Category
Tech
Delegated Interfaces
Trend cluster
Category
Upgradeable
Tech
Brands are launching tech products designed to be upgraded and repaired by users.
4.3
Trend score
Trend
What is the Upgradeable Tech trend?
Upgradeable Tech: Brands are launching technology products designed to be upgraded by the end-user. This includes laptops, smartphones, and gaming devices. This reduces manufacturing costs and consumer costs by allowing brands to sell single components at lower prices, instead of completely new devices to users who want upgrades.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Upgradeable Tech trend
Consumers are increasingly familiar with technology due to the pandemic and the younger generations growing up surrounded by devices. These consumers often repair and upgrade their own products rather than seek help from repair businesses as a cost-saving measure. As a direct result of this, these consumers are drawn to products designed to be opened and repaired. This creates a demand for businesses to sell individual components and products designed to be opened and modified, with a focus on products not as commonly designed to be repairable and upgradable, such as phones or laptops.
Trend themes
Themes within the Upgradeable Tech trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Upgradable tech
Brands are launching technology products designed to be upgraded by the end-user, leading to a demand for products designed to be opened and modified with a focus on not commonly repairable devices such as phones or laptops.
02
User-upgradable parts
Users increasingly seek products with user-upgradable components such as RAM and storage, driving innovation in products like modular laptops and mini PCs.
03
Dual Ethernet ports
The demand for faster internet speeds and higher network reliability has led to an increase in mini PCs featuring dual Ethernet ports.
Industry implications
What the Upgradeable Tech trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Consumer electronics
Companies producing consumer electronics can utilize upgradable tech to reduce manufacturing costs and consumer costs.
For
Computer hardware
The computer hardware industry can take advantage of the desire for user-upgradable components in products like modular laptops and mini PCs.
For
Networking
The networking industry can explore the demand for faster internet speeds and higher network reliability by producing products like mini PCs with dual Ethernet ports.
Workshop question
How can your brand reduce costs by creating product for the younger tech-familiar generations that can be easily upgraded and modified?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Upgradeable Tech
Trend score 4.3 out of 10, from popularity 61%, activity 53%, freshness 15%.
Popularity61%
Activity53%
Freshness15%
Audience
70%Men
30%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Upgradeable Tech trend
4 featured examples from May 19, 2022 to Apr 11, 2023CategoryTech
Compact Upgradable PCs
MInisforum's EliteMini HX90 Boasts User-Upgradable RAM and Storage
Providing gamers with convenient user-upgradable storage and memory in a compact form factor.
CategoryArt & Design
Accessible Modular Laptops
Framework Announced its Improved Second-Generation Modular Laptop
Consumer electronics companies can benefit from incorporating sustainable and customizable features in their products to appeal to environmentally conscious customers and offer a…
CategoryTech
Dual-Ethernet Mini PCs
The Minisforum NAB6 Has a 12th-Gen Intel Processor and Upgradable Parts
Companies in the computer hardware industry can explore developing high-performance user-upgradeable mini-PCs.
CategoryTech
User-Upgradable Modular Laptops
Framework Announced its 2023 Laptops with Upgradable GPUs
Computer hardware manufacturing industry may adopt user-upgradable and modular designs to create laptops that last longer, reduce electronic waste, and provide customized computin…
