Last Updated: 23 Jul 2025
Source: Statifacts
General-Purpose Test Equipment Market (By Equipment: Oscilloscopes, Multimeters, Signal Generators, Spectrum Analyzers, Logic Analyzers; By Region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa) Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends 2025 to 2034.
The global general-purpose test equipment market size was estimated at USD 15.58 billion in 2024 and is projected to be worth around USD 22.69 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 3.83% from 2025 to 2034.
| Industry Worth | Details |
| Market Size in 2025 | USD 16.10 Billion |
| Market Size by 2034 | USD 22.69 Billion |
| Market Growth Rate from 2025 to 2034 | CAGR of 3.83% |
General-purpose test equipment (GPTE) consists of the instruments that are utilized to design, test, measure, and evaluate electronic components and systems. These instruments consist of oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal generators, and spectrum analyzers. The technology developed using general-purpose test equipment can be utilized in a variety of sectors, including consumer electronics, aerospace & defense, automotive, telecommunications, and industrial manufacturing. GPTE is necessary to facilitate product development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance testing.
The increased demand for reliable test solutions has stemmed from the explosion of EVs, the deployment of 5G technology, and the expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is leading to growth in the general-purpose test equipment market. For instance, there are more than 2.8 billion global subscriptions that will tap into 5G by 2025, so there is an important need for reliable test equipment for network hardware. The opportunity for growth can be attributed to the increasing complexity of electronic systems, creating the need for accurate and multifunctionality test instruments, in addition to the increasing pace of product innovation and shortened/decreasing time-to-market, making it necessary for industries to align themselves with fast and scalable test systems.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also being incorporated into the general-purpose test equipment landscape to improve diagnostic capability and handle even the most challenging testing workflows. AI test platforms can soon identify a fault in an electronic component during a test by gleaning the maximum amount of information from the data generated during the test, which is no longer limited in volume by testing processes. There are commercial AI-based test automation systems in existence, such as those from Keysight Technologies, which have enabled organizations to reduce the time-to-market of devices by more than 30% since they have streamlined testing workflows.
AI algorithms also enable more effective predictive maintenance with test equipment, where customers can eventually have more operational efficiency by reducing downtime. AI also aids the most complex reliability tests and signal analysis in radio frequency (RF) testing by identifying patterns a human would simply not be able to analyze, which ultimately leads to enhanced performing devices built to federally specified standards and regulations.
The market trends in the general-purpose test equipment market are driven by the rising adoption of 5G along with next-gen communication technologies and tech advancements in consumer electronics and automotive.
The opportunities in the GPTE market are associated with the expansion of EV battery testing requirements and the growing demand in emerging markets.
Expansion of EV battery testing requirements: The rapid increase in electric vehicles (EVs) around the world creates a very large opportunity for general-purpose test equipment in many areas, including battery testing, powertrain verification, and system integration. With government mandates in place for EV production and sales, automobile manufacturers are ramping up production and now more than ever require sophisticated test equipment. The pursuit of safe, efficient, and durable battery packs has increased demand for high-precision instruments capable of measuring thermal, electrical, and chemical parameters under varying conditions.
Growing demand in emerging markets: Emerging economies, including India, Brazil, and Southeast Asian countries, are experiencing increased industrialization and growth of electronics manufacturing. The Indian government’s “Make in India” and Vietnam’s electronics growth and expansion initiatives are contributing to the emerging manufacturing facilities in these three regions of the world. Growth in manufacturing is directly related to the increase in need for QA and test systems, providing significant opportunities for international test equipment providers to expand their services into less penetrated domains, tailored to a less penetrated region with targeted, low-cost solutions.
"Primary care physicians will now have access to something that can give them a quicker read." "Specialty neurologists get it right like seventy, eighty percent of the time, with the blood test, we can get it up to over 90%."
"It's been through rigorous evaluation, and it provides guidance for prescribers on who's eligible and when the test should be provided," "Blood tests have given us an opportunity to really democratize this kind of testing," Carrillo says.
