia counted 27.2 million smart speakers shipped worldwide in the second half of 2025, up 4.6%, and Amazon says more than 600 million Alexa devices are in use as it moves owners to its paid Alexa+ assistant.
Earbuds and headphones are a far bigger market. IDC says earwear was 64.9% of about 148 million wearables shipped in Q2 2026, and Omdia counts 108 million smart personal audio units in the same quarter. Unit growth has flattened, with true wireless shipments down 0.7% to 82.1 million, but revenue rose 9% as buyers paid more per pair. Open-ear designs are the growth segment, up 12% to 11.1 million units, and Omdia expects them to reach 90.5 million a year by 2030.
What people do with these devices is increasingly spoken word. Edison Research finds 58% of Americans consumed a podcast in the past month in 2026, and Pew puts past-year podcast listening at 54% of adults, with 67% among those 18 to 29. Podcasts are now a video format too: YouTube reports more than 1 billion monthly podcast viewers, and Edison finds 57% of Americans have both listened to and watched one. Podcasts also took 40% of US spoken word listening time in Edison's 2026 Share of Ear study.
The newest change is hearing care inside consumer earbuds. The FDA authorized Apple's over-the-counter Hearing Aid Feature for AirPods Pro in September 2024 after a 118 person study, and Apple's validation found its earbud hearing test agreed with clinical grading 86.4% of the time. NIDCD estimates 28.8 million US adults could benefit from hearing aids while only about 16% of working-age adults who could benefit have used them, so earbuds people already own could close part of that gap. These features are designed for adults with perceived mild to moderate loss.
Smart speaker ownership in the US and UK
- 1.
39% of Americans aged 12 and older owned a smart speaker in January 2026, the biggest one-year gain since 2021, according to Edison Research.
Edison Research, The Power of Audio 2026 (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Smart speaker ownership saw its largest gain this past year since 2021, jumping up to 39%, a 4% increase in only a year.
- 2.
Edison Research estimates that about 112 million Americans aged 12 and older owned a smart speaker in 2026.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026 (presentation) (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Estimated 112 Million Smart Speaker Ownership
- 3.
Among Americans aged 16 and older, smart speaker ownership rose only from 33% in 2021 to 35% in 2025, Edison Research found.
Edison Research, UK Smart Speaker Ownership Outpaces U.S. (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The rate of smart speaker ownership in the U.S. has plateaued, only increasing from 33% in 2021 to 35% in 2025.
- 4.
45% of people in the UK aged 16 and older owned at least one smart speaker in 2025, up from 25% in 2021, according to Edison Research's Infinite Dial UK.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial UK 2025 (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Smart speaker ownership showed massive increases in the past four years, with 45% of the 16+ population now owning a smart speaker, up from 25% four years ago.
- 5.
37% of UK adults aged 16 and older owned an Amazon Alexa device in 2025, compared with 16% for Google Home and 5% for Apple HomePod.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial UK 2025 (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Ownership of each smart speaker brand has doubled or nearly doubled in the last four years: 37% of those in the UK ages 16+ own an Amazon Alexa, up from 19% in 2021, 16% own a Google Home, up from 7% in 2021, and 5% own an Apple HomePod, up from 2% in 2021.
- 6.
Amazon says there are more than 600 million Alexa devices in use worldwide as of its July 2026 update.
Amazon, Introducing Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
There are over 600 million Alexa devices out there today, which customers already use to play music, watch videos, and manage their smart homes.
- 7.
Amazon prices its generative AI assistant Alexa+ at $19.99 per month and includes it at no extra cost for Prime members.
Amazon, Introducing Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Alexa+ costs $19.99 per month, but all Amazon Prime members get it for free .
- 8.
In the NPR and Edison Research Smart Audio Report for winter 2019, 24% of US adults, about 60 million people, owned at least one smart speaker. This is an older baseline figure.
National Public Media, The Smart Audio Report (Jun 2022)
Exact wording at the source
The Winter 2019 Smart Audio Report confirmed continued growth in the smart speaker market with 24% of U.S. adults — 60M people — owning at least one smart speaker device.
Chart
UK smart speaker ownership by brand, % of adults 16+, 2025
Edison Research Infinite Dial UK 2025, people in the UK aged 16+.
- Amazon Alexa37%
- Google Home16%
- Apple HomePod5%
Source: Edison Research, The Infinite Dial UK 2025
Smart speaker market and voice assistant use
- 9.
Global smart speaker shipments rose 4.6% year on year to 27.2 million units in the second half of 2025, according to Omdia.
