We just completed a survey on holiday buying trends, and the tech product in the highest demand are wireless Bluetooth headsets.
In August, I pointed out that Apple wants to take a leadership role and move everyone to wireless gadgets in the near future. Apple has a history of driving the industry, and this move seems like another one in which Cupertino could play a key role.
As I mentioned in that article, I have not used a wired headset with my iPad, iPhones, or various Android devices for years. Since all have Bluetooth wireless radios, it just made sense, at least to me, to cut the cords and only use wireless headsets for music or phone calls. I still have a lot of wired headsets of some type and thankfully Apple included a converter from 3.5mm audio input to USB-C input so I can use these older headsets if needed. However, once you get used to a wireless headset, you really never want to go back to a wired one if you can help it.
Consequently, we are seeing a plethora of new wireless headsets popping up everywhere, so prices continue to come down. Of course, the top-of-the-line wireless headsets are still in the $399-$500 range, but I have seen some really great ones in the $199-$299 range, too. I am especially partial to Sony's new MDR-1000X. These are the best noise-canceling headsets I have every used, and I find the sound quality better then my noise-canceling headset from Bose.
This is the start of a movement to an all-wireless mobile environment within the next two to three years. It starts with headsets, but will soon move to smartphones and laptops as well. Indeed, various reports suggest Apple could add wireless charging to the iPhone next year. Given Apple's history of driving the industry forward, a move like this could finally jumpstart this nascent market.
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The downside of this transition will be cost. I suspect that the first generation of smartphones and laptops moving to wireless charging will be costly, which means only high-end models will get it at first. If Apple does add wireless charging to the iPhone, it will move its competitors to follow suit in their high-end models pretty fast and eventually drive costs down so that most high-end and midrange products have this feature.
But the big problem with wireless charging at the moment is competing standards. A good primer on this comes from Phonera, which did an overview when it comes to smartphones. A big boost to who will drive the future of wireless charging will be the standard Apple backs if and when it adds wireless charging to its iOS platform.
In talks with various laptop vendors, they too are eyeing a move towards adding wireless charging but only in high-end models at first. Dell may be the driving force here; in June, it introduced a laptop wireless charging system based on WiTricity's wireless charging standard. Personally, I am looking forward to the day when I don't have to carry multiple corded charging devices.