The oscilloscopes segment dominated the general-purpose test equipment market because oscilloscopes are very useful in checking and seeing electrical signals in real time. As electronic devices become more complicated, engineers have relied on oscilloscopes more to check the circuits, identify defects, and test that a device is at least working. With more embedded systems, particularly those with high-speed digital signals, the demand continues to grow, resulting in further growth of oscilloscopes in the market. Digital storage oscilloscopes with advanced triggering and built-in Signal Processing offer the ability to obtain very precise data; therefore, magnifying the analysis of certain signals. Primarily in R&D labs and production lines throughout high-tech industries, oscilloscopes are critical to testing and measuring.
The signal generators segment is the fastest-growing segment in the market because they have become a necessary instrument for testing wireless communication systems, satellite systems, and 5G devices. As industries use more complex radio frequency (RF) and microwave technologies, signal generators are used to simulate waveforms and exercise component behavior in many different conditions. The use of signal generators is growing at a very rapid pace in telecom and defense, where high-frequency signals must be accurately generated. The global roll-out of advanced communication protocols and IoT ecosystems creates opportunities for increased use of signal generators among a broader range of environments in research & development and manufacturing.
North America
North America held the dominant share of the general-purpose test equipment market, which is mainly due to strong electronics, defense, and telecommunications markets in the region. North America also benefits from a large amount of R&D investment, specifically in semiconductors, aerospace, and 5G infrastructure. There are many larger players like Keysight Technologies and National Instruments that are principally in this market in North America. These larger companies usually dedicate a division to developing new technologies that apply AI and test solutions that would apply to future innovations, as well as automation systems that apply AI contracted to enable future innovations.
Additionally, there are many regulatory standards for industries such as automotive and defense, which result in highly sophisticated test protocols that advance consumer and defense technologies and further increase demand. There are many tech companies in the region, an established research environment in research organizations, and a willingness to adapt and change through government and research support for modernization of the defense and telecommunication sectors.
Asia-pacific
Asia-Pacific is expected to grow with the highest CAGR in the forecasted period due to rapid industrialization, increased production of electronics, and rising demand for 5G and electric vehicles, driving demand. Nations such as China, South Korea, and India have ramped up investment in domestic production and research and development, leading to domestic demand for test and measurement solutions with the required robustness and accuracy. The continued explosive growth of pocket electronics and automotive markets, and a procession of export-oriented industries, will continue to drive new opportunities for General-Purpose Test Equipment market and domestic plans to increase electronics production, such as "Made in China 2025" (China) and the PLA for electronics (India) will help expand the potential for GPTE growth in every part of the Asia-Pacific region.
Keysight Technologies operates in more than 100 countries, providing advanced test and measurement equipment for telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries. Key product offerings include oscilloscopes, RF and signal analyzers, and a full suite of 5G test and measurement tools. Keysight also has extensive research and development, focused on leading the industry with AI and quantum research and development.
Advantest is known for its automated test systems and measurement solutions for semiconductor and electronics manufacturers and others that utilize semiconductors in their devices. Operating globally, Advantest provides testing solutions for SoC and memory manufacturers. Advantest has vast experience testing devices based on AI and is recognized as a leader in providing efficient AI chip testing solutions.
National Instruments (NI) provides automated test and measurement solutions on a worldwide basis, with sales in over 50 countries. NI provides a variety of products, including PXI systems, modular instruments, and software, as well as support in developing test automation protocols. NI serves multiple industries, including aerospace and automotive, and life sciences, while relying on its large research and development team to advance features such as automated testing with AI and scaling digital transformation technologies.
| Regions | Shares (%) |
| North America | 35% |
| Asia Pacific | 30% |
| Europe | 25% |
| LAMEA | 10% |
| Segments | Shares (%) |
| Oscilloscopes | 25% |
| Multimeters | 30% |
| Signal Generators | 20% |
| Spectrum Analyzers | 15% |
| Logic Analyzers | 10% |
Published by Shubham Desale
