Top Trends Shaping Home Audio in 2026

Home audio continues to evolve, driven by reliable and flexible connectivity, audio streaming and richer audio experiences.

Below are some key trends that Frontier predict for 2026..

1. Wi-Fi Connectivity to Become Universal

As more audio products become Wi-Fi connected, we believe this year will mark the tipping point when more new home audio products come with Wi-Fi connectivity than without.

The main benefits of this are that consumers can enjoy higher quality audio without needing to permanently tether their mobile device to their home audio device. There are also additional use case such as multiroom audio.

For existing devices in the home, a range of adapters are entering the market which allow you to upgrade audio equipment.

2. Streaming to Take Centre Stage

While sound quality and design are key selling points, differentiation is increasingly driven by the audio streaming capabilities of the device. Standards include AirPlay and Spotify Connect, which allow for audio to be streamed directly from the internet to the device.

In addition, improved streaming capabilities include Hi-Res audio, which many music service providers are now supporting.

3. Bluetooth Evolves from Personal to Shared Audio

Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio has reshaped expectations around quality and power efficiency. By 2026, Bluetooth LE Audio will be the standard in most new connected home audio devices.

The biggest shift, however, comes from Bluetooth Auracast. Auracast transforms Bluetooth into an audio broadcast, allowing a single audio source to stream to multiple receivers simultaneously. In the home, this unlocks new scenarios: shared TV audio across multiple speakers, private listening via earbuds without pairing friction, and guest‑friendly audio experiences that don’t require app downloads or Wi‑Fi access.

4. Reliable Connectivity

Ultimately, connectivity is the defining trend of connected home audio in 2026. Consumers expect devices to “just work,” regardless of whether they rely on Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, or other technology.  

As a result, success in connected home audio increasingly depends on how well products blend connectivity, audio streaming, robust software, apps and services.

Frontier is responding to these trends with our latest turnkey solution, AURIA, which combines Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE Audio, Auracast, Hi-Res audio, Spotify, AirPlay, Tidal connect with a user-friendly app for easy setup and control. Manufacturers can add the turnkey, certified module to their products and rapidly bring to market reliable audio products that keep software updated in the field with our Internet Software Update service.

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