The Haptic Technology for Mobile Devices Market is estimated to be valued at USD 3.89 Bn in 2024 and exhibit a CAGR of 21.3% over the forecast period 2024-2031. With growing sales of smartphones and gaming culture, haptic technology is gaining traction for its ability to provide an enhanced and immersive user experience.
Market Dynamics:
The growth of the haptic technology for mobile devices market is primarily driven by the rising sales of smartphones and increasing adoption of haptics technology for gaming applications. Smartphone penetration has increased substantially over the past few years with over 5 billion smartphone users globally in 2020. Smartphone OEMs are focusing on integrating innovative haptics solutions to differentiate their products and provide enhanced user interface. Rising demand for more immersive gaming experience is also propelling smartphone manufacturers to adopt advanced haptics to improve gameplay. In addition, the increasing availability of affordable haptic components is encouraging manufacturers to equip mid-range and low-end smartphones with basic haptic feedback capabilities. However, high power consumption associated with haptic actuators remains a key challenge for widespread adoption.
Haptic Technology for Mobile Devices Market Drivers:
Growing Adoption of Smartphones Globally is Driving the Market Growth
The global adoption of smartphones has grown exponentially over the past decade. As per reports, over 6 billion smartphones were shipped globally in 2021. With increasing internet and app usage on smartphones, there is a growing demand for improved user experience. Haptic technology helps enhance the user interface and makes it more interactive by providing tactile feedback. Leading smartphone manufacturers are increasingly incorporating haptic motors and actuators in their premium models to offer an immersive experience to users. As the smartphone installed base continues to increase worldwide, especially in developing markets, it will fuel the demand for haptic technology integrated mobiles.
Increasing Focus on AR/VR Applications is Driving Innovation
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications are gaining widespread usage in gaming, entertainment and education. However, the lack of touch sensation makes the overall experience less realistic. Haptic technology plays a vital role in mimicking real-life touch interactions in AR/VR environments. Leading tech companies are aggressively investing in haptic research to further enrich immersive experiences. For example, headset manufacturers are developing haptic vests and gloves that provide touch feedback. Growing focus on AR/VR coinciding with advancements in haptics will drive its adoption in mobile devices to enhance immersive content. This, in turn, is expected to promote the growth of the haptic technology market for mobile applications over the forecast period.
High Cost of Development Restrains Market Growth
Developing sophisticated haptic actuators and integrating them into mobile devices require extensive R&D and high capital investment. The design complexities associated with miniaturization of components also increase costs. Additionally, haptic motors with precise vibratory feedback demand customized microchip design at the component level, adding to development expenses. This makes haptic-enabled smartphones significantly costlier than regular models, restricting their mass adoption. The high initial costs associated with haptic technology development pose a major challenge, especially for new players and startup firms with limited finances. This acts as a key restraining factor for the market.
Concerns Around Excessive Usage Hampers Adoption
Prolonged haptic feedback from mobile devices through repeated notifications and UI interactions can lead to health issues like hand fatigue and numbness. There are growing concerns among consumers and health experts regarding the long-term effects of excessive haptic usage, especially among children. While manufacturers emphasize controlled application of haptics, misuse cannot be ruled out completely. This acts as a significant psychological barrier in adoption. Additionally, the increased battery drainage from continuous vibration motors is another downside. Such health and practical concerns over extensive haptic functionality discourage certain consumer segments and restrain faster market growth.
Growing Gaming Industry Presents Lucrative Opportunities
Mobile gaming has emerged as one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the global gaming industry in recent years. Haptic feedback plays a vital role in immersing gamers and enhancing the overall gameplay. Leading game developers are incorporating innovative haptics to mimic actions like gunshots, explosions, etc. This improves realism and encourages longer gaming sessions. As the mobile gaming market continues to expand globally with increasing internet usage in developing regions, the demand for next-gen haptic-enabled gaming experiences will rise exponentially. This presents significant growth opportunities for haptic technology suppliers to collaborate with top gaming studios.
Popularity of AR/VR Drives Technology Adoption
As discussed earlier, haptics plays a vital role in improving the realism of VR and AR interactions. While the technology is still at a nascent stage, growing investments in metaverse and immersive computing applications are promoting haptics innovations. Several startups are developing arm exoskeletons, gloves, vests and other haptic devices that apply pressure, vibration, force and motion to generate realistic touch sensations in VR. Leading tech giants like Facebook, Microsoft, Sony are aggressively leveraging haptics to make XR experiences more immersive. As AR/VR adoption increases over the long-run across sectors like gaming, healthcare, education, it will open new application areas for haptic technology providers.
Key Developments:
- January 2023: One Plus, a leading smartphone maker, incorporated AAC technology to create a biometric haptic actuator. This actuator combines sound, light, and other touch sensations to provide users with stronger vibrations.
- December 2022: D-BOX Technologies is a company that specializes in developing and providing motion simulation technology for different industries. collaborated with Track Racer, a renowned gaming platform producer and distributor, to develop high-quality haptic feedback chassis. These chassis offer four degrees of freedom and are priced at around USD 1 million for components.
- June 2022: D-BOX Technologies Inc. is a company that specializes in developing and providing motion simulation technology for different industries. and MILA, the largest institute focusing on deep learning, joined forces in a strategic partnership to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing haptic experiences and boosting productivity.
- January 2022: AAC Technologies is a company known for its expertise in designing and producing advanced acoustic components, such as speakers, receivers, microphones, and haptics, used in a variety of electronic devices. introduced its ultra-wide linear actuator cyber engine, designed to improve the connection between virtual reality and powerful X-axis motors. With robust 560 cubic mm vibration linear motors, it achieves an impressive 120% increase in vibration.
Key Players:
Immersion, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Precision Microdrives Limited, Johnson Electric Holdings Limited, AAC Technologies, Analog Devices, Inc., ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Microchip Technology Inc., Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, Methode Electronics, NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS, SMK ELECTRONICS CORPORATION U.S.A, Visteon Corporation, Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, Synaptics Incorporated, Apple Inc., and Samsung
