Apple Watch Demand Slides Significantly in June as Launch Momentum Wanes

[ToroidalZeus]

A $30,000 car is more like a fully equipped Honda Accord. A BMW 1 series starts around $35,000. The 3 series is into the $40,000s if you want luxury features like a folding rear seat.

a 3 series starts at 33k but reguardless of rounding a fully loaded honda accord isnt going to go to 5k in 5 yrs.

As smartphones have gotten bigger, they have also become less convenient. I think if the Sport gets GPS runners will buy it. People don't like to do their morning runs with their phones anymore. The technology isn't quite there but will be soon. The LG Urbane and Samsung Gear S are about 75% there, but the watches are too big for many people.

Accessories by definition don't replace anything, but they do complement other things. These devices don't need to do much, if anything that the phone can't, except for the health and fitness functions. Women are going to be wearing bracelets for a long time. If those bracelets can be functional and aesthetically pleasing, they can serve a purpose. It doesn't make commercial sense yet for Apple or anyone else to make a whole line of "smart" bracelets, watches, necklaces, etc. but that day could come.

Remember, it's only over the last 15 years or so that watches in general fell out of favor, and they still are big sellers in absolute terms. Go to any shopping mall and there are lots of stores selling watches. $350-$1100 is at the high end of the mall watch category, but certainly not unreasonable.

3 paragraphs, not 1 useful idea for wearables listed. my point still stands

also your premise that smartphones getting bigger has made them less convenient is false. going from 3.5 to 4 and 4.7 inches has increased convenience. It's only phables over 5" that start becoming inconvenient.

 

[KPOM]

a 3 series starts at 33k but reguardless of rounding a fully loaded honda accord isnt going to go to 5k in 5 yrs.

Regardless, my overall point is that pricier cars lose more absolute value than cheaper cars, and don't offer proportionally more functionality. So it has wood trim and can hit 65mph in 6 seconds instead of 8. Worth $40,000?

 

[KPOM]

a 3 series starts at 33k but reguardless of rounding a fully loaded honda accord isnt going to go to 5k in 5 yrs.

3 paragraphs, not 1 useful idea for wearables listed. my point still stands

also your premise that smartphones getting bigger has made them less convenient is false. going from 3.5 to 4 and 4.7 inches has increased convenience. It's only phables over 5" that start becoming inconvenient.

Define useful. I find notifications useful, as well as collecting health and fitness data. I've found the taps I get when using Maps to be very useful, even in a car. I can't always look down at the phone, and as someone who travels a lot, I am often in rental cars where there is not a spot to put my phone where I can see it (portable vent mounts don't work that well). Getting the tap telling me I'm approaching my exit is genuinely useful to me, and reminds me to listen for the next direction. And the 4.7" phones, while easier to look at, take up much more room in my pocket. I certainly wouldn't jog or run with one.

Everything you said is a matter of opinion. It's the same with me, but I'm not pretending that only my use cases are valid the way you are.

 

[OneMike]

Why am I not surprised that people do not want a device that needs a phone to work and connects via bluetooth?

I used my watch for a complete day this past weekend while not having my phone with me. I was able to use Siri for text and do a bunch of other things.

I was in an area with a large network similar to xfinitywifi. Honestly I was shocked when the first text came through but from there I was able to do all the things I needed.

 

[terminator-jq]

I can't believe this came as a surprise. I owned an Apple Watch 42mm sport for about 4 days before returning it. It was a beautiful device with a gorgeous screen. The OS was smooth (most of the time) and easy to learn and use. The Apple Watch does exactly what its supposed to do but unfortunately, it does it at a price that is way too high.

The main benefit of the Apple Watch is not having to take your phone out of your pocket. A simple wrist turn is much faster and convenient than fumbling around your pockets (or bag) for your iPhone and unlocking it. However, in my experience, this was not enough to justify the high price. At the end of the day, the $400 entry price (for the 42mm model) is a very poor value, even for a "luxury" product and it looks like I'm not the only one who has these feelings. At the end of the day a smart watch is not a luxury anyone really needed or asked for. When I accidentally leave my iPhone at home, it really REALLY sucks. However, the past few days of living without my Apple Watch have been smooth sailing. In fact, I actually have this odd feeling of freeness sense I no longer have the urge to look at my wrist every 5 minutes.

This doesn't mean that the Apple Watch is a failure though. It is a great product and I definitely enjoyed my time with it but Apple really needs to either lower the entry price to $200 or add some major features that will make the current price a more appealing value. Either way, at this point I am eagerly looking forward to the Apple Watch 2.

