Apple Shipped an Estimated 30.7 Million Apple Watches in 2019, Beating Entire Swiss Watch Industry

[Abazigal]

90% of the time I see someone wearing an Apple Watch, I wonder, sometimes aloud, WTF do they need notifications on their wrist for.

They look ridiculous - they're the Pager of the current generation. Most people who had a pager them kept them as a fashion accessory.

Conspicuous consumption of a device that depreciates to $0 in 5 years. TOTAL waste of money.

As a teacher, I have my timetable keyed into my calendar, which I can view from my watch using the Siri watch face. It’s very convenient being able to see when my next lesson is (as well as have it buzz me when it’s almost time for it), as well as other useful snippets of information.

It also saves me the trouble of taking the watch out of my pocket to tell the time.

Another perk - using Siri and Apple Pay when taking public transport.

A lot of nice little conveniences wrapped in a neat little package.

 

[StyxMaker]

I have no idea where you live, but I can’t think of anyplace I do business that doesn’t accept Apple Pay. Even the gas stations I go to have readers on the pumps.

 

[rp2011]

Apple watch that lasts 3 years or a timepiece I can hand down for a few generations.
Tough call.
/s

I hope future generations appreciate the Timex Weekender I’ll be giving them. ...and I surely hope they have a great way to easily track, pay, lock, unlock, call, message, and all the other things the Apple watch does and will do in the future.

 

[Cobalt50]

Wait a minute. What about Seiko, Citizen, Casio, Orient and the German watch industry? I'm not saying Apple isn't selling a lot of watches. But their progress might be overstated when only comparing to the Swiss watch industry.

 

[Glockworkorange]

Wait a minute. What about Seiko, Citizen, Casio, Orient and the German watch industry? I'm not saying Apple isn't selling a lot of watches. But their progress might be overstated when only comparing to the Swiss watch industry.

It's like saying "Toyota sold more cars than Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati combined!"

But of course they did.

Most people are buying the 2 or 3 hundred dollar Apple watches.

Top Swiss watches are all over $1,000.00, easily.

If Apple sold as many ceramic models as Tag or Rolex or whatever, it would be a more even match.

And I say this as a loyal Apple Watch user who did buy a ceramic model.
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Apple watch that lasts 3 years or a timepiece I can hand down for a few generations.
Tough call.
/s

I mean, I have a Rolex and an Apple Watch.

It's not an either or kind of thing.

 

[iSayuSay]

Until/unless Apple allows the core to be swapped out, AW will always be disposable. It can thus never have the collector value of high end Swiss watches regardless of materials used or redesigns. So of course by its nature nature the AW sell far more units because people want the latest tech.

I’ve swapped my AW pretty much every generation. I’ve had my Rolex Daytona for 25 years and I’ll pass it to my son some day. It’s already worth a multiple of what I paid for it, and it’ll do nothing but continue to appreciate. AW can never do that so long as the cores can’t be swapped. And even then...

well that rolex costs what? $10K? $15K? Apple Watch would cost you $300-$400 a pop, and will last you about 3-4 years. You and your son could buy lifetime stock of Apple Watch and adjusted for inflation, it’d still cost less than a Rolex.

Also AW isn’t a mere watch, it’s also a computer. It does have limited lifespan and disposable, but during its short sweet lifetime it does a lot more too. It motivates me for healthier lifestyle and that’s priceless. Not even a Rolex could entice me to move or doing workouts.

 

[AustinIllini]

Yeah, this isn't a good comparison.

Traditional watches are classy and automatic watches will work for years. Apple Watch is more useful in the near term but it ultimately destined for a landfill.
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well that rolex costs what? $5K? $10K. Apple Watch would cost you $300-$400 a pop, and will last you about 3-4 years. You could buy 10 or 15 of Apple Watch and it’s still cost less than a Rolex.

Also AW isn’t a mere watch, it’s also a computer. It does have limited lifespan and disposable, but during its short sweet lifetime it does a lot more too. It motivates me for healthier lifestyle and that’s priceless.

I'm not a Rolex guy, but an automatic Rolex will last a lifetime and can be handed down.

A $2400 TAG Heuer Aquaracer will outlast any computer you own. A $500 Seiko SKX007 will as well. Rolex isn't a good example because it is the high-high end, but its little brother Tudor or biggest competitor, Omega make watches which will last a long time and they stand behind their product.

