2025
9
US Tech on the Move Consumer Report 2025
2025-02-13T10:01:35+00:00
REP00118AF0_E513_47AA_8434_87629AD67FE3
3695
179480
[{"name":"Technology","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/technology"},{"name":"Market Intelligence Report","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/market-intelligence-reports"},{"name":"US","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/us-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
Americans are highly reliant on tech while on the move, with a third traveling to and from places more often than last year. Even when they wish to disconnect, using…
US
Technology
simple

US Tech on the Move Consumer Report 2025

"To stand apart, brands are transforming gadgets into lifestyle tools that offer personalized experiences, enhancing convenience and wellbeing for those on the go."

Haley Ferrini, Research Analyst – US Reports

Haley Ferrini, Research Analyst – US Reports

Americans are highly reliant on tech while on the move, with a third traveling to and from places more often than last year. Even when they wish to disconnect, using devices during commutes is second nature – like relying on navigation apps for familiar routes. For most, staying connected outweighs the desire to unplug.

This reliance on tech extends to audio devices, where premium features like noise cancelation and immersive sound are now accessible across a range of budgets. As the market grows more competitive, brands are repositioning audio products as lifestyle tools that offer more than just entertainment – supporting productivity, convenience, and wellbeing throughout daily routines.

This Report explores how consumers use technology on the go, exploring how urban living, work demands, and emerging tech shape travel habits. It highlights the growing role of portable audio devices in enhancing commutes and uncovers key trends shaping consumer preferences and purchasing decisions.

This report looks at the following areas:

  • How consumers get around
  • Device usage while traveling from place to place
  • How consumers use tech devices while on the go
  • Consumer preferences and usage patterns of headphones/earphones
  • Consumer preferences and usage patterns of portable speakers
  • How competitors are shifting to market products as lifestyle tools, not just entertainment devices
Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Market predictions
    • What consumers want & why
    • Opportunities
  2. MARKET DYNAMICS

    • Market context
    • Consumer sentiment reached an eight-month high
    • Graph 1: consumer sentiment index, 2022-24
    • Nearly 45% of consumers have seen their financial situations change for the better in the past year
    • Graph 2: change in financial situation over the past 12 months, 2023 and 2024
    • Household’s financial improvements are strongly tied to income growth
    • Graph 3: income growth over the past 12 months, by change in financial situation, 2024
    • Households’ outlooks on their personal finances remains bullish
    • Graph 4: opinions on financial future, 2024
    • Graph 5: income growth in the past 12 months, by financial outlook, 2024
    • Market drivers
    • Companies implement stricter return-to-work policies
    • Tech industry braces for price hikes amid proposed tariffs
    • TikTok’s uncertainty pushes American to find content elsewhere
    • Audio content is on the rise
  3. CONSUMER INSIGHTS

