More than six billion web-enabled devices to be produced this year

An estimated 6.18 billion internet-enabled devices, including smartphones, games consoles and tablets, will be produced this year, according to IHS Technology. 

The new research claims that connected equipment production will grow 6% year-on-year from 5.82 billion in 2013 and will mark the “largest increase for the market in four years.”

Devices expected to enjoy higher production numbers this year include games consoles, tablets, mobile handsets, LCD TVs and set-top boxes, according to IHS. Markets tipped to suffer include digital still cameras, camcorders, desktop PCs, DVD players and records and portable media players.

“The improved growth this year of the connected devices industry marks the return of higher production as manufacturers deliver all sorts of connectivity equipment to users. Given the voracious appetite of consumers for social media and their yen for always-on connectivity, it’s little surprise that makers will continue to turn out such devices to keep buyers engaged,” said Jagdish Rebello, senior director for information technology at IHS.

Games console sales are forecast to enjoy the largest growth among all segments, with production tipped to rise 45% this year following the recent launch of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles.

Tablet shipments will increase by 25% and phones by 7%, according to IHS. LCD TV production is due to grow by 5% and set-top boxes by 7%.

After 2014, the research firm predicts that web-connected device production growth rates will slow for a few years, even though total units produced will continue to rise in absolute numbers. “Between 2015 and 2017, an estimated 19.42 billion new devices will flood the planet,” said IHS.