ARLINGTON, VA – The Consumer Electronics Association expects 2014 to set an all-time record for global consumer electronics, with revenues up 2% to $211.3 billion.

The association points to connected devices as the big driver of growth.

Overall growth in 2015 is expected to be 1.2%.

The “emerging” category is projected to grow 242% in 2014 and another 108% in 2015, the CEA says. This category includes 3D printers, health and fitness devices, smart watches, ultra-HD TV displays and smart thermostats.

Emerging products represent less than 3% of consumer electronics industry revenue, but are expected to reach $5 billion this year.

Total TV sets and displays are projected to reach $18.4 billion in 2014, down 5% year-over-year. Unit shipments of Ultra HD displays are expected to reach 800,000 in 2014, or $1.9 billion in revenue, up 517% compared to 2013. Ultra HD display revenue is expected to pass $5 billion in 2015.

LCD TVs are expected to be 94% of all digital display sets sold this year; 36.7 million units are expected to ship to dealers in 2014 for some $17.3 billion in revenue.

Sales of mobile connected devices like smartphones and tablets are expected to remain the top two revenue drivers of growth in 2014, representing 35.1% of total industry revenues. Smartphone shipments are expected to reach 163.5 million this year, up 8% year-over-year.

Tablet unit sales are predicted to reach 80.4 million units in 2014, up 4% from 2013. Revenue for tablets is expected to be down 3% to $25.6 billion.

Headphones are expected to sell 75.9 million units, up 20% to $1.4 billion.

Bluetooth wireless speakers are expected to generate $650 million in total revenue this year, up 69%.

Soundbars are projected to reach $611 million, up 17%.

Automotive electronics, with factory-installed systems, is expected to reach $11 billion, up 20%.

Gaming consoles are expected to bring in $4.8 billion in revenue this year, with a 35% increase in unit shipments.

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