Standalone Trackpad Market to Witness Proliferating Demand from Standalone Trackpads for Mac during 2021-2031

Standalone Trackpad Industry Snapshot

Newly-released standalone trackpad industry analysis shows that global demand enjoyed year-on-year (YoY) growth of 12.5% in 2021, to total 7.1 Mn units. Demand for Mac standalone trackpads increased 12.7% to total 1.2 Mn units, while demand for the Windows type was up 12.5% to 5.4 Mn units in 2021.

In the second quarter of 2021, worldwide PC shipments totalled nearly 72 Mn units, up 4.5% from the second quarter of 2020. Although, PC demand was well above pre-COVID levels, owing to the scarcity of semiconductor components, the market witnessed a decline of nearly 35% in Q1 of 2021.

Key Points Covered in Standalone Trackpad Industry Survey:

• Market Estimates (2016-2031) for Standalone Trackpads
• Key Factors Driving and Restraining Demand for Standalone Trackpads
• Segmental Analysis of Standalone Trackpad Industry
• Competition Mapping of Standalone Trackpad Manufacturers
• COVID-19 Impact on Standalone Trackpad Industry and Ways to Navigate
• Recommendation of Key Winning Strategies for Standalone Trackpad Suppliers

Revenue Analysis of Standalone Trackpads from 2016 to 2020 Compared to Demand Outlook for 2021 to 2031

As per the standalone trackpad industry research by Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, historically, from 2016 to 2020, market value showcased steady rise at around 7% CAGR, as the consumer electronics market thrived at a similar pace.

In Asia Pacific, demand for PCs from both, consumers and businesses, remained strong, with 16.5% growth year-over-year. Demand for desktop PCs grew faster than mobile PCs in Asia Pacific, matching global trends. Top 5 vendors of PCs, which includes Lenovo, HP, Dell, Apple, and Acer, posted double digit CAGR in Q1 2021 and collectively accounted for around 78% market share.

As standalone trackpads are accessories, their growth is in parallel with rise in the sales of PCs, laptops, and tablets. Although computer mice are most preferable for PCs as compared to standalone trackpads with pens for desktops, and laptops have their own integrated trackpad, for every 13,000 PCs, laptops, and tablets, there is one unit of standalone trackpad sold.

Standalone touchpads for laptops and PCs as accessories hold penetration of 1.5% to the sales of every unit and are estimated to reach volume demand of 25 Mn units by 2031.

The market for standalone trackpads is expected to expand at a high CAGR of close to 14.5% over the next 10 years, with standalone trackpads considered as one of the best alternatives for pointing devices and increased consumer spending on consumer electronics across developing nations.

How is Growth of Consumer Electronics Industry Nurturing Sales in the Standalone Touchpad Market?

Consumer electronics is a multibillion-dollar sector that is always evolving and improving with technology, as well as adding new product lines to meet changing lifestyles. As a highly competitive business, new competitors are constantly entering the market, particularly from China, which is a global manufacturing hub.

In 2021, the consumer electronics segment is expected to generate US$ 462 Bn in revenue. Revenue is estimated to increase at 4.3% CAGR from 2021 to 2025, resulting in a market valuation of US$ 550 Bn. The number of users in the consumer electronics industry is estimated to reach 2.7 Bn by 2025.

ARPU (average revenue per user) is estimated to be US$ 242 in 2021. In terms of global revenue, China will account for US$ 153 Bn in 2021 and will be the frontrunner in the market. By 2023, online sales will account for 39% of overall market revenue in the consumer electronics industry.

Owing to the aforementioned analysis, consumer electronics will showcase growth in standalone trackpad demand during the assessment period of 2021 to 2031.

What are the Key Influencing Factors Steering Sales of Standalone Trackpads?

Control functions such as sketch up, tap to click, and multi-touch gestures to navigate 3D models like two-finger swipes and pinch-to-zoom to orbit and pan are in high demand in touchpads, as these applications reduce the time required for performing various activities.

Introduction of gesture recognition, which uses sensor-enabled technologies, is evolving in the market rapidly. This feature has also enlarged the size of track pads, which can be an advantage for this market as more working space is available. Technological advancements have always been the backbone for sustainable growth, which is evident in the standalone trackpad demand forecast.

How is the Wireless Rechargeable Standalone Trackpad Market Expected to Expand?

To attract a newer customer base, market players have been involved in unique strategies, one of which is product innovation of wireless standalone trackpads. Introduction of Bluetooth-enabled standalone trackpads has made it easier for consumers to work on the trackpad and carry it around, with it being light in weight and relatively inexpensive.

Wireless rechargeable touchpads for desktops swap the constant wrist movements the consumer makes while clicking and pointing with a mouse for more gesturing, scrolling, and fluid swiping. It's a more comfortable and natural experience that doesn't have any wires. Moreover, consumers get even more surface area on the standalone trackpad, making it one of the potential replacements to other pointing devices.

Why is R&D Vital to Market Consolidation?

Some of the prominent players in the consumer electronics industry are pouring capital into research & development to help improve current electrical technologies and processes, with the goal of increasing efficiency and lowering costs. Apple Inc., for example, has levitated to the top of the industry through substantial research & development.

