Demand for these 4 gadgets increased in Corona era, from headphones to webcams included

The Corona-era gadgets boom of 2020 reshaped how Indians worked, studied and stayed in touch. As work from home and online classes became the norm, four product categories saw demand surge: headphones, fitness bands, webcams and power banks. Here is what drove each one and which models stood out.

Why demand for Corona-era gadgets increased

2020 will always be remembered for the Corona epidemic, which reshaped daily life. Most people in the government and private sector adopted work from home, while online classes became the medium for students in schools and colleges. Gadgets also turned into a key means of staying in touch with friends and relatives, pushing demand higher across several categories.

Headphones for online meetings and classes

While working from home or taking an online class, headphones help block out nearby sounds. With office meetings also moving online, they are now used heavily for calls. A good pair of noise-cancelling earphones is a sound investment.

• Apple recently launched its first over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max, in India at Rs 59,900.
• For an economical option, the JBL LIVE 650BTNC is priced at Rs 10,499 in the market.

Fitness bands for health tracking

People also became more aware of their health during the epidemic and started paying closer attention to it. That lifted demand for fitness bands, which help users look after their wellbeing and make a thoughtful gift over time.

These bands typically offer many workout modes, along with a sleep monitoring system and heart rate monitoring. Responding to the strong demand, Samsung launched its new fitness tracker, the Samsung Galaxy Fit 2, in India this year at Rs 3,999.

Webcams for video conferencing

Built-in cameras now come with most laptops, but many machines still lack a webcam. With people working from home, a good webcam became essential for video conferencing and online meetings, so demand rose this year during the epidemic. Several brands offer affordable, good-quality options, including the HP W100 Webcam, available for Rs 1,700.

Power banks for heavier smartphone use

With people spending most of their time at home, smartphone use climbed. Phones served for talking to friends and relatives as well as for official work. A study said Indians increased their smartphone use by an estimated 25 percent, driven by work from home and entertainment. The study was conducted by CMR on behalf of handset company Vivo. Heavier use meant phones needed charging more often, which is why demand for power banks increased too.

Key specs of the featured Corona-era gadgets

Here is a quick look at the products mentioned and their India prices.

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