Consumer electronics industry trends can be fickle. What’s touted as the next big thing one year might be forgotten the next. However, running a profitable electronics business requires having a finger on the pulse so you don’t miss out on the trends that stick.
CES 2025 was held back in January, and we’re already starting to see which of the latest technologies and trends have the most staying power.
Here are six tech trends that electronics retailers should be aware of as they do their merchandise planning for this year and beyond.
It might seem counterintuitive to have a health and beauty section in your electronics store, but without one, you might miss out on boosting profits with some of the most popular smart products on the market.
Health and beauty products are increasingly getting smarter and more connected. This includes items like:
Of course, the target audience for a smart yoga mat and a new gaming laptop doesn’t always intersect. Before expanding heavily into these products, make sure you know your store’s niche.
Related Read: Top 5 Retail Industry Trends To Watch in 2025
Brands like Google Home, Alexa, and Roomba paved the way for the mainstream adoption of smart home devices, and now there are more brands than ever to make our homes smarter.
Home appliances have always been a stable seller for many electronics shops, but were sometimes overshadowed by traditional home or hardware stores. But now that so many appliances are connected, an electronics store may be the first port of call for some shoppers.
Related Read: How To Open an Electronics Store: 5 Simple Steps
Some of the most popular categories of home devices include:
While some consumer electronics industry trends come and go, smart home devices seem like they’re here to stay.
They’re also ubiquitous enough that there are budget and high-end versions of many products, giving electronics retailers chances to sell smart devices to demographics outside of tech-savvy first adopters.
It is practically impossible to be in tech retail and not constantly hear something about the latest advances in artificial intelligence (AI). That said, there have been many lofty promises of transformational AI-powered devices that haven’t always paid off.
However, AI is getting better, and many major brands are leaning heavily into devices powered by smart AI assistants. Deep language learning models (LLMs) are allowing people to control their devices or search using plain language, bringing us one step closer to science fiction style computers.
What does this mean for electronics stores? AI-powered devices will continue to be central to high-end smartphones, laptops, and graphics cards. As AI gets more mainstream acceptance, people will expect to see it in their products, so it’s important to know how AI is being used in your top-selling products.
As technology gets smarter and more integrated into every aspect of our lives, it leaves some people feeling completely overwhelmed. As a result, there’s a growing number of customers who want to downgrade their tech, returning to flip phones and simpler devices with only basic functions.
Surprisingly, it’s the younger generations of Gen Z and Millennials who are most interested in buying “dumb” phones, with baby boomers being the least interested.
That said, dumb phones still only make up about 2.1% of overall phone sales, making it a highly niche market. If your customers skew younger, you might try using your social media, newsletter, or other marketing channels to feel out if there’s any interest.
Jumps in LED technology like QD-OLED and MicroLED resulted in some pretty impressive TVs being shown at CES 2025. That included multiple 100+ inch models built for the average consumer, something that would have been inconceivable even a decade ago.
Source: Hisense
With more people choosing to stay in and stream, luxury TVs remain a popular item. But with so many acronyms and technologies out there, education is key. If you stock TVs in your shop, help customers narrow down their choices by creating signage that breaks down the different display technologies and their strengths and weaknesses.
Also, know your demographics. Ultra high-quality displays are more affordable than ever, but still pricey. As the cost of living rises and tariffs on foreign-made products still loom, some customers will be wary of making big-ticket purchases.
Look at the sales data on your point of sale (POS) system to understand the sales trends in your area to avoid investing in tech that no one is ready to buy.
Electronic prices in 2025 are in flux due to tariffs and other big economic swings. As a result, some people are hesitant to upgrade their phones, TVs, computers, and other electronics, opting instead to keep what they have running a little longer.
This isn’t all bad news, especially for independent electronics retailers and repair shops, who can connect with more customers looking for a good deal. Refurbished items offer a like-new experience at a fraction of the cost, which will be even more popular (and more profitable) if you pair it with an optional repair warranty.
Some people are notably taking the opposite stance. With tariffs looming, some people are trying to make their gadget purchases quickly before they get more expensive. For people who still want a brand new device, offering layaway payments could be a good option to maintain healthy sales on big-ticket items.
Related Read: Cell Phone Repair Industry Trends in 2025
Staying on top of consumer electronics trends is important, but it’s only half the battle. To find long-term success, you need to understand the sales trends and preferences of your customers.
Without an honest view of store performance, that’s easier said than done.
POS Nation is dedicated to helping small business retailers find the specialty software and hardware solutions they need to take full control of their operations. Many electronics shops need niche features like layaway payment support, repair management, IMEI tracking, and more.
In other words, a one-size-fits-all retail solution isn’t going to cut it. To get a better understanding of your business’ needs, talk with one of our system experts today.