Omdia, Smart speaker model-level shipment estimates 1H26 (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Global smart speaker shipments returned to growth in 2H25, rising 4.6% year on year to 27.2 million units, while ASP improved to $108 from the $98 of 1H25.
- 10.
The average selling price of smart speakers rose to $108 in the second half of 2025, from $98 in the first half, Omdia reports.
Omdia, Smart speaker model-level shipment estimates 1H26 (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Global smart speaker shipments returned to growth in 2H25, rising 4.6% year on year to 27.2 million units, while ASP improved to $108 from the $98 of 1H25.
- 11.
Sonos says more than 17 million households in over 60 countries use its home audio systems, as of its fiscal 2025 results.
Sonos, Sonos Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2025 Results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1) (Nov 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Known for exceptional sound, thoughtful design, ease of use and seamless access to the world’s audio content, Sonos is trusted by more than 17 million households in 60+ countries around the world.
- 12.
Sonos reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $1,443.3 million, down from fiscal 2024.
Sonos, Sonos Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2025 Results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1) (Nov 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights (unaudited) ● Revenue of $1,443.3 million
- 13.
Sonos revenue grew 13% year over year in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, which ended in September 2025.
Sonos, Sonos Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2025 Results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1) (Nov 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Q4 Revenue grew +13% year over year, near high end of guidance range
- 14.
62% of US adults aged 18 and older used a voice assistant on any device, including smart speakers, phones and cars, in 2022.
National Public Media, The Smart Audio Report (Jun 2022)
Exact wording at the source
62% of Americans 18+ use a voice assistant on any device, including smart speakers, smartphones, in-car systems and more.
- 15.
57% of US voice command users said they used voice commands daily in 2022.
National Public Media, The Smart Audio Report (Jun 2022)
Exact wording at the source
57% of voice command users use voice commands daily in 2022.
- 16.
53% of US smart speaker owners who had heard an ad on their device said they were likely to respond to smart speaker ads, according to the 2022 Smart Audio Report.
National Public Media, The Smart Audio Report (Jun 2022)
Exact wording at the source
53% of smart speaker owners who have heard an ad on their device say they are likely to respond to ads on their smart speaker.
Headphone and earbud shipments
- 17.
Worldwide smart personal audio shipments, which include earbuds and headphones, were broadly flat at 108 million units in Q2 2026, according to Omdia.
Omdia, Smart personal audio market snapshot for 2Q26 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Worldwide smart personal audio shipments were broadly flat in 2Q26 at 108 million units, while revenue grew 9% year-over-year (YoY).
- 18.
Smart personal audio revenue grew 9% year over year in Q2 2026 even though units were flat, Omdia reports.
Omdia, Smart personal audio market snapshot for 2Q26 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Worldwide smart personal audio shipments were broadly flat in 2Q26 at 108 million units, while revenue grew 9% year-over-year (YoY).
- 19.
Global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud shipments fell 0.7% year over year to 82.1 million units in Q2 2026, the first annual decline since Q2 2023, according to Omdia.
Omdia, Omdia: OWS shipments grow 12% as TWS market remains broadly flat in 2Q26 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Global true wireless stereo (TWS) shipments fell 0.7% year-over-year (YoY) to 82.1 million units in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest data from Omdia, marking the first YoY decline since 2Q23.
- 20.
TWS shipments in mainland China, the largest market, fell 9.5% in Q2 2026 as consumer electronics subsidies faded.
Omdia, Omdia: OWS shipments grow 12% as TWS market remains broadly flat in 2Q26 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Mainland China, the world’s largest TWS market, accounted for much of the decline, with shipments falling 9.5% as the boost from broader consumer electronics stimulus faded and replacement demand was partly pulled forward into 2025.
- 21.
Open-ear wireless (OWS) shipments grew 12% to 11.1 million units in Q2 2026, raising their share of all TWS shipments to 13.5%.
Omdia, Omdia: OWS shipments grow 12% as TWS market remains broadly flat in 2Q26 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Omdia estimates that conventional TWS shipments declined 2% in 2Q26, while OWS shipments grew 12% to 11.1 million units, increasing OWS share of total TWS shipments to 13.5% from 12.0% a year earlier.
- 22.
Clip-on designs made up 61% of open-ear shipments in Q2 2026, and ear-hook models made up the other 39%.
Omdia, Omdia: OWS shipments grow 12% as TWS market remains broadly flat in 2Q26 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Clip-on OWS accounted for 61% of total shipments, supported by growing consumer interest in their use as both audio devices and fashion accessories.
- 23.
Omdia forecasts annual open-ear shipments to rise from 43.9 million units in 2026 to 90.5 million in 2030, nearly one in five TWS shipments.