 

[Shasterball]

90% of the time I see someone walking around with their face buried in their phone I wonder if they just cant afford an Apple Watch and cut that cord.

Or maybe its just because I come from people that actually do work, pagers never were a fashion accessory for them but a vital communication tool. Likewise the watch has a role for those that can appreciate it.

And 100% of the time when I see someone thinking they have the only point of view on a topic, I know they have nothing to say.

But, you made a similar comment as he did. So, you also have nothing to say?

OMG - then what am I commenting on!!!!

Also, it's weird to see someone on a phone and wonder if they "can't afford" an Apple Watch. Just saying...

 

[iSayuSay]

Yeah, this isn't a good comparison.

Traditional watches are classy and automatic watches will work for years. Apple Watch is more useful in the near term but it ultimately destined for a landfill.
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I'm not a Rolex guy, but an automatic Rolex will last a lifetime and can be handed down.

A $2400 TAG Heuer Aquaracer will outlast any computer you own. A $500 Seiko SKX007 will as well.

I don't dispute that. A mechanical watch last decades, maybe even centuries. But I've never been a watch guy until Apple Watch.

It is a "garbage" that will be obsolete, and the battery will decay after a few years, but like I said it does a lot more during that short lifespan.

As long as Apple does a proper recycling, the waste would be minimal and we can keep buying new AW when it's time to upgrade. Well you already use computers and phones that would fill up landfill too.

 

[name99]

Isn’t that comparing apples to oranges?

Yes and no. Clearly a wrist computer is a very different type of object from a piece of jewelry.

BUT if the dollars that used to be spent on one are now spent on the other, that’s of interest to a lot of people...

 

[AustinIllini]

90% of the time I see someone walking around with their face buried in their phone I wonder if they just cant afford an Apple Watch and cut that cord.

Or maybe its just because I come from people that actually do work, pagers never were a fashion accessory for them but a vital communication tool. Likewise the watch has a role for those that can appreciate it.

And 100% of the time when I see someone thinking they have the only point of view on a topic, I know they have nothing to say.

You really didn't justify a watch with this post at all.

For one thing, most people get buy doing phone-type work without an Apple Watch.

Secondly, you cite pagers, a technology which was killed by the cell phone. A watch doesn't do a better job replacing a pager than a phone. If anything, it's more of a distraction than it is worth.

An Apple Watch is not a "vital communication tool", it's actually a redundant tool for 99% of users.
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I don't dispute that. A mechanical watch last decades, maybe even centuries. But I've never been a watch guy until Apple Watch.

It is a "garbage" that will be obsolete, and the battery will decay after a few years, but like I said it does a lot more during that short lifespan.

As long as Apple does a proper recycling, the waste would be minimal and we can keep buying new AW when it's time to upgrade. Well you already use computers and phones that would fill up landfill too.

Right, I use a phone. That's a great excuse not to buy an Apple Watch, not an excuse to generate more trash.

Also, even if every Apple Watch went back to Apple, the production waste is still a net negative.

 

[rp2011]

A Rolex is jewelry.
An Apple watch is a computer.
Jewelry tend to keep their value.
All computers depreciate so long as technological advancements mark their obsolescence.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

nope. I used to use a 10 grand watch. Haven’t worn it in over year since getting the series 4.

We bet you did buddy.

 

[Jedwardoo]

Not having to run with my iPhone strapped to my waist has been AMAZING. I too run with AirPods and my watch. Absolutely amazing.

I have used an AW 3 for a few years, sold mine to family (in use today) (wife/relatives all share activity stats), and now use an AW5. Can't imagine life without it. Besides the exercise benefits, activity information throughout my day, ECG reading, noise reading, sleep analysis, and pages of benefits ... I like it because I don't have to always check my phone and when my boss calls me, I don't miss it. My phone is 100% on silent with no vibrate.

Carrot weather on my watch is a must. Love being able to see the forecast for the next 5 days that changes where I go.

Traveling the world over the last few years (for work) - the watch updates itself wherever I go. Being able to see what my wife texts me without grabbing my phone, my reminders (to do list), a quick timer, automatically logging into my Mac when it has been sleeping, American Airlines boarding ticket for when I board a plane... Microsoft Authenticator approver when I log into my windows PC...

Heartwatch app is amazing.

