Apple Watch market share falling amongst fitness trackers, holding steady with smartwatches
New IDC data examining the wearables market shows a growing overall presence, with fitness bands claiming 85 percent of Q3 sales, but little impact demonstrated from the late-quarter Apple Watch refresh in its short availability.
Leading the market was Fitbit with a 23 percent share, heralded by a refresh of the Charge family of devices. Xiaomi held 16.5 percent, with most of its sales in China, while Garmin took 1.3.
The more expensive Apple Watch held a narrow lead over Samsung with 4.9 percent of the market. Samsung controlled 4.5 percent with a mixed product line of both fitness bands and smartwatches.
IDC claimed that Apple's downturn for the quarter was mostly attributable to an "aging lineup and an unintuitive user interface." The firm's analysts argued that Apple's success in the category will be at best "muted" because of continuing challenges in the category.
However, narrowing down to the smartwatch category specifically, Apple maintained a commanding lead over all its competitors, falling only slightly to 41.3 percent of the market. In that segment, Garmin was a distant second place at 20.5 percent, with Samsung pulling in third at 14.4 percent.
Apple's third-quarter numbers were largely unaffected by the release of the Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watch on Sept. 7, with only a few days of availability at the end of the quarter.
Overall, IDC expects that app-running smartwatches like the Apple Watch will "continue to struggle in the near term" versus far less capable -- but cheaper -- fitness trackers.
Leading the market was Fitbit with a 23 percent share, heralded by a refresh of the Charge family of devices. Xiaomi held 16.5 percent, with most of its sales in China, while Garmin took 1.3.
The more expensive Apple Watch held a narrow lead over Samsung with 4.9 percent of the market. Samsung controlled 4.5 percent with a mixed product line of both fitness bands and smartwatches.
IDC claimed that Apple's downturn for the quarter was mostly attributable to an "aging lineup and an unintuitive user interface." The firm's analysts argued that Apple's success in the category will be at best "muted" because of continuing challenges in the category.
However, narrowing down to the smartwatch category specifically, Apple maintained a commanding lead over all its competitors, falling only slightly to 41.3 percent of the market. In that segment, Garmin was a distant second place at 20.5 percent, with Samsung pulling in third at 14.4 percent.
Apple's third-quarter numbers were largely unaffected by the release of the Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watch on Sept. 7, with only a few days of availability at the end of the quarter.
Overall, IDC expects that app-running smartwatches like the Apple Watch will "continue to struggle in the near term" versus far less capable -- but cheaper -- fitness trackers.
Comments
I don't carry an iPhone so I'm not fooling with it or EarPods.
I just wish I could have one or two readings in large text like the large text time display. The current displays are a little too crowded with small hard to read sized fonts.
All I need is Distance and current pace. Mainly current pace. It beeps at every mile, and the half-way point. It auto stops when I stop to tie a shoe or drink and auto starts when I start running again.
I'll eventually get the second gen w/ GPS, but for now, the 1st gen is just excellent. I run on trails in the Arizona desert that are known posted distances and I find the Apple Watch to be accurate to about 5%-10% which is fine by me...It's about "time on the trail," not so much about speed.
The first gen watch was a little off target, but I think they righted the ship with version 3 of the OS and the current hardware lineup.
If they can just keep pushing the product forward I think they'll do fine.
The problem is -- that's a big "if". It seems difficult for Apple to continuously push multiple product lines forward at once. Only the iPhone consistently gets annual updates.
Yeah, uh. That's awesome.
Lower price would help.
I give no shits about the second-gen watch having the same case as the first-gen. No more than I would care about new Vitamix blenders looking the same as models from two years ago. Or the latest DVD/BR players. Why on earth would that matter?! And making it round doesn't fix any design issues, again, because design is about how it works. And a rectangular display works better for information, which is why computer monitors, train/plane schedule displays, hell even just books, aren't round. Watches were round because of swinging arms, which, surprise, ain't dere no more.
Funny thing about all those fitbits -- sure they're cheaper, but after the novelty wears off folks I know stop wearing them because of their limited usefulness.
Apple Watch Series 2 is, as someone earlier pointed out, not differentiated from the original Watch in its exterior look. But, so much has improved within. Faster, more intelligent complications, higher accuracy, additional use applications, better water resistance and battery life.
Apple must continue to improve on this instrument, but importantly, patience with the public by Apple, is advised in this instance. Trends favor the low end players, but the individuals who are serious about, tech, fashion, health and fitness will ultimately gravitate to the quality/consistency end of the spectrum. Patience is advised. You can't force a horse to drink until they are thirsty.
Apple Watch has a great future in my opinion.
Did I see a chart in the last Keynote that after only 8 months on the market, as far as revenue, the Apple watch was only second to Rolex. That's impressive.
My daughter is an MD at Arizona University Medical Center and she says her Apple Watch is indispensable for receiving texts from nurses and other MD's. She says it may sound like a little thing, but not having to pull your iPhone out of your pocket hundreds of times a day is wonderful.
Best
I'm glad the second gen, is the same form factor. It's made it seem to have a little more longevity and I think more desirable in a way. Having said this...look for a thinner model, probably next year!
If I fault Apple for anything it's releasing all their products right around the same time. If it were, say, a Spring release then I might be more inclined to drop $400+ on a new Watch every cycle.
People always bitch that apple is too into form over function, but here's proof that they aren't. And yet still the people bitch. Therein lies the lesson.
Jony Ive couldn't have been more clear -- the watch was designed for glances. Anything more and he suggests one pull out their iPhone. Round or square works just fine for such purposes. Something worn on a person's body is subject to the frivolities and whims of taste and style -- and most people are going to want what they want regardless of the ability to most efficiently display the contents of a document. If Apple doesn't address that need, then they will lose some market share. It's as simple as that.