German consumers bought smart rings at more than twice the rate they did a year earlier, according to market research published at the IFA technology fair in Berlin. Sales volume jumped 122.7% in the first half of 2026 while revenue climbed 86.6%, far outstripping the 4.2% growth recorded across the wider wearables segment.

The data from NIQ, released on 4 September 2026, shows the wearables market generated nearly 400 million euro in German retail during the period, with 1.8 million devices sold. Smart rings now average 290 euro per unit, positioning them as a discreet alternative to conventional smartwatches.

Behind the numbers lies a shift in how Europeans approach personal health monitoring. The so-called longevity trend, which emphasises extending healthy lifespan rather than simply treating illness, has turned wearable devices into what manufacturers describe as digital health cockpits. Sensors now track sleep quality, heart rate, stress levels and blood oxygen saturation with increasing accuracy.

AI chip demand reshapes consumer electronics supply

Not all electronics categories are enjoying similar growth. Alexander Dehmel, NIQ's industry expert, warned that consumers face noticeable price increases and reduced choice across many popular devices. The cause is not weak demand but rather a global AI boom that is fundamentally altering semiconductor production.

Chip manufacturers are redirecting production capacity toward high-performance computing centres needed for artificial intelligence systems. Modern processors and fast memory modules are becoming scarce in the consumer goods sector as a result. Manufacturers are adapting by focusing on high-demand configurations, typically 256 or 512 gigabyte models, while thinning out their product ranges and raising prices.

Budget entry-level devices are increasingly difficult to source under these conditions. Dehmel stopped short of predicting a crisis comparable to 2020's supply chain collapse, but he confirmed that specific high-performance configurations will become more expensive or available only with extended waiting times.

Smart glasses face privacy headwinds

Intelligent glasses with audio, camera and AI functions are emerging from niche status. Sales volume tripled in the first half of 2026, rising from approximately 3,500 units to over 12,000. Yet privacy concerns around integrated cameras remain the largest obstacle to mainstream adoption.

Women in particular express concern about being stalked or surveilled using camera-equipped glasses. This hesitation reflects broader European debates about surveillance technology and personal privacy, debates that have already shaped digital regulation across the continent. The European Commission has been developing frameworks for AI governance that address some of these concerns, though specific rules for consumer camera devices remain unsettled.

Climate drives cooling device demand

Beyond wearables, changing environmental conditions are reshaping German consumer electronics purchases. Heatwaves during early summer triggered immediate buying impulses in the cooling and air conditioning market. June alone saw nearly 300,000 mobile air conditioning units sold in Germany, representing a 122% increase compared to the same month in 2025.

Dehmel noted that German household equipment levels remain low by international comparison, suggesting further demand growth in coming years. This pattern mirrors similar trends across southern Europe, where extreme heat events have become more frequent and more intense.

Humanoid robots move toward practical deployment

The IFA exhibition also highlighted progress in humanoid robotics and advanced assistance systems. Multiple international manufacturers demonstrated two-legged machines capable of learning complex gripping and assembly tasks through generative AI and sensitive sensor systems.

These devices can interact with humans and are expected to transition from technological showcase to everyday household and workplace assistant. The timeline for widespread deployment remains uncertain, but the trajectory suggests practical applications in care work and industrial settings within the next few years.

People mentioned

  • Alexander Dehmel

    Industry expert, NIQ

Organisations

NIQ · IFA