 

[paradox00]

You don't say? Predicted with certainty at announcement, was told it was 'crazy talk'.

How about a link to what you actually said, and a link to someone saying it was crazy talk? I suspect there's some revisionist history going on here. Everyone knows that sales decline after launch, so I'm better you said something a little different.

 

[DanielSw]

First true new product category after SJ. Clearly it´s not Apple. Is it terrible? No. But it´s not iPhone/iPod/iPad class product.

They seem to lack focus again, unfortunately. Only time will tell how this plays out, but I´m seeing too much quality issues with software and lack of brilliance in new products. iPhone will dominate in many years to come, and Apple will as a result be as profitable as ever. But they have clearly lost something very very important and without it the long-term future might not be as bright as seen with this Apple Watch launch.

It's truly amazing the lengths you people go to to disguise your envy and ignorance of this great new product.

So what if sales stats dip for a bit!

Once iOS 9, Apple Watch 2.0, and third-party apps appear, and once Apple catches up with demand, the stats will tell the only story worth telling.

I have a Sport 42, wear it every day, and I love it! It's a uniquely great convenience which I don't want to do without—just like every other Apple product I own or have ever owned for the last thirty years.

 

[Royksöpp]

Because it's a piece of crap. I returned mine after a couple of days. It's just too expensive for what it does, or doesn't do I should say. I may try the second gen if it's functionality isn't exclusively reliant on the iPhone.

 

[cdm283813]

Like the iPhone 5C?

That was destined to fail regardless.

Tim Cook: Let's slap some fruity color plastic bodies on a year old iPhone when you can get the out going flagship with better materials for the same cost or in some cases cheaper. Oh, and lets make a 8GB iPhone 5c while were at it.

But the worst has to be the iPad mini 3. The iPhone 5C beat that disaster by a mile. What was Apple thinking when they rehashed the same model with just touch ID at $400? For $100 more you get a major upgrade with iPad Air 2 or $100 less you get the same tablet minus touch ID.


Tim Cook worst mistakes:

1. iPad mini 3
2. iPhone 5C
3. The $1000 plus netbook with one port and crappy keyboard (I've tried the keyboard and it sucks)
4. Apple Watch (making the watch out to be premium jewelry when it's not).


While Apple Watch sold a lot the hype is dying down super quick. I like the idea of a smartwatch but the price needs to be adjusted. Only fanbois bought during the first wave.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Because it's a piece of crap. I returned mine after a couple of days. It's just too expensive for what it does, or doesn't do I should say. I may try the second gen if it's functionality isn't exclusively reliant on the iPhone.

I'd hardly call it a piece of crap even if I didn't like it or find it useful. It is a very nicely made item.

 

[Royksöpp]

I'd hardly call it a piece of crap even if I didn't like it or find it useful. It is a very nicely made item.

Because it's *beautiful a piece of crap.

 

[Rogifan]

Because it's *beautiful a piece of crap.

Just like the Slice data, except for the beautiful part.

 

[SHNXX]

All this talk about price. What is this, an income inequality discussion forum?

Everyone has different priorities and disposable income and it is neither interesting nor useful for others to hear individuals bitch and moan about the AW being too expensive.
Let's discuss features and killer apps, or lack thereof, not the price.

 

[iChrist]

It still hasn't enough unique functions to appeal to the masses
more sensors, less fashion, less notifications & games, better battery.

and of course thinner...

Then I consider one

DEFINITELY. Too fat and poorly designed at launch.

People are like, oh yeah, it's Gen 1. But a poor Gen 1 will turn many people off from considering future releases too.

Can't make a second 1st impression....

 

[EightyTwenty]

Nobody has ever given me 1 compelling reason to spend a nickel on this thing. Not 1 reason beyond "it tells time".

It's a product that serves absolutely no useful purpose for the vast majority of normal human beings. Useless and "fun" can sell big. Any product that is both useless and boring is dead in the water.

I actually read posts by people telling me they bought it to play games on. I burst out laughing the first time I read that. The mental image of some geek playing a video game on his wrist watch is bloody hilarious. Talk about vagina repellant.

 

[EightyTwenty]

All this talk about price. What is this, an income inequality discussion forum?

Everyone has different priorities and disposable income and it is neither interesting nor useful for others to hear individuals bitch and moan about the AW being too expensive.
Let's discuss features and killer apps, or lack thereof, not the price.