    • Consumer fast facts
    • How consumers get around
    • Personal vehicles drive the way
    • Personal vehicles lead, but alternatives gain momentum
    • Graph 6: how one typically goes from one place to another, 2024
    • Men lead in transit variety
    • Graph 7: how one typically goes from one place to another, by gender, 2024
    • Black consumers go beyond the driver’s seat
    • Graph 8: how one typically goes from one place to another (select), overall vs Black consumers, 2024
    • Travel on the rise for a third of consumers
    • Graph 9: amount of travel between places compared to a year ago, 2024
    • Younger and middle-aged men are on the go
    • Graph 10: traveling to and from places more often, by age and gender, 2024
    • Device usage
    • Consumers are tuning in
    • Graph 11: device usage when traveling from one place to another, 2024
    • It’s gadget galore for men on the go
    • Graph 12: device usage when traveling from one place to another, by gender, 2024
    • Men are all about that bass
    • Earbuds: where style meets sound, or sound meets style?
    • Graph 13: in-ear earphones/buds usage when traveling from one place to another, by age and gender, 2024
    • Smartphones reign supreme as the audio source for budget buyers
    • Graph 14: the primary source of my audio content (eg music, talk content) is my smartphone (% agree), by household income, 2024
    • How consumers use tech while getting around
    • Commuters are b-b-bumping that beat
    • Graph 15: activities done while traveling between places, 2024
    • Consumers are listening to music while on the go
    • Graph 16: activities done while traveling between places, by age, 2024
    • Turning commutes into clicks
    • Graph 17: activities done while traveling between places (select), overall vs transit users, 2024
    • Growing awareness surrounding digital security
    • It’s better to be safe than sorry
    • Men use travel time for work, audiobooks, and gaming
    • Graph 18: working, listening to audiobooks, and playing video games while traveling between places, by gender, 2024
    • Women are connecting on the commute
    • Graph 19: talking on the phone/video call while traveling from one place to another, by age and gender, 2024
    • Half of consumers want a tech timeout
    • Graph 20: “I try to ‘disconnect’ from technology while traveling from place to place” (% agree), by age, 2024
    • Tech dependency persists despite consumer desire to unplug
    • Graph 21: “I rely on technology to keep me busy while traveling from place to place” (% agree), by age, 2024
    • Younger Americans rely on navigation apps
    • Graph 22: “I prefer to use maps (eg Apple Maps, Waze) even when I know how to get where I am going” (% agree), by age, 2024
    • Headphones & earphones
    • Bluetooth beats the tangle
    • Graph 23: features on primary headphones/earphones, 2024
    • Younger men have headphones built for action
    • Graph 24: internal memory storage for current headphones/earphones, by age and gender, 2024
    • Graph 25: sweat/water resistant feature of current headphones/earphones, by age and gender, 2024
    • Earbuds for the ages: function or fashion?
    • Graph 26: importance of factors when shopping for headphones/earphones (select), by age, 2024
    • Sound quality reigns supreme
    • Wireless is a given … now make it sound great
    • Graph 27: importance of factors when shopping for headphones/earphones, 2024
    • Affordable sound for the on-the-go generations
    • Graph 28: “I prefer buying low-priced headphones/earphones in case I lose/damage them”, by age, 2024
    • Earbuds tailored for her, please
    • Graph 29: importance of fit/comfort and brand when shopping for headphones/earphones, by gender, 2024
    • Men 18-54 and women 55+ heard it through the grapevine
    • Graph 30: importance of recommendations from family/friends when shopping for headphones/earphones, by age and gender, 2024
    • Hybrid workers are tuned in
    • Graph 31: “I often use headphones/earphones while I am at home” (% agree), by work from home status, 2024
    • Portable speakers
    • Sound and price shape speaker choices
    • Graph 32: importance of factors of when shopping for a portable speaker, 2024
    • No car? No problem – take your sound anywhere
    • Speakers are on the move! … especially from room to room
    • Graph 33: “I usually move my portable speaker to different rooms as needed (ie instead of buying speakers for each room)” (% agree), by age, 2024
    • JBL makes on-the-go sound easy
    • Sound comes first for older consumers
    • Graph 34: importance of sound quality when shopping for a portable speaker, by age, 2024
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES

    • Launch activity and innovation
    • New Bluetooth feature, Auracast, has potential to revolutionize how audio is shared
    • Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 include a new hearing aid feature
    • Neurable releases productivity-tracking headphones
    • Dolby Atmos expands immersive audio capabilities in auto and home
    • Ray-Ban and Meta’s smart glasses aim to capture more than just looks
    • Marketing and advertising
    • Marshall showcases how sound can be on the move via portable speaker
    • Brands utilize celebrity collabs to strengthen cultural relevancy and reach across female consumers
    • Samsung promotes AI integration as a way to connect across language barriers
    • JBL launches an influencer program, working with college athletes to reach younger consumers
    • Apple’s annual holiday ad promotes hearing health features with an accessibility storyline
    • Shokz’s strategy to empower female runners
    • Bose amplifies its reach with star-studded campaign
  5. APPENDIX

    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
    • Abbreviations and terms

Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel

The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:

  • Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
  • Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
  • Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
  • Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.

What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?

Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.

The Four Pillars of Our Research

We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:

  • Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
  • Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
  • Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
  • Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.

Bringing It All Together

Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.

Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.

£ 3,695 (Excl.Tax)
  • Pay via credit card or invoice
  • PDF, PPT and Excel download delivered instantly
  • Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports

Need help before you buy?

Our research specialists can answer your questions and recommend the reports that best match your business needs.

Contact us

Trusted by global industry leaders

Epsilon logo

We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.

By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.

For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.

Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
Wincanton logo

When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.

They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.

So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.

Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
VML logo

We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.

Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.

Marie Stafford, European Director, The Innovation Group, VML
Jackman logo

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
Tenth Wave logo

Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.

When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.

The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.

Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave

Need help before you buy?

Our research specialists can answer your questions and recommend the reports that best match your business needs.

Contact us