Despite recent AI product flops, start-ups continue to experiment with AI-forward devices. Smart glasses are a key format offering on-the-go AI assistance. Smart rings are also gaining AI features, with some devices swapping wellness tracking for note-taking and gesture control. And other brands are physicalising AI assistants and delivering chatbot convenience without apps or browsers.

As the AI boom accelerates, rising prices for computer chips and RAM storage (both essential for basic laptop functioning) are shaping the personal device market. Some brands are leaning into AI with powerful machines able to run onboard agents – at premium price tags to match. Others are spotlighting (relative) affordability, whether through stripped-back specs or modular repairability.

Global smartphone ownership is expected to reach 95% in 2026, underlining the essential role they’ve assumed in daily routines (GlobalData, 2026). Innovation is transitioning from upgraded specs to new formats and features. From foldable phones boasting tablet-like screens to privacy-focused devices, the next generation of smartphones prioritises features targeted at specific, even niche consumer use cases.

Globally, more than 82% of internet users identify as gamers (Statista, 2025). This broad group is interacting with gaming in varied ways, leading to a boom in adaptable devices like handheld consoles and device-agnostic controllers. Meanwhile, rising interest in neurotech is also entering the gaming sector with tools that help players sharpen their focus and gameplay skills.