IoT Connectivity Market Recovers as Bluetooth Shipments Surge Toward 8.1 Billion by 2030
Event summary
- Bluetooth device shipments forecasted to rise from 5.4 billion in 2025 to 8.1 billion by 2030, driven by smart labels.
- Wi-Fi device shipments expected to increase from 3.8 billion in 2026 to 4.3 billion by 2030.
- UWB device shipments projected to reach nearly 1.18 billion by 2030, up from 597 million in 2026.
- Wi-Fi 8 chipset and platform announcements made by MediaTek, Broadcom, ASUS, and TP-Link.
- RAM shortages anticipated to create planning and pricing challenges for consumer devices in the second half of 2026.
The big picture
The IoT connectivity market is rebounding from supply chain disruptions, with significant growth expected in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB shipments. The shift towards integrated, application-specific platforms highlights the increasing importance of edge AI across consumer, enterprise, and industrial markets. Vendors must navigate memory constraints, pricing pressures, and the need for clearer business cases to capitalize on these trends.
What we're watching
- Technology Integration
- How the integration of low-latency connectivity, ultra-low power design, and on-device intelligence will position vendors in the shifting market.
- Supply Chain Constraints
- Whether RAM shortages will significantly impact pricing and planning for mainstream consumer devices beyond 2026.
- Edge AI Adoption
- The pace at which edge AI applications will drive demand for multi-protocol solutions combining Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 802.15.4.