Smartphones, computers and the many other consumer products that people use daily require PCBs and PCBA to function. As we add electronics to more of our products, PCBs become a bigger part of our daily lives.

Manufacturers are producing smaller and smaller smartphones and laptops that still have many advanced capabilities, which require small PCBs with a high volume of connections. PCBs used for consumer electronics also need to be relatively low-cost to keep the price of the final product low. Manufacturers also want reliable boards, because they need their products to function as expected to stay in business.

A huge range of consumer products use PCBs including:

Communications devices: Smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, radios and other communications products require PCBs to function.

Computers: Computers for both personal and business feature PCBs.
Entertainment systems: Entertainment-related products such as televisions, stereos and video game consoles all rely on PCBs.

Home appliances: Many home appliances also have electronic components and PCBs including refrigerators, microwaves and coffee makers.

The use of PCBs in consumer products is certainly not slowing down. The proportion of Americans who own a smartphone is now 77 percent and growing. Many devices that weren’t electronic before are now also gaining advanced electronic functionality and becoming part of the Internet of Things (IoT).