Developing new prototypes and leveraging technology, wireless standalone trackpad market manufacturers are bound to come up with newer products with value-added attributes.

Which Cons of Standalone Trackpads Create Barriers for Manufacturers?

There are various disadvantages of trackpads, such as the surface of trackpads are a little too sensitive, which sometimes makes it difficult to point at a particular object. Some computer mice have additional features on their sides, which makes it easier to perform specific launch functions that cannot be done with trackpads. Working on spreadsheets is a lot easier with mice in comparison with trackpads.

Recently, there have also been numerous cases of the skin peeling off while using trackpads due to the leakage of chemicals from the glass surface. Standalone glide pads also limit the space available for working on the desk, resulting in having to swipe your finger again and again for reaching the desired position.

These setbacks in attributes make the product not so desirable for a significant number of users, limiting consumer base expansion and leading to drop in revenue generation

Country-wise Analysis

Will Tech-savvy Indian Millennials Provide a Surge in Demand for Standalone Trackpads?

Millennials are one of the largest demographic groups in India, as well as the top salary earners. Millennials are the next generation of talent who have grown up with technology and demand everything to be under their control and at their fingertips.

India sales showcase ample opportunities for manufacturers to expand their geographic base catering to such a densely populated country. Current valuation is estimated to be US$ 13 Mn and is projected to reach nearly US$ 57 Mn for the sales of wireless standalone trackpads in 2031, becoming one of the attractive markets for investors to pour in capital.

Why is China in the Spotlight for Standalone Trackpad Manufacturers?

PC shipments in China increased by more than 10% year-over-year to 14.5 Mn units in the third quarter of 2020. Sales of commercial PCs, which include computers for businesses and government agencies, increased 6.5% year-over-year.

As sales of consumer electronics plays a vital role, the overall market in China is expected to rise at a CAGR of little over 16% and reach a valuation of US$ 146 Mn by 2031, while gaining 191 BPS.

Category-wise Insights

Will Online Platforms Be the Most Preferred Sales Channel for Standalone Trackpads?

Consumer electronics is fast transitioning online as mass market retailers such as Amazon and Flipkart expand their influence, and double-digit growth of little over 15.5% CAGR is expected through the forecast period for online sales of standalone trackpads.

Online platforms account for 45% of all standalone trackpad sales in 2021, and it is evident that the digital channel will dominate sales through its robust framework and ease of purchase attribute.

Will the Its Revenue Share of Mac Devices Increase in the Standalone Trackpad Industry?

Apple's move to in-house Mac processors contributed to the Mac business's record-breaking performance in the second quarter of 2021. Mac revenue increased 70% in Apple's fiscal second quarter to US$ 9.1 Bn, climbing to an all-time quarterly high.

The iPad business grew at a higher rate than any product category, with revenue increasing 79% to US$ 7.8 Bn. Demand fuelled by work-from-home and remote learning has continued to help both, Mac and iPad product sales.

Owing to mounting sales of Macs and iPads, standalone trackpads for Mac as devices are expected to garner an absolute $ opportunity of nearly US$ 357 Mn and projected to grow 4X by 2031

Has COVID-19 Impacted Revenue Generation from Standalone Trackpads?

While PC sales declined in the first quarter of 2020 due to the pandemic, they rebounded in the second quarter. The pandemic led to the sudden requirement for many individuals to work from home, and demand for distance learning resulted in a rise in PC and tablet purchases.

However, standalone trackpads are an accessory, and the availability of cost-effective mice along with disruptions in the supply chain and scarcity of raw materials, led to market loss. The market witnessed a dip of -8% and revenue loss of nearly US$ 30 Mn, while volumes dropped from 6,987 ‘000 units in 2019 to 6,377 ‘000 units in 2020

Competitive Landscape

To increase penetration across profitable areas, the aforementioned players use a combination of new product launches, collaborations and partnerships with significant consumer electronics players such as laptop, desktop, and tablet manufacturers, acquisitions of rising players, and building regional and global distribution networks.

Some of the key developments are:

• In 2021, Logitech International launched a combo trackpad case for Apple’s iPad Pro. This newly launched product comes with options such as click-anywhere trackpad and can get connected to iPads with a smart connector.
•  In 2020, Apple Inc. launched trackpad support to iPadOS. This trackpad comes with advanced features such as multi-touch gestures, which allows users to navigate the entire system fast and smoothly.
• In 2020, Cirque launched a plug-and-play USB trackpad for Microsoft. This newly launched product is the updated version of the TM105065 USB trackpad, and consists of features such as multi-finger gestures and controls.

Similarly, recent developments related to companies offering standalone trackpads have been tracked by the team at Fact.MR, which are available in the full report.

Standalone Trackpad Industry Report Scope

Main Segments Covered in Standalone Trackpad Industry Analysis

• By Device Type

  • Standalone Trackpads for Mac
  • Standalone Trackpads for Windows
  • Others

• By Sales Channel

  • Brand Outlets
  • Electronic Retailers
  • Online Platforms