Categories rarely die in public. They lose their reason to exist, then their shelf space.
Being absorbed
- Dedicated MP3 players: absorbed by phones, then by streaming.
- Compact cameras: absorbed for casual use, surviving only at the high end.
- Fitness bands: absorbed by watches once battery life improved.
- Standalone GPS units: absorbed by phones a decade ago.
- Home hubs with screens: being absorbed by tablets and speakers.
Why absorption happens
A general device becomes good enough at the specialist’s job, and the specialist loses the volume that funded its refinement. The high end survives; the middle vanishes.
What this means for buyers
A category in decline loses accessories and updates first. If you depend on a device with shrinking volume, buy spares now and prefer open standards over proprietary ones.
Bottom line: buy the category that is growing unless you specifically need the specialist tool.
