In 2021, expect to see a convergence of content and commerce, led by the likes of Peloton, Lululemon, Nike and Apple. Amazon and Google are also getting into the act as well with Halo and Fitbit, and emerging services offerings.

As Gen Z consumers enter the workforce and earn more disposable income, we expect this group to adopt new technology, including the most recent smart wearable devices.

Working with SDOH-focused startups that integrate wearables into their platform could be enticing to health plans as more of their member bases turn to wearables. We estimate that the portion of US smart wearable users is projected to increase, with an estimated 73 million consumers using these devices by 2022.

According to the report, that growth was driven in large part by the strong performance of mid- and low-priced wearable options under $100. IDC's Wearables Team research director Ramon T. Llamas recently emphasized that point, saying: “2020 was the year that hearables became the must-have device.” For context, Apple’s AirPods Pro ($250) are considered on the higher end of the price spectrum.

Previous Spectacles essentially functioned as wearable cameras intended to record video and images directly to the Snapchat app, and lacked the capability to display AR effects in the glasses themselves—users still needed a phone to view them.

One area that will benefit from 5G’s low latency is wearables, such as smart glasses, hearables, and more capable smartwatches. VR headsets and smart glasses are device categories that have a lot of near-term potential with 5G.

This would also enable more continuous security updates, as most of the data will reside in the cloud. 5G should also make wearables more common. With low latency, much of the computing for AR can occur in the cloud, allowing for much smaller batteries and computers in devices like smart glasses or VR headsets.

Smart devices. By reducing the need for local (on-device) computing power, 5G’s low latency, combined with edge computing, will enable a new generation of smart wearables, such as smart glasses, digital “hearables,” and more capable smartwatches, that consumers and retail employees alike will use. Autonomous and remote-controlled devices.

If increased interest in spending on these devices translates into increased usage, new types of payment offerings—particularly wearables, TVs, and cars—are set to hit the mainstream. Wearable devices. US wearable shipment growth soared in 2020 as customers looked into buying new devices for the health tech appeal they offer, bringing payments-enabled devices to more customers.

On today's episode, we discuss the most interesting findings from Facebook's Q1 earnings, how Apple’s iOS 14.5 update might affect its business, and where it sits among the digital ad giants. We then talk about how many people are using Facebook Dating, measuring Facebook's "potential reach," and Facebook Reality Labs' upcoming smart wristband. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analysts at Insider Intelligence Debra Aho Williamson and Nicole Perrin.