Apple Watch Market Share Declined Over Summer as Rumors Swirled About Series 3 Models With LTE

[MacRumors]

Apple Watch was the world's most popular smartwatch by a significant margin last quarter, but its market share declined over the summer, according to data shared with MacRumors by research firm IDC.

Whereas the Apple Watch represented just under half of all smartwatches shipped in the second quarter with 49.6 percent market share, the device had an estimated 41 percent market share in the third quarter. In other words, four out of every 10 smartwatches shipped last quarter were Apple Watches.

Apple Watch shipments totaled an estimated 2.7 million units in the July-September period, down from 3.4 million units in the prior quarter.

Worldwide smartwatch shipments in Q3 2017 via IDC. Units reflected in millions.​

Apple Watch shipments were likely affected by seasonality, as the summer is traditionally a slower sales period for Apple. Also, some customers may have delayed their purchase given consistent rumors about Apple Watch Series 3 models with cellular capabilities launching in September, as did happen.

Samsung finished runner-up to the Apple Watch with an estimated 700,000 shipments, also down slightly from the prior quarter.

Garmin took third place with 600,000 shipments, unchanged from the prior quarter. Fossil and Continental Wireless, which makes kids smartwatches in China, tied for fourth place with shipments of 500,000 smartwatches respectively. All other smartwatch makers shipped 1.7 million units combined in the quarter.

IDC's data shared with MacRumors is based exclusively on smartwatches, which it defines as watches that can run third-party apps on the device itself.

In the broader wearables market, which includes many low-priced fitness trackers, IDC estimates the Apple Watch captured 10.3 percent market share last quarter. Fitbit and Chinese vendor Xiaomi tied for the lead in that category last quarter with an estimated 13.7 percent market share each.

Apple doesn't break out Apple Watch sales like it does with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Instead, it groups the wearable under its "Other Products" category, alongside Apple TV, AirPods, Beats, iPods, and other accessories.

On a conference call early this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook did reveal that Apple Watch sales were up 50 percent in the quarter year over year. Apple reported revenue of $3.2 billion from its "Other Products" category, up 36 percent year over year.

Moving on now to Apple Watch, with unit growth of over 50 percent for the third consecutive quarter, it continues to be the best selling and most loved smartwatch in the world. We began shipping Apple Watch Series 3 just six weeks ago, and customers love the new freedom of cellular. The ability to go for a run with just your Apple Watch, or go for a quick errand without your phone, while staying connected, is a game changer. Now more than ever, Apple Watch is the ultimate device for healthy life, and is already making a big difference in our customers' lives.

Apple today announced that Apple Watch users in the United States can participate in a heart study aimed at identifying irregular heart rhythms.

Article Link: Apple Watch Market Share Declined Over Summer as Rumors Swirled About Series 3 Models With LTE

 

[44267547]

Even if the Apple Watch market share declined over the summer as the article indicated, it's still the best selling smart watch in the world and With the release of Series 3 in September, its expanded with LTE and will continue to grow with more health advancements. Apple owns the wearable market currently.

 

[calzon65]

The iPhone was a revolutionary change in cell phone design destroying the blackberry "style" of phone. Today virtually all cell phones use the same basic design as the iPhone.

I wonder, however, if the smart watch (i.e., Apple Watch) will displace traditional watches in the same way.

 

[Naraxus]

This is the same thing that happens with iPhones every year - sales dip a bit by people waiting for the newest one. Not sur why this is news.

 

[scottcampbell]

Those blasted swirling rumors!

 

[MH01]

As smart watches go, the Apple Watch has the best ecosystem, and is the best offering at the moment. Also don't see anyone beating them .

 

[ThaRuler]

I think it’s safe to say now the AW was a flop. Tim Cook has yet to create a new “category” that can rival the iPhone or iPad. I miss Steve.

 

[dannyyankou]

I think it’s safe to say now the AW was a flop. Tim Cook has yet to create a new “category” that can rival the iPhone or iPad. I miss Steve.

What? The article is saying that Apple Watch sales slowed down because people were holding out for the series 3 model. How does that indicate a flop? Apple Watch series 3 will probably bring the marketshare back up.

