Apple Watch Series 1 is world's most popular smartwatch, as shipments grow 37 percent
On the eve of an expected new Apple Watch unveiling, the smartwatch category is booming worldwide, with Apple leading it with a 41 percent market share. That's according to new research from Counterpoint.
The latest survey from Counterpoint Research shows that Apple continues to dominate the global market for smartwatches, although its lead over Fitbit has shrunk.
According to the firm's Global Smartwatch Tracker, Apple leads the category with 41 percent marketshare worldwide, followed by Fitbit with 21 percent. Every other competitor, including Fossil, Garmin, and Samsung, is at 5 percent or lower.
Apple's market share actually dropped from 48 percent a year ago to 41 percent, as Fitbit jumped from 8 percent to 21 percent.
As for individual models, the Series 1 is the best-selling smartwatch in the world, comprising over 90 percent of all Apple Watch sales worldwide. It is followed by the Fitbit Versa and the Amazfit BIP. The Apple Watch Series 3 ranks fourth with the Fitbit Ionic fifth.
"Despite initial hype and traction of cellular based Apple Watch Series 3 in the first two quarters, Apple iPhone users are actually choosing the Series 1 as a non-cellular option over Series 3 non-cellular model which is surprising to many industry watchers," Counterpoint Research Director Neil Shah said in the release.
"This also shows Apple users are choosing Series 3 preferably if they want to add cellular connectivity, else Series 1 remains the most popular model contributing to almost nine out of ten Apple Watch sold in Q2 2018. While this is great for Apple from an ecosystem perspective, from an ASP perspective it is not the same bump as Apple would expect with newer iPhone models every year."
Apple is expected to unveil an Apple Watch Series 4 at its upcoming "Gather Round" event on Sept. 12. A leak that surfaced Thursday featured a larger display and a reduced bezel.
The latest survey from Counterpoint Research shows that Apple continues to dominate the global market for smartwatches, although its lead over Fitbit has shrunk.
According to the firm's Global Smartwatch Tracker, Apple leads the category with 41 percent marketshare worldwide, followed by Fitbit with 21 percent. Every other competitor, including Fossil, Garmin, and Samsung, is at 5 percent or lower.
Apple's market share actually dropped from 48 percent a year ago to 41 percent, as Fitbit jumped from 8 percent to 21 percent.
As for individual models, the Series 1 is the best-selling smartwatch in the world, comprising over 90 percent of all Apple Watch sales worldwide. It is followed by the Fitbit Versa and the Amazfit BIP. The Apple Watch Series 3 ranks fourth with the Fitbit Ionic fifth.
"Despite initial hype and traction of cellular based Apple Watch Series 3 in the first two quarters, Apple iPhone users are actually choosing the Series 1 as a non-cellular option over Series 3 non-cellular model which is surprising to many industry watchers," Counterpoint Research Director Neil Shah said in the release.
"This also shows Apple users are choosing Series 3 preferably if they want to add cellular connectivity, else Series 1 remains the most popular model contributing to almost nine out of ten Apple Watch sold in Q2 2018. While this is great for Apple from an ecosystem perspective, from an ASP perspective it is not the same bump as Apple would expect with newer iPhone models every year."
Apple is expected to unveil an Apple Watch Series 4 at its upcoming "Gather Round" event on Sept. 12. A leak that surfaced Thursday featured a larger display and a reduced bezel.
Comments
Likewise, I see very few FitBits in the wild anymore.
They were all wrong. Bottom line? Don't ever take the comment section of an Apple tech blog seriously. The self-styled technorati who live in these places are no better than the analysts who have been predicting Apple's demise for over forty years now.
So, anyway, the AW3 didn't really provide any additional capabilities over the AW2 (except, again, a mild responsiveness improvement) - and that's probably why Apple discontinued the AW2 when the AW3 was announced.
The rumors have the AW4 sport a bigger screen - thanks to smaller bezels - and, possibly, a slimmer body. Some rumors have it include more sensors. The latter would get me to upgrade, of course, but I don't see that rumor panning out. What could those sensors be? Glucose monitoring is being bandied about - that would be a huge deal - but looking at recent Apple patent filings, I don't think they're there yet.
In summary: if you have a working AW1 and don't care about water resistance or cellular or a slightly bigger screen or slimmer body, you have no reason to upgrade your AW1 to an AW4.
But the "summary" is a bit silly. Couldn't you say that about any new product? "If you don't care about [rumored list of new features for an unannounced product], you have no reason to upgrade."
I had an AW1, my wife has an AW2, I still have a AW0 and an AW3. The AW3 is much better than all of them, simply from a general use standpoint.
I think they are missing most of the AW sales that are made directly in an Apple Store or elsewhere with no receipt in the inbox.