The advent of electricity meant a new type of power, and that meant a new type of product: the electric device. By the 1920s and 30s, all sorts of new electric devices had hit the market: fans, irons, and radios.
The advent of yet another technology created the next big breakthrough: the transistor and, later, the semiconductor chip. Electronic devices could now be controlled as well as powered by electricity. This led to a transformation, and electric devices became electronic devices.
Today, the consumer electronics landscape includes everything from wearables like smartwatches to smartphones, to TVs and home entertainment systems.
The industry is now dominated by giants like Apple and Samsung Electronics, but it’s filled with countless smaller players as well, all vying to meet consumer demand for the next breakthrough device.
In this Primer, we’ll explore the world of consumer electronics companies: how they produce and sell their devices, how they measure performance, how they’re organized, and the trends that will define the future of this fast-moving industry.
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