Tech Savvy – GITEX Shopper Tracks Top Trends for Spring

Driven by daily-use devices, global consumer electronics market to reach USD$2.9 trillion by 2020[1]

From 2-in-1 convertible laptops, to smartphones with all of the power that won’t break the bank, consumers are looking to get the most from electronic purchases.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The leading consumer electronics exhibition is back this Spring. GITEX Shopper Spring will take place from March 29 to April 1 at Dubai World Trade Centre, with thousands of offers, bundles and flash sales all under one roof, including the latest offerings from leading power retailers E-Max, Jacky’s Electronics, Jumbo Electronics, Plug Ins and Sharaf DG.

Predictions on the value of the global consumer electronic market remain optimistic, with analyst firm Persistence Market Research putting the figure at USD$2.9 trillion by 2020. A preference for devices that can aid in daily tasks is primarily driving the growth in the consumer electronics market.[2] As consumers shy away from single function gadgets, and turn to multi-function devices, it seems that users are willing to invest, and expect their electronics to take on multiple roles.

GITEX Shopper prepares savvy-shoppers with a look at the trends driving the global market growth and latest developments in the consumer electronics industry.

Smartphones: Smartphones are a perennial hit, and the star of the consumer electronics market. Global shipments of smartphones are expected to reach 1.71 billion units by 2020.[3] In line with global trends, smartphone sales make up a significant slice of the retail sales at GITEX Shopper. This year, savvy shoppers are looking to get more for their money. Shoppers are on the lookout for devices that meet their needs, without breaking the bank.

Retail power house, Jumbo Electronics will be selling the highly anticipated new models of the Samsung A (2017) Series, Huawei Mate 9 Porsche, Huawei Mate 9 Pro and HTC U Ultr at the show, as well as the  extremely popular iPhone 7 and 7s and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge in the smartphones category at unbeatable prices.

Nadeem Khanzadah, Head – OmniChannel Retail, Jumbo Electronics said: “Over the years, smartphones – with key features such as better cameras, long lasting battery life, vivid screen resolutions and software functions – have been leading the market and this trend is still continuing into 2017. Consumers want the best brands and technology for the lowest prices and that is exactly what we will be offering at GITEX Shopper Spring this month.”

2-in-1 convertible laptops: Consumers that want the power of a full-size laptop, but the portability of a tablet are in luck this season. 2-in-1 convertible laptops operate in two modes. These convertible laptops offer a traditional keyboard for work that can be removed or folded back. In the tablet mode, a touch screen gives user a more streamlined experience for mobile gaming, reading and casual web-browsing.

 

Wearables: Wearable options continue to grow, with offerings from nearly all major producers from Apple to Garmin. According to a recent CCS Insight study[4], the wearables market indicates strong growth over the next five years, with revenue poised to reach US$14 billion in 2016. Though wearable devices can be clipped on, attached to the ankle or even sported as glasses, wrist-worn devices continue to be the trailblazers in the wearables market, with fitness, activity and sports trackers accounting for almost half of the sales.

Laurent Riche, General Manager, Plug Ins said: “We believe in wearable technology as the future of the technology world. It is a young industry with a rapid growth rate. We have seen a strong year of growth in 2016 in terms of wearable products and are expecting the same trend to follow. This year at GITEX Shopper Spring we will be offering the latest wearable products at the best price in market.”

Virtual Reality: Virtual reality hit the market with a bang, and this year shopper are looking to take the technology home. VR technology has come a long way in the past few years, integrating movement and interaction into the experience like never before and allowing users to leverage their existing gadgets – like smartphones and gaming consoles – to achieve a seamless VR experience.

 

With VR technology transforming the gaming world with immersive experiences, power retailer Sharaf DG will have a range of amazing VR products available at unbeatable prices for tech consumers at GITEX Shopper Spring later this month, including the HTV Vive VR, Sony Playstation VR and the Samsung Gear VR.

Nilesh Khalkho, CEO of Sharaf DG said: “Gameplay with these products allow users to be immersed in a simulated live environment including 360 degree video, surround sound and physical interactivity. The HTC Vive VR comes with 32 headset sensors to track the players movements and controllers which help you perform a range of simulated actions – throw, shoot, pick up, navigate and more. It is taking the world of gameplay to another level.

“Shoppers visiting Sharaf DG at the show can look forward to getting their hands on some of the greatest games which will offer the best VR gaming experiences such as Resident Evil, Driveclub, Battlezone, Valkyrie and many others.”

Personal Drones: Since drones hit the consumer market new features are being introduced to the devices almost daily. These high-flying gadgets come in all sizes these days, from tiny pocket drones like the micro Skeye Pico Drone to the GoPro Karma, designed to capture aerial footage of the user’s most exciting adventures. Price points on drones vary widely, allowing anyone with an interest in drones to try out the technology without breaking the bank. DJI, the world’s leading maker of unmanned aerial vehicles will be showcasing their innovative range of drones at GITEX Shopper Spring, alongside Parrot, who’s latest Mambo drone comes with cannon and grabber attachments taking drone flying fun to the next level.

 

Smart Appliances: Even the most basic of home appliances come equipped with cutting-edge sensors and technology these days, allowing them to save energy as well as time and money for their users. Smart home ecosystems are taking the market by storm as  brands shift their focus to connecting as many of their appliances to as many of their other devices as possible, to create a seamless reality between an individual and their connected home .

Gaming Gear: Gamers are looking to kit out their battle stations, now more than ever. Alienware has made portable gaming easier than ever, with its first 13-inch VR gaming laptop. Though the machine may be more streamlined, it still packs all the punch with featuring up to 7th Gen Intel Quad Core H- Class processors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series graphics.

GITEX Shopper Spring 2017 will take place from March 29 to April 1st and will open from 11:00am -11:00pm every day. This year, tickets for GITEX Shopper will be priced at AED 25 for all days and are available to buy online at gitexshopperdubai.com and Platinum List, as well as select UAE Exchange outlets. Entry is free for children below the age of five.

For the latest GITEX Shopper information, please visit www.gitexshopperdubai.com, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

[1] Persistence Market Research 2016 Consumer Electronics Report

[2] Persistence Market Research 2016 Consumer Electronics Report

[3] IDC Worldwide Smartphone Forecast Update, 2016–2020: December 2016

[4] http://www.ccsinsight.com/press/company-news/2516-wearables-momentum-continues