
Numbers
validating the massive growth of smart speakers keep pouring in.
The latest tally from Canalys shows first quarter shipments of smart speakers reaching 21 million devices.
The largest
market is now China, with 11 million speakers shipping in the first quarter, with 5 million shipping in the U.S.
China now accounts for 51% of global smart speaker shipments, with the U.S.
dropping to 24% in the first quarter, down from 44% in the last quarter of 2018.
An earlier forecast by the International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that 144 million smart speakers will
ship globally this year, with that number reaching 240 million in 2023, growing 14% a year until then.
Aside from the number of smart speakers hitting the market, the growth rate of the market
is impressive.
For example, the annual growth of Amazon’s line of smart speaker was 85% and continues to lead in market share, accounting for 22% of the global market in the first
quarter.
Google was second (17%), closely followed by Baidu (16%), Alibaba (16%) and Xiaomi (15%).
The growth rate of speakers in China is explosive. The annual growth rate of Xiaomi
was 411% and Alibaba was 204%.
The smart speaker phenomenon is now global.
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