Computers Consumer Insights

Trend - Brands in the more designer end of the tech spectrum are releasing products with stretchable and malleable displays. These use AMOLED technology and are built in such a way that they can be twisted and bent without breaking or stopping the image from being displayed.

Insight - Businesses and startups with more niche product ideas often run into barriers when trying to bring a concept product to reality. These barriers can include cost, scale, or simply the feasibility of the product in general. Many such products in the technology space are limited due to physical limitations regarding battery sizes or screen sizes, amongst other potential issues. In order to address these concerns, designer tech brands are creating malleable displays for unique product ideas.

Trend - New applications are being released that automatically categorize and sort SMS messages. These tools determine whether an SMS is work or personal related, spam, or fits into a created subcategory. This is designed to make responding to messages more efficient for individuals.

Insight - Between email, phone calls, text messages, and various other messaging applications, individuals are tasked with keeping track of several aspects of their lives, including professional and private communications, through different forms of text-based messaging. While many of these applications have tools designed to enhance convenience and organization, SMS apps built into phones are often barebones. Brands are looking to improve these applications with smart and AI-based organizing tools.

Trend - Gaming furniture brands are releasing desks with built-in custom computer cases. These compartments reduce cable clutter, improve aesthetics, and further protect the computer from external damage, as they cannot be knocked over or dented.

Insight - While building a custom computer was a hobby previously attributed to the gaming community, it has now become the norm for many more types of consumers, such as content creators, celebrities, professional editors, and more. With such a large market of consumers into DIY computers, brands are looking to innovate products to stand out from competitors. One such innovation targets the traditional custom computer case, instead merging both the case and desk in one with unique designs.

Trend - Computer hardware brands are releasing power supplies with modular designs that enable users to use only the necessary connectors. This saves space and improves aesthetics in custom builds by reducing clutter. Previously exclusive to higher-end PSUs, even budget devices are adopting modularity.

Insight - Consumer technology enthusiasts frequently build their own custom devices, whether as a hobby or as a cost-saving measure compared to buying prebuilt units. When building their own devices, consumers on a budget often prioritize high-performance components, while on the higher-end of the cost spectrum, aesthetics also become an important factor. Hardware brands are trying to appeal to both consumer segments by launching affordable devices with aesthetic benefits.

Trend - Hardware manufacturers are creating laptops with two built-in screens. The added screen enhances productivity when needed, which is valuable for remote or hybrid workers. The second built-in screen also subverts the need for additional displays or accessories, adding convenience and portability.

Insight - Remote and hybrid workers often turn to laptops as their primary devices. Often for simplicity and portability, such as the ability to work in coffee shops, laptops are preferred over desktops for these workers, despite the relative loss to productivity. Brands are now aiming to blend the productivity of desktops with the portability and convenience of laptops in order to better market to these consumers, leading to the creation of laptops with built-in secondary displays.

Trend - Laptop companies are creating devices with Neural Processing Units (NPUs) dedicated to processing artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. These are combined with numerous AI tools built into the software for these devices, resulting in laptops designed for professional AI-accelerated use cases.

Insight - Some of the most promising aspects of the recent increase in AI tools relate to computing efficiency. Most professionals that work on a computer engage with one or more AI services on a daily basis. As a result, these workers, and their respective companies, desire hardware designed for AI workloads, as these would improve overall workplace efficiency. Laptop brands are responding to these pressures with AI-focused NPUs built into laptops for improved AI processing.

Trend - Web3 and gaming brands are creating dedicated gaming consoles for cryptocurrency and NFT-integrated games. These consoles connect to players' crypto wallets to streamline withdrawing or using acquired cryptocurrencies on other platforms, thus increasing the attractiveness of web3 gaming.

Insight - The incorporation of web3 elements in video games is polarizing to gamers, with many either fully embracing or rejecting the field. However, some of the barriers that prevent gamers from engaging with web3 features include complexity, volatility, and security concerns. In an attempt to better address these concerns, reduce barriers to entry, and expand the web3 gaming market, brands are designing easy-to-use hardware with embedded security features.

Trend - Specialty artificial intelligence (AI) companies are launching generative AI tools that simplify website creation. With no coding required by the end user, these tools use an intuitive prompt system which significantly lowers the barrier to entry for website building for businesses and freelancers.

Insight - In the modern era, online presences play pivotal roles in determining the success of a new startup or a freelancer's career. However, these demographics often struggle with the technical skills or financial freedom required to build an online presence. As a direct result of these challenges, services that reduce the barrier to entry for website and online presence creation are gaining popularity. New startups are addressing this demand by leveraging AI to create intuitive web-building tools.

Trend - Hardware manufacturers are creating new gaming consoles designed to be used with wireless Augmented Reality (AR) headsets. These unique handheld devices use head-mounted displays rather than traditional screens, but function like traditional game consoles instead of VR headsets.

Insight - The rapid advancement of metaverse-adjacent technologies, such as VR headsets, has made these devices far more sophisticated and cost-effective. This has led to an increased interest in these technologies from tech-enthusiast consumers looking to try new technologies as early as possible. As a result of these factors, brands in adjacent industries, such as gaming, are repurposing these new technologies to diversify product offerings in their spaces.

Trend - New products are being developed that monitor virtual reality environments and release scents accordingly. These devices store scents via fluid or wax pads, and can custom-mix sources to produce more scent varieties. This is designed to enhance immersion in entertainment or for scent therapy.

Insight - The increase in popularity of metaverse applications spurred upon by new affordable hardware in the space has led to tech-curious consumers wanting to push the boundaries of what is possible in VR. These consumers are drawn to devices that push immersion further, such as haptic feedback wearables or omnidirectional treadmills. However, there is an ever-present desire for more immersion in VR applications. In recognition of this pressure, brands are experimenting with scent-based devices for VR.