Apple Sees Strong Wearables Growth With 12.8 Million Shipments in Q1 2019

[MacRumors]

Apple shipped an estimated 12.8 million wearable devices globally in the first calendar quarter of 2019, according to new data shared today by IDC. The wearables category includes Apple Watch, AirPods, and select Beats headphones.

Apple earned 25.8 percent market share during the quarter, making it the top wearables company, and growth was way up. In Q1 2018, Apple shipped an estimated 8.6 million devices, marking 49.5 percent growth year-over-year.

Chinese companies Xiaomi and Huawei were Apple's closest competitors with 6.6 and 5 million devices shipped, respectively, while Samsung and Fitbit took the fourth and fifth places with 4.3 and 2.9 million devices shipped, respectively.

In total, there were 49.6 million wearable devices shipped during the first quarter of 2019, up 55.2 percent from the first quarter of 2018.

Splitting the data up by wrist-worn devices only, IDC believes Apple shipped an estimated 4.6 million devices, up from 4 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple was not the top company when it comes to wrist-worn wearables, with that spot going to Xiaomi.

Xiaomi shipped an estimated 5.3 million wrist-worn wearable devices for 10.7 percent market share, slightly higher than Apple's 9.3 percent market share.

Huawei, Fitbit, and Samsung all trailed after Xiaomi and Apple, shipping 3.9, 2.9, and 2 million devices respectively during the first quarter of 2019. According to IDC, Apple's ASP for the Apple Watch jumped from $426 in Q1 2018 to $455 in Q1 2019.

Apple maintained the leading position as the company offers three product lines; Apple Watch, AirPods, and select Beats headphones. The Apple Watch in particular has proven to be highly successful at capturing unit share, but more importantly dollar share as the average selling price (ASP) of these watches has increased from $426 in 1Q18 to $455 in the latest quarter. Apple also seems to be employing a similar strategy in its wireless headphone lineup as the latest AirPods are now available with wireless charging and an increased ASP.

Apple has refreshed its Apple Watch every year since the device was introduced in 2015. In 2018, the Apple Watch Series 4 brought new ECG health features and an updated design with slimmer bezels. In 2019, rumors suggest we could see new casing materials and perhaps new display technology.

Article Link: Apple Sees Strong Wearables Growth With 12.8 Million Shipments in Q1 2019

 

[calzon65]

Let's see … Apple started as a computer company then shifted to more of a mobile device (IOS devices) company … now wearables?. It's interesting how fast tech and trends change. Companies that can't adapt (Xerox, Kodak, BlackBerry, etc.) fail.

 

[cajun67]

Amazing that Apple is outselling the competitors whose wearables are a fraction of the price of an Apple Watch.

 

[bbrks]

Simple....cause it's Apple

 

[Godzilla71]

Not surprised. I see several people wearing an Apple Watch everywhere I go.

 

[thomas040]

Obviously. We won't be carrying around a 7 ounce phone in our pocket in 7 years.

 

[lkrupp]

Amazing that Apple is outselling the competitors whose wearables are a fraction of the price of an Apple Watch.

Many people appreciate quality and willing to pay for it. Not “amazing” at all.

 

[rosegoldoli]

i love my apple watch, happy to see apple succeeding here

 

[Khedron]

Amazing that Apple is outselling the competitors whose wearables are a fraction of the price of an Apple Watch.

Except for Xiaomi.

 

[jdclifford]

But market share has slightly eroded YOY.

 

[gnasher729]

Exactly what "non-wrist worn wearable devices" are they counting for Apple?

 

[tegranjeet]

Exactly what "non-wrist worn wearable devices" are they counting for Apple?

Do AirPods count as wearables?

 

[Tapiture]

Apple Products I’ve bought in the past 3 years: MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch Series 4. Notice no iPhone but two watches. I think wearables are replacing a lot of what the phone does for people. The iPhone has matured, the Apple Watch is still new and has compelling updates.

 

[mi7chy]

Disposable wearable apparently is a lucrative market. The Swiss with their long term reliability may learn from this.

 

[nikusak]

But market share has slightly eroded YOY.

Of course.

Especially Apple Watch will "lose" market share in the coming years.

Why? It's simple: Android market share is about 85%.

If 20% of Android owners buy a smartwatch in the next three years it's roughly something like 500 million units.

If 20% of iPhone owners buy an Apple Watch it's something like 200 million units.

...and then we will get Forbes and Business Insider clickbait headlines how Apple Watch market share has "collapsed" even though those kind of figures would be a crazy success for Apple.

Apple Watch is an iPhone accessory. Of course it can't compete in the long run in market share against "others" that are mostly used with Android. But that's pretty much irrelevant.

Instead, Apple Watch marketshare *within* the iPhone ecosystem is the thing to look at: how it's doing against FitBits etc. bought to be used with an iPhone, as is the YoY growth and percentage of iPhone owners either owning one or planning to get one.

It's the same with AirPods. Of course a heavily iPhone associated product (although it works with anything) can't compete against "others" in the long run. But again, that's not the thing to look at.

 

[Baymowe335]

Ho hum, just more domination from Apple.

No, they aren't trying to dominate market share, but since they created the wearables market, they will enjoy that for a while too.

Even if the share drops, it will become like the dominant iPhone business.

 

[Khedron]

Exactly what "non-wrist worn wearable devices" are they counting for Apple?

AirPods

 

[twolf2919]

Do AirPods count as wearables?

Did you guys bother reading the article at all? It tells you what's included.

 

[Breaking Good]

Let's see … Apple started as a computer company then shifted to more of a mobile device (IOS devices) company … now wearables?. It's interesting how fast tech and trends change. Companies that can't adapt (Xerox, Kodak, BlackBerry, etc.) fail.

Apple sells PC's. Laptops, smartphones and smartwatches are all Personal Computers.

When they figure out how to implant computers into people Apple will start to sell those.

 

[twolf2919]

More market share "data" by a company (IDC) not exactly known for accurate estimations.

How did IDC come by these statistics? Certainly Apple never divulged Apple Watch or AirPods sales volume info (and they stopped doing so for iPhone end of last year).

And what does market share mean anyway? We all know how unimportant that turned out to be in the smartphone market where, despite only commanding a 15% market share, Apple takes home the lions share of all the profits in that market. Sure, Xiaomi sold more smartwatches - probably giving them away at $20-50 each.....whereas Apple Watch is selling for $400+.

Not trying to be an Apple fan-boy (although I am) - but news outlets never seem to get tired of reporting on market share numbers - even when they're not even based on real facts/data.

 

[b11051973]

My niece got a Series 3 for her birthday 2 months ago. My parents and I are splitting the cost on a Series 3 for my sister. Got one on Amazon for $200 yesterday.

 

[s15119]

they are simply awesome devices.

 

[Breaking Good]

If 20% of Android owners buy a smartwatch in the next three years it's roughly something like 500 million units.

Android OEM's would first have to make a compelling product and Google would have to come up with a roadmap for WearOS. Neither of which appears to be happening at the present time.

I don't believe Xiaomi is sold in the U.S. So I can't comment on them. But from what is available in the U.S., nobody but Apple makes a compelling smartwatch.

It's said because I really would like to see more competition and innovation this area. But Google just doesn't seem interested in this line of tech.

 

[magicschoolbus]

Initially I was a skeptic.

I love my Apple Watch.

 

[macguru212]

Let's see … Apple started as a computer company then shifted to more of a mobile device (IOS devices) company … now wearables?. It's interesting how fast tech and trends change. Companies that can't adapt (Xerox, Kodak, BlackBerry, etc.) fail.

evolve or die.