Omdia, Omdia: OWS shipments grow 12% as TWS market remains broadly flat in 2Q26 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Annual OWS shipments are forecast to increase from 43.9 million units in 2026 to 90.5 million units by 2030, representing nearly one in five TWS shipments.
- 24.
About 148 million wearable devices shipped worldwide in Q2 2026, up 2.7% year over year, according to IDC.
IDC, Wearable Devices Market Insights (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Worldwide wearable device shipments reached about 148 million units in Q2 2026, up 2.7% year over year and 1.5% quarter over quarter, according to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker.
- 25.
Earwear such as earbuds and headphones made up 64.9% of global wearable shipments in Q2 2026 and grew 5.4% year over year, IDC reports.
IDC, Wearable Devices Market Insights (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
It accounted for 64.9% of shipments and grew 5.4% year over year.
- 26.
Apple led the global earwear category with a 17.2% unit share in Q2 2026, according to IDC.
IDC, Wearable Devices Market Insights (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Apple led earwear with 17.2% share.
- 27.
51% of people in the UK aged 16 and older, about 25 million, owned wireless headphones in 2025, almost double the 2021 number.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial UK 2025 (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
51% of those in the UK ages 16+ (25 million people) own wireless headphones, almost double the number from 2021
Chart
Share of global wearable shipments by category, Q2 2026
IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, unit share; glasses and rings not shown.
- Earwear64.9%
- Smartwatches25%
- Wrist bands7.4%
Source: IDC, Wearable Devices Market Insights
Podcast listening
- 28.
58% of Americans aged 12 and older, about 167 million people, listened to or watched a podcast in the past month in early 2026, an all-time high in Edison Research's tracking.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026 Released by Edison Research at SSRS with support from SiriusXM Media (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
58% of Americans age 12+ (167 million) have consumed a podcast in the last month, also an all-time high
- 29.
45% of Americans aged 12 and older, about 130 million, consumed a podcast in the past week in early 2026.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026 Released by Edison Research at SSRS with support from SiriusXM Media (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
45% of Americans age 12+ (130 million) have consumed a podcast in the last week – yet another all-time high for podcast consumption
- 30.
57% of Americans aged 12 and older have both listened to and watched a podcast, according to Edison Research's 2026 survey.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026 Released by Edison Research at SSRS with support from SiriusXM Media (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Among Americans age 12+, 57% have both listened to and watched a podcast
- 31.
39% of people in the UK aged 16 and older, about 19 million, consumed a podcast each week in 2025, close to the US figure of 41%.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial UK 2025 (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
39% of those in the UK ages 16+ have consumed a podcast in the last week compared with 41% of those in the U.S.
- 32.
54% of US adults said they had listened to a podcast in the past 12 months in Pew Research Center's 2025 survey, up from 49% in 2022.
Pew Research Center, Podcasts and News Fact Sheet (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Just over half of U.S. adults (54%) say they’ve listened to a podcast in the past 12 months, a slight increase since we first asked this in 2022 (49%).
- 33.
67% of US adults aged 18 to 29 listened to a podcast in the past 12 months in 2025, about twice the share of adults 65 and older (33%).
Pew Research Center, Podcasts and News Fact Sheet (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Younger people are far more likely to listen to podcasts, with 67% of those ages 18 to 29 saying they listened to a podcast in the past 12 months, about twice the share of those ages 65 and older (33%).
- 34.
32% of US adults said they get news from podcasts at least sometimes in 2025, including 10% who do so often.
Pew Research Center, Podcasts and News Fact Sheet (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
When it comes to news specifically, around a third of U.S. adults (32%) say they get news from podcasts at least sometimes, including 10% who say they do this often.
- 35.
15% of people in the United States accessed one or more news podcasts in the past week in 2025, among the highest shares of any market surveyed by the Reuters Institute.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Digital News Report 2025: Executive summary (Jun 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The United States has among the highest proportion (15%) accessing one or more podcasts in the last week, with many of these now filmed and distributed via video platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.
- 36.
YouTube says it had more than 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content worldwide as of January 2025.
YouTube, Celebrating 1 billion monthly podcast users on YouTube (Feb 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Today, we’re announcing that there are more than 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content on YouTube .
- 37.
Spotify lists 8 million podcast titles in its catalog, alongside more than 100 million music tracks.
Spotify, About Spotify (2026)
Exact wording at the source
Today, more listeners than ever can discover, manage and enjoy over 100 million tracks, 8 million podcast titles, and 800,000 audiobooks in select markets on Spotify.