The watch is indispensable imo. .... I had fully intended on only writing a few sentences - told ya I could write pages on this.

what apps do you use on your AW?
I’m curious to check what to get once I hop on board the AW bandwagon.

 

[BigMcGuire]

what apps do you use on your AW?
I’m curious to check what to get once I hop on board the AW bandwagon.

Apps I use on my Apple Watch:
1Password, American Airlines, Microsoft Authenticator, Carrot Weather, Day One, Voice Record, and WaterMinder.

Apps I have listed when I hit the side button (not crown):
Reminders, Workout, Music, Activity, Heart Rate, Calculator, Timer, Calendar, Maps, and Messages. I often use the ECG app.

On my phone my most used apps that use Apple Watch data is: Autosleep, Heartwatch, and Pedometer.

Voice Record Pro is the app I use on my iPhone/iPad and Apple Watch to record audio (long work meetings usually).
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Forgot to mention that I use the flashlight app on the pulldown list on my Apple Watch regularly. That and the option to locate my iPhone audibly when I’ve misplaced it (via the watch).

 

[Baymowe335]

90% of the time I see someone wearing an Apple Watch, I wonder, sometimes aloud, WTF do they need notifications on their wrist for.

They look ridiculous - they're the Pager of the current generation. Most people who had a pager them kept them as a fashion accessory.

Conspicuous consumption of a device that depreciates to $0 in 5 years. TOTAL waste of money.

What do you think the other 10% of the time?

”Gee, I’m totally off base 90% of the time?”

 

[iSayuSay]

Right, I use a phone. That's a great excuse not to buy an Apple Watch, not an excuse to generate more trash.

Also, even if every Apple Watch went back to Apple, the production waste is still a net negative.

Well it’s inevitable these days that smartwatch in general (not just Apple) is taking down younger generations. When companies like Fossil, and Tag Heuer making smartwatches it’s gotta be something.

Yes it’s sad days for mechanical watch guys when looking at smartwatch market. These “wrist computers” are junk that costs hundreds of $ and ending up in landfill after a few years.

In the end I agree with you, Swiss watches and Apple watch is incomparable despite being used on your wrist and tells time. I always appreciate the intricacies of mechanical, but I just use my Apple Watch way way more.

 

[basehead617]

And how many Apple watches end up in landfills after a couple years?

Does that matter? Where are all the iPhone 3Gs?

 

[PostApple2016BrainWash]

Apple cares very much about the timepiece and that's why it's going to develop a 7” TimePod which can be better than lenovo smart clock.

 

[amartinez1660]

The people who don't want to disturbing everyone with their stupid phone making noise and drawing attention all the time. my notifications all come in the form of a silent pulse and I can check them without being conspicuous at work. Plus the health features nearly saved my life this year.

So it failed and you died? You are writing from the fast internetz of the heavens?
...joking
This macrumors piece is making me want an AW now.

 

[kis]

“Switzerland is screwed”

Jony Ive, 2014.

If anyone is screwed it’s the US - so much debt that it’s easily the poorest country in the world by now. Literacy in the US is at its lowest point since before WWII, minimum wage is less than in most Eastern European countries.

Switzerland’s economy has been growing, people are wealthy as f there and 2019 was one of the best years in decades for the Swiss watch industry. Apple watches are for people who are doomed to wear mass products that last 2-3 years max.

Also: Jony Ive has been sacked.

 

[BigMcGuire]

If anyone is screwed it’s the US - so much debt that it’s easily the poorest country in the world. Switzerland’s economy has been growing, people are wealthy as f there and the watch industry has had one of its beat years in decades 2019. Apple watches are for poor people.

Well... !$&# You got me. I’m definitely poor and I have an Apple Watch.

 

[kis]

With a $199 option, it’s no wonder. Talk about sucking up all the oxygen in the room... similar to $159 AirPods. Excellent product and entry level pricing. It’s very difficult for anyone else to compete, especially if a customer is already in the ecosystem.

Swiss Watch buyers are hardly in the same ecosystem as buyers of Apple watches. And I’m not talking about how many Apple products people have piled up

 

[mannyvel]

We bet you did buddy.

My dad, who's 78(!), retired his Rolex for an AW2 and now an AW4. The Rolex tells time, but it doesn't track his walks, tennis, golf, heart, etc.

At some point in your life utility trumps snobbery.

 

[Tech198]

I prefer Swiss watches..

The only reason for Apple outselling is because of the heath monitoring capabilities.