Yeah, let's completely ignore one of the major reason this thing isn't selling.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Nobody has ever given me 1 compelling reason to spend a nickel on this thing.

Not 1 reason beyond "it tells time".

It's a product that serves absolutely no useful purpose for the vast majority of normal human beings. Useless and "fun" can sell big. Any product that is both useless and boring is dead in the water.

And I think that it stands on it's own just as a watch. I can see the appeal of wearing it just to tell time.

 

[mantan]

It's truly amazing the lengths you people go to to disguise your envy and ignorance of this great new product.

So what if sales stats dip for a bit!

Once iOS 9, Apple Watch 2.0, and third-party apps appear, and once Apple catches up with demand, the stats will tell the only story worth telling.

I have a Sport 42, wear it every day, and I love it! It's a uniquely great convenience which I don't want to do without—just like every other Apple product I own or have ever owned for the last thirty years.

Wait a minute. You're saying found every single Apple product you've bought for 30 years as 'something unique and great that you couldn't do without??? Even the stuff they were churning out in the dark days??

Seriously??

 

[SHNXX]

Yeah, let's completely ignore one of the major reason this thing isn't selling.

Isn't selling?
First of all, you don't have sales figures, unless you work at Apple.
Second, they've supposedly sold millions of units, which is more than any other smart watch up to now.
Third, it is a first generation product, which usually sells fewer units than the subsequent versions.
Finally, how do you define "not selling?" Under 2 million in 1 year? 5 million? What time frame? Which markets? (China? USA? Europe?)

 

[2IS]

First true new product category after SJ. Clearly it´s not Apple. Is it terrible? No. But it´s not iPhone/iPod/iPad class product.

They seem to lack focus again, unfortunately. Only time will tell how this plays out, but I´m seeing too much quality issues with software and lack of brilliance in new products. iPhone will dominate in many years to come, and Apple will as a result be as profitable as ever. But they have clearly lost something very very important and without it the long-term future might not be as bright as seen with this Apple Watch launch.

They'll still come out with great new devices, just a bit late since without SJ, they need to wait for Samsung/Android to come up with the good ideas before Apple can copy them.

 

[mantan]

All this talk about price. What is this, an income inequality discussion forum?

Everyone has different priorities and disposable income and it is neither interesting nor useful for others to hear individuals bitch and moan about the AW being too expensive.
Let's discuss features and killer apps, or lack thereof, not the price.

Because the perceived value is based on price.

The iPhone and iPad get away with having a premium price because they provide a great user experience that made it worth it for a huge number of consumers.

The current version of the AW doesn't appear to provide a value for the dollar for a lot of consumers. So either they need to significantly increase the functionality or lower the price.

 

[someone28624]

I use mine less after the first month. I thought it would be more useful. Recently, I had to wipe my phone and I had to lose all my workout info. No way to backup my workouts. Perhaps my bad experience is just unique to me but my feeling about the Apple watch matches the sales graph.

Yep, same thing happened to me. And all my logged heart rates. No way to repair the Apple Watch. I had to start over. Poor design.

I'm seriously thinking about selling mine. I haven't used it in over a week. I bought it to see my Dexcom Share data quickly, but the app loads soooooo slowly it's quicker to look at my Dexcom.

Wearing a watch is obnoxious again. And I feel like a snob having people comment on it. I don't like dealing with charging another device.

The watch keeps restarting, taking screenshots, and activating Siri when I bend my wrist or lean on my hands.

 

[d4rkc4sm]

wow this was totally unexpected

 

[scottsjack]

YES! Oh please Marketplace reject this wristwatch silliness that Apple has embarked on. Apple was so much better when they were a great computer company.

 

[DynaFXD]

The one indicative thing about the medical aspects of the watch will be FDA filings. If Apple wants to have some sort of anonymity in the filings, they need to have shell companies, or other companies that do the work for them.

Yeah, no kidding. And anyone who thinks the watches are too expensive already AND should BE medical devices haven't seen anything yet (if they go the medical device route). There is a reason medical devices are so expensive and it is spelled i-n-s-u-r-a-n-c-e. And that cost for CYA against litigation raise by the folks that have an emergency event while relying on their medical device gets passed along to all the rest of us users. ->No thanks<-, leave the special care devices in the realm of medical supply companies who are oriented to supply such things. Leave our dippy cell phones, tablets, watches and naughty word music streams to those who can deliver those most efficiently.