App developer statistics show increased Apple Watch Series 3 adoption, decline in older mo...
Apple's latest Apple Watch Series 3 device has seen healthy adoption rates since its release last year, while usage rates of older Series 1 and first-generation models are on the decline, according to statistics shared by Pedometer++ developer David Smith.
Smith detailed metrics from his app in a blog post on Wednesday, demonstrating usage statistics of all Apple Watch models from August 2017 through to today.
Of note, Apple Watch Series 3 has enjoyed steady adoption rates since its launch in September, including a dramatic spike during the holiday gift-giving season. As of last week, Series 3 overtook the Series 2 to become the most popular Apple Watch model among Pedometer++ users, with the device accounting for 33 percent of Smith's active user base.
The most recent data shows Series 2 sitting at about 30 percent, first-generation Apple Watch at 24 percent and Series 1 holding steady at around 14 percent. As can be expected of a new release, Apple Watch Series 3 upgraders are eating into legacy model share, with Series 2 and first-gen devices exhibiting declines that began when the most recent Apple Watch iteration debuted.
Original Apple Watch devices, often referred to by the unofficial moniker "Series 0," has experienced the steepest drop off. In August of last year, usage of the first-gen wearable was roughly in line with that of its Series 2 successor, but rates have since fallen at more rapid pace.
While Smith fails to provide commentary on the precipitous decline in first-gen device usage, he does say that developing for the original Apple Watch is "slow and honestly a bit painful." On the other hand, Apple Watch Series 3 with its S3 chip and LTE connectivity is a "delight to work with," Smith says.
It is because of these troubles that Smith is keeping close tabs on Watch adoption. His hope is that Apple will abandon support for the first-gen device when it reveals watchOS 5, a next-generation operating system expected for unveiling at WWDC in June.
"The Series 1 & Series 2 watches would be a great baseline going forward," Smith writes. "While not quite so fast as the Series 3, they are a mile ahead of the Series 0."
In addition to overall adoption rates, Smith shared a few tidbits on user predilections, noting the split between 42mm and 38mm Watch versions stands at about 60/40. Further, the split between users with LTE and non-LTE Apple Watch Series 3 devices has been about even since Christmas.
While Pedometer++ users are only a small subsampling of Apple Watch owners, the analytics provides general insight into owner preference.
Whether Apple intends to deprecate first-gen Apple Watch models with watchOS 5 is unknown, but the company typically attempts to keep older hardware operational for as long as possible. Doing so allows owners to enjoy the latest features without upgrading on a yearly basis, fostering higher customer satisfaction and user experience ratings.
Smith detailed metrics from his app in a blog post on Wednesday, demonstrating usage statistics of all Apple Watch models from August 2017 through to today.
Of note, Apple Watch Series 3 has enjoyed steady adoption rates since its launch in September, including a dramatic spike during the holiday gift-giving season. As of last week, Series 3 overtook the Series 2 to become the most popular Apple Watch model among Pedometer++ users, with the device accounting for 33 percent of Smith's active user base.
The most recent data shows Series 2 sitting at about 30 percent, first-generation Apple Watch at 24 percent and Series 1 holding steady at around 14 percent. As can be expected of a new release, Apple Watch Series 3 upgraders are eating into legacy model share, with Series 2 and first-gen devices exhibiting declines that began when the most recent Apple Watch iteration debuted.
Original Apple Watch devices, often referred to by the unofficial moniker "Series 0," has experienced the steepest drop off. In August of last year, usage of the first-gen wearable was roughly in line with that of its Series 2 successor, but rates have since fallen at more rapid pace.
While Smith fails to provide commentary on the precipitous decline in first-gen device usage, he does say that developing for the original Apple Watch is "slow and honestly a bit painful." On the other hand, Apple Watch Series 3 with its S3 chip and LTE connectivity is a "delight to work with," Smith says.
It is because of these troubles that Smith is keeping close tabs on Watch adoption. His hope is that Apple will abandon support for the first-gen device when it reveals watchOS 5, a next-generation operating system expected for unveiling at WWDC in June.
"The Series 1 & Series 2 watches would be a great baseline going forward," Smith writes. "While not quite so fast as the Series 3, they are a mile ahead of the Series 0."
In addition to overall adoption rates, Smith shared a few tidbits on user predilections, noting the split between 42mm and 38mm Watch versions stands at about 60/40. Further, the split between users with LTE and non-LTE Apple Watch Series 3 devices has been about even since Christmas.
While Pedometer++ users are only a small subsampling of Apple Watch owners, the analytics provides general insight into owner preference.
Whether Apple intends to deprecate first-gen Apple Watch models with watchOS 5 is unknown, but the company typically attempts to keep older hardware operational for as long as possible. Doing so allows owners to enjoy the latest features without upgrading on a yearly basis, fostering higher customer satisfaction and user experience ratings.
Comments
Nope. The insight is only into people who think they need a pedometer app to count steps on a watch that already counts steps. So, maybe representative of “low information” users, which might bias the results in the direction of older models.
Kudo to Apple incidentally, for still supporting the Series 0 for just coming up on three years, with no apparent plans to discontinue support until the OS or tech in the newer versions requires an incompatible change. As a watch-hater prior to getting my original one, this level of support and compatibility (all the Apple bands still work with my watch, regular updates that improve performance, etc) is what is going to ensure I actually get an upgraded model when I'm ready to.
The everyday functions of my Gen0 did very well even under OS4 with no discernible slow down, lag or problems. But, exercise tracking was an entirely different matter: starting an exercise routine got to be very slow and then checking stats while exercising had noticeable and irritating lag.
So I suspect that much of the reporting here that Gen0 runs fine or Gen0 is horribly slow have to do with what functions the user is measuring.
Plus: my Gen0 failed twice inside of two years. The last time it was replaced with a Series 1 which runs MUCH better. I even see a difference in the everyday type functions -- which were pretty solid even on the Gen0.
I have noted often that I found the lack of quality third party apps for the Apple Watch to be both irritating and puzzling.
Specifically, serious runners (a large part of those who use exercise trackers) mostly spurn the Apple Watch in favor of Garmins. And, they have good reason: The software on the Garmins runs circles around that available for the Apple Watch. And, in addition, even the mid tier level apps mostly run on the iPhone and display on the Apple Watch rather than running natively on the watch.
Technically developers were able to develop native apps for the watch but, for the most part, that didn't happen. Perhaps this is the reason why: "developing for the original Apple Watch is "slow and honestly a bit painful." "
If that is the case, I am hoping that Apple then does drop support for the Gen0 if it will free up third party developers to develop native apps -- and that will become increasingly important for the Series 3 LTE which does not need to have a phone present anymore for any reason.
My battery is also expired now, hardly gets thru the day. My 3 lasts a couple days.
"Developing Apple Watch apps is extremely frustrating and limited for one big reason: unlike on iOS, Apple doesn’t give app developers access to the same watchOS frameworks that they use on Apple Watch."
https://marco.org/2018/02/26/watchkit-baby-apps
But, while I do not doubt the truth in it, I also have to wonder how much is stemming from emotional frustration from not having full, unrestricted access to the internals. That is: I suspect what he says is true, but only only one side of the whole truth. I would very much like to hear Apple's response to those accusations....
But, that said, the fact remains that third party development on the Apple Watch remains limited.
Could the two explanations be in fact just one? That the reason Watchkit is so tied down is not due to negligence on Apple's part; but because they have to protect Apple Watch Gen0 owners from third party developers and apps who would cripple their device?
... Truly, without technical limitations, there is no advantage to Apple in artificially restricting 3rd party apps. Apple is more likely to lose money than to make money with such a policy.