Apple Watch To Jump to Top of Smart Watch Market Share Race This Year, Report Says
Apple will jump to the top of the global smart watch market share race this year with the Apple Watch introduction, Strategy Analytics said in a report. It’s forecasting that Apple will ship 15.4 million Apple Watches globally this year,…
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compared with 12.7 million from other suppliers combined, giving Apple a 54.8 percent share, the report said. The total of 28.1 million smart watches to ship globally this year would be a 511 percent increase from the 4.6 million shipped in 2014, it said. Strategy Analytics sees the Apple Watch, which will start shipping in April, as the “catalyst” that will “ignite” the global smart watch market, it said. Apple's brand cache, loyal fan base, deep retail presence and “extensive apps ecosystem” all but guarantee a “healthy uptake” for the Apple Watch, though it’s “not yet perfect,” in its first generation, Strategy Analytics said: “Apple's Watch hardware design is arguably less attractive than some rival models such as the Huawei Watch, battery life may not be as long as many traditional wristwatch owners are used to, and Apple's premium pricing may be challenging for mass-market consumers. Apple will need to upgrade tangibly its second-generation Watch to stay ahead of competitors later this year."