Chart
US adults who listened to a podcast in the past 12 months by age, 2025
Pew Research Center survey of US adults, 2025.
- All adults54%
- 18 to 2967%
- 30 to 4962%
- 50 to 6450%
- 65+33%
Source: Pew Research Center, Podcasts and News Fact Sheet
Online audio and listening time
- 38.
81% of Americans aged 12 and older, about 233 million people, listened to online audio in the past month in 2026, and 76% listened in the past week.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026 Released by Edison Research at SSRS with support from SiriusXM Media (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
81% of Americans age 12+ (233 million) listened to online audio in the last month, and 76% (219 million) listened in the last week
- 39.
Monthly online audio listening among Americans aged 55 and older rose from 52% in 2024 to 70% in 2026.
Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026 Released by Edison Research at SSRS with support from SiriusXM Media (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Monthly online audio listening among this group jumped from 52% in 2024 to 70% in 2026, a gain of nearly 20 percentage points in just two years
- 40.
Podcasts took a 40% share of US spoken word audio listening time in Edison Research's 2026 Share of Ear study, narrowly ahead of radio.
Edison Research, The Power of Audio 2026 (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Edison Research at SSRS’s 2026 Share of Ear found that podcasting is now the #1 platform by share of spoken word listening, narrowly surpassing radio with a 40% share.
- 41.
Viewers watched more than 400 million hours of podcasts a month on living room devices such as TVs during 2024, according to YouTube.
YouTube, Celebrating 1 billion monthly podcast users on YouTube (Feb 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Last year, viewers watched over 400M hours of podcasts monthly on living room devices.
- 42.
Spotify reports 788 million users, including 306 million subscribers, in 184 markets.
Spotify, About Spotify (2026)
Exact wording at the source
We are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with 788 million users, including 306 million subscribers, in 184 markets.
Hearing features in consumer audio devices
- 43.
The FDA's 2024 authorization of the first over-the-counter hearing aid software, for AirPods Pro, was based on a clinical study of 118 people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss at several US sites.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
The HAF was evaluated in a clinical study with 118 subjects with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, at multiple U.S. sites.
- 44.
The FDA notes that more than 30 million American adults report some degree of hearing loss.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
More than 30 million American adults report some degree of hearing loss.
- 45.
Apple says its Apple Hearing Study found 75% of people diagnosed with hearing loss had not received the assistive support they need.
Apple, Apple introduces groundbreaking health features to support conditions impacting billions of people (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
In fact, the Apple Hearing Study revealed that 75 percent of people diagnosed with hearing loss haven’t received the assistive support that they need.
- 46.
Apple planned to launch its AirPods Pro Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features in more than 100 countries and regions, including the US, Germany and Japan.
Apple, Apple introduces groundbreaking health features to support conditions impacting billions of people (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are expected to receive marketing authorization from global health authorities soon, and will be available this fall in more than 100 countries and regions, including the U.S., Germany, and Japan.
- 47.
In Apple's clinical validation, the AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Test matched the reference audiogram with a median absolute deviation of 1.81 dB HL.
Apple, Hearing Health Features on AirPods Pro 2 (Oct 2024)
Exact wording at the source
The overall MAD of 4PTA between the REF and HTF was 1.81 dBHL, with a 95 percent confidence interval of (1.49, 2.30).
- 48.
The AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Test put people in the same WHO hearing loss grade as a clinical test 86.4% of the time, based on the better-hearing ear, according to Apple's validation study.
Apple, Hearing Health Features on AirPods Pro 2 (Oct 2024)
Exact wording at the source
Overall percent agreement = 171/198 = 86.4 percent (95 percent CI: 80.8 percent, 90.8 percent).
- 49.
AirPods Pro 3, released in 2025, last up to 10 hours per charge in Transparency mode, which Hearing Aid users rely on, a 67% increase over the previous model.
Apple, Introducing AirPods Pro 3, the ultimate audio experience (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
AirPods Pro 3 also increase battery life in Transparency mode by 67 percent over the previous generation with up to 10 hours with a single charge.
- 50.
About 28.8 million US adults could benefit from using hearing aids, according to NIDCD.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, and Dizziness (2024)
Exact wording at the source
About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.
- 51.
Only about 16% of US adults aged 20 to 69 who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them, NIDCD reports.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, and Dizziness (2024)
Exact wording at the source
Even fewer adults ages 20-69 (approximately 16%) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.
- 52.
Over 5% of the world's population, about 430 million people, need rehabilitation for disabling hearing loss, according to WHO.
World Health Organization, Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Over 5% of the world’s population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address their disabling hearing loss (including 34 million children).
