Electronic or electronics for the adjective

Question

Is it correct to say "electronics products" or "electronic products"?

Answer 1

There's a very, very slight difference in meaning: electronic refers, basically, to what's inside; essentially anything that uses electricity (rather than, say, steam), and is controlled by electrical signalling/switching rather than mechanical, is "electronic". Electronics, on the other hand, refers to a class of products, generally intended for use by the public rather than by industry, and often for entertainment rather than utility. The Consumer Electronics Association, which puts on the annual Consumer Electronics Show (better known as CES), is largely responsible for establishing and maintaining the distinction between the two, I think.

A CNC laser cutter is an electronic product; an iPod is an electronics product.

Answer 2

Both forms are perfectly okay. The second is over twice as common as the first, but there's no significant difference in meaning. Here's a chart of written usage...

Answer 3

The difference between "electronic product" and "electronics product" is this:

An "electronics product" is a product dealing with electronics, i.e. diode, or transistor, etc.

An "electronic product" is a product that runs on electricity, i.e. An electronic toy, or calculator etc.

Answer 4

Either is correct, but "electronic products" is much more common; simply "electronics" is much, much more common even than that.