It's still at 41% by the way.

 

[HoosBruce]

I think it’s safe to say now the AW was a flop. Tim Cook has yet to create a new “category” that can rival the iPhone or iPad. I miss Steve.

:lol wow go away. I know you’re not being serious, but still...

 

[WhoDaKat]

This is the same thing that happens with iPhones every year - sales dip a bit by people waiting for the newest one. Not sur why this is news.

I had to pop in to say this, but you beat me to it. This is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. My prediction, iPhone X sales will slow down in August. You heard it here first folks.

 

[RichardMZhlubb]

I think it’s safe to say now the AW was a flop. Tim Cook has yet to create a new “category” that can rival the iPhone or iPad. I miss Steve.

He hasn’t matched the single most successful consumer product in human history? What a loser.

 

[MacBebe]

What? The article is saying that Apple Watch sales slowed down because people were holding out for the series 3 model. How does that indicate a flop? Apple Watch series 3 will probably bring the marketshare back up.

It's still at 41% by the way.

I am guessing the guy was just being sarcastic. If not, I agree with you

 

[Arthur75]

The apple watch is an utterly geeky boring piece of junk, that you have to charge every day ..
Just forget about it

 

[tridley68]

Love my White Ceramic series 3 Apple watch it pairs very nicely with my Slate Gray I Phone X 256 GB

 

[gregmac19]

“Also, some customers may have delayed their purchase given consistent rumors about Apple Watch Series 3 models with cellular capabilities launching in September, as did happen.”


Some people were waiting for cellular capabilities, but I was waiting for a watch with a big red dot.

 

[Return Zero]

This is the same thing that happens with iPhones every year - sales dip a bit by people waiting for the newest one. Not sur why this is news.

News doesn't have to be unexpected or acyclical. When significant numbers change significantly, it's news regardless. When the temperature drops every winter, does the weather channel just ignore it and only talk about precipitation chance?

 

[MacBebe]

The apple watch is an utterly geeky boring piece of junk, that you have to charge every day ..
Just forget about it

Forty One percent is a lot to disagree with you

 

[honglong1976]

The apple watch is an utterly geeky boring piece of junk, that you have to charge every day ..
Just forget about it

I disagree.

 

[Mansu944]

I think it’s safe to say now the AW was a flop. Tim Cook has yet to create a new “category” that can rival the iPhone or iPad. I miss Steve.

Damnnnnnnn.....does anyone get sarcasm around here?

 

[DotCom2]

Like many (I am supposing here) I didn't buy the series 0. I didn't buy the series 1. I didn't buy the series 2.
BUT JUMPED ALL IN ON THE SERIES 3 LTE!
I think apple is going to have a fabulous quarter with the addition of the AW series 3 and LTE.

 

[santaliqueur]

The apple watch is an utterly geeky boring piece of junk, that you have to charge every day ..
Just forget about it

Except my watch has been on my wrist for over 2 days and I could probably squeeze out its battery life until the rest of this day. But it's not like you're actually interested in facts, you just want to be a wet blanket about things other people like.

 

[JGIGS]

I have a very split view on AW. When I first got my series 3, my first ever AW, I used it a lot with my 5S. Since I got my X I use it a lot less. I think if more standalone apps start coming out for the LTE version it will become more interesting but for now it's definitely not a necessity but a fun sometimes helpful gadget.

Also if Apple continues to focus on the health function (monitoring heart rhythm in the US is a nice start) but I'd like them to do there own sleeping app and whatever other useful health monitoring stuff it can do.

 

[Zaft]

I could never get into the Apple watch. It just was a distraction to me.

 

[yaxomoxay]

The apple watch is an utterly geeky boring piece of junk, that you have to charge every day ..
Just forget about it

Not sure. I don’t have one but I gave one to my wife as a present (S3). At first she wanted me to give it back, but I told her to wait a few days to test it. Now she can’t leave the house without it and she actually admitted I had a great idea.

 

[Zaft]

The apple watch is an utterly geeky boring piece of junk, that you have to charge every day ..
Just forget about it

If anything those Android smartwatches looks geeky. Huge, like I have a GPS monitor on my hand due to house arrest.