Questions readers ask
- What percentage of Americans own a smart speaker?
- 39% of Americans aged 12 and older owned a smart speaker in early 2026, about 112 million people, according to Edison Research's Infinite Dial. Ownership had been flat at 33% to 36% from 2021 to 2025 before this rise.
- Do more people in the UK own smart speakers than in the US?
- Yes. Edison Research found 45% of UK adults 16+ owned a smart speaker in 2025, compared with 35% of Americans 16+. Amazon Alexa leads in the UK at 37%, followed by Google Home at 16% and Apple HomePod at 5%.
- How many wireless earbuds are sold each year?
- Omdia counted 82.1 million true wireless earbuds shipped worldwide in Q2 2026 alone, down 0.7% from a year earlier. Including headphones and other smart personal audio, Omdia's quarterly total was 108 million units, and IDC says earwear makes up 64.9% of all wearable shipments.
- How many people listen to podcasts?
- Edison Research finds 58% of Americans 12+ consumed a podcast in the past month in 2026 and 45% in the past week. Pew Research Center reports 54% of US adults listened to a podcast in the past 12 months in 2025, and YouTube says it has more than 1 billion monthly podcast viewers worldwide.
- Can AirPods be used as hearing aids?
- Yes, for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. The FDA authorized Apple's Hearing Aid Feature for AirPods Pro in September 2024 as the first over-the-counter hearing aid software, based on a study of 118 people, and it now runs on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3.
- Are smart speaker sales growing?
- Slightly. Omdia reports global smart speaker shipments rose 4.6% year on year to 27.2 million units in the second half of 2025, with average prices up to $108. Amazon says more than 600 million Alexa devices are in use worldwide.
Where these numbers come from
We used primary sources only: survey publishers (Edison Research, including its Infinite Dial US and UK studies and Share of Ear, National Public Media's Smart Audio Report with Edison, Pew Research Center, the Reuters Institute), market trackers (Omdia, IDC), company disclosures (Amazon, Apple, Sonos through its SEC filing, Spotify, YouTube) and public health bodies (FDA, NIDCD, WHO). Survey bases differ: Edison US uses people 12+, Edison UK people 16+, Pew and NPR adults 18+, and the Reuters Institute online samples, so percentages are not directly comparable. Edison's podcast questions include watching video podcasts from 2025 onward. Omdia and IDC define categories differently (smart personal audio, true wireless, earwear), so their unit totals should not be added. Company figures such as Alexa devices, Sonos households and Spotify users are self-reported global counts. Voice assistant figures from the 2022 Smart Audio Report are the latest that study has published. Each quote was checked against the source page on the update date. We store the sentence each number appears in, and a script loads the publisher's page again to make sure that sentence is still there. Our methodology has the details.
Sources
- Amazon. Introducing Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa (Jul 2026).
- Apple. Apple introduces groundbreaking health features to support conditions impacting billions of people (Sep 2024).
- Apple. Hearing Health Features on AirPods Pro 2 (Oct 2024).
- Apple. Introducing AirPods Pro 3, the ultimate audio experience (Sep 2025).
- Edison Research. The Power of Audio 2026 (Jun 2026).
- Edison Research. The Infinite Dial 2026 (presentation) (Mar 2026).
- Edison Research. UK Smart Speaker Ownership Outpaces U.S. (May 2025).
- Edison Research. The Infinite Dial UK 2025 (May 2025).
- Edison Research. The Infinite Dial 2026 Released by Edison Research at SSRS with support from SiriusXM Media (Mar 2026).
- IDC. Wearable Devices Market Insights (Oct 2026).
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, and Dizziness (2024).
- National Public Media. The Smart Audio Report (Jun 2022).
- Omdia. Smart speaker model-level shipment estimates 1H26 (Apr 2026).
- Omdia. Smart personal audio market snapshot for 2Q26 (Sep 2026).
- Omdia. Omdia: OWS shipments grow 12% as TWS market remains broadly flat in 2Q26 (Sep 2026).
- Pew Research Center. Podcasts and News Fact Sheet (Sep 2025).
- Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Digital News Report 2025: Executive summary (Jun 2025).
- Sonos. Sonos Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2025 Results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1) (Nov 2025).
- Spotify. About Spotify (2026).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software (Sep 2024).
- World Health Organization. Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026).
- YouTube. Celebrating 1 billion monthly podcast users on YouTube (Feb 2025).
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HearSmart. (2026, November 7). Smart Speaker and Audio Device Statistics 2026. https://hearsmart.org/smart-speaker-and-audio-device-statistics
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