Apple Watch Remains Nearly Three Times as Popular as Samsung Smartwatches

[ericwn]

AW is a useless since it requires tethering to phone. Gear 2 with built in cellular to operate untethered is better and it doesn't look like the old ugly Casio calculator watch but I'll wait until 3rd gen for further refinement.

As you can see from the article, perceived usefulness is not needed to outsell by factor three.

 

[kdarling]

The numbers suggest that the Apple Watch remains nearly three times as popular as Samsung Gear smartwatches ...

Not sure what such a comparison is supposed to be about, since neither kind of watch can fully operate on each other's phones, and thus iOS users would rarely choose Samsung watches (and vice versa). So they're not really competitors.

A more interesting comparison would be to only look at iPhone user choices, and see the percentage of Apple Watch sales compared to Pebble / other watches that used to dominate iOS user sales.

I.e. how much market has Apple left within its own ecosystem for competitors?

 

[I7guy]

Not sure what such a comparison is supposed to be about, since neither kind of watch can fully operate on each other's phones, and thus iOS users would rarely choose Samsung watches (and vice versa). So they're not really competitors.

A more interesting comparison would be to only look at iPhone user choices, and see the percentage of Apple Watch sales to Pebble or other watches that used to dominate iOS user sales.

I.e. how much market has Apple left within its own ecosystem for competitors?

This has all of the hallmarks as some of the other "surveys".

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...urvey-hands-out-10-amazon-gift-cards.1982514/

 

[maxsix]

A huge segment of Apple customers are emotionally attached to the brand.

In our narcissistic selfie loving times, Apple meets the needs of the image conscious individuals who's identity is linked to the products they own. Apple Watch enhances how they feel about themselves, a testimony to the brilliance of Apple marketing.

Samsung sells products consumers use. Apple sells the dream.

 

[Keirasplace]

Sure, you have a point there. I do not have any intention to compare them as a whole, neither to go into the details of the quality of their devices. But since Apple turned from a personal computer company to a mobile phone company, and since they supposedly want to be a good at it, I quoted number of sales because a) this is what is currently available to compare and b) it still is one indication of success, if one had to be good at making smartphones.

Also regarding cheap devices sales wrt volume of sales, my understanding is that if apple didn't care all that much about volume of sales in smartphones but rather had interest in selling premium class devices only, then we wouldn't see hilarious attempts in lower cost and entry level markets with quite a few edition of 5C SE etc. Of course it makes sense for them to have more users engaged in the app store / music ecosystem in the long run and it is quite evident that at some point (kind of late though) they compromised towards the sell cheap/sell more direction.

Prices in the high-end range are very comparable to high-end android devices as well. But (soon) asking even around 1000$ for a smartphone is plain ridiculous. Not for the price, but mainly because it simply is not worth that much. Maybe it used to, but now not. Mostly because the quality of the hardware and also the services offered behind that price tag, are just crap, but nicely packaged.

How are the 5c and 5SE "low cost". Calling them that is yeah, "hilarious" (sic).
You do say a lot of unsupported, nicely packaged (sic), crap.
[doublepost=1469387147][/doublepost]

...whereas a digital device can be any shape you want (especially if you are Samsung or LG and can make your own display) so why not a circle?

If your main display is going to be an analogue-style clock face (which is a popular & convenient way of visualising the time) then a circle makes sense: you can fit a larger watch face for a given bulk. Its a watch - so I'd normally be wanting big, bold, at-a-glance visual representations first, text and numbers second: if you're cramming corner-to-corner information onto the display then you're doing it wrong.

Also, the Samsung watches use the bezel as a control - which strikes me as a lot less fiddly than using the "crown".

Now, I've never had a serious play with the Samsung, so its quite possible that the quality of implementation is not up to Apple standards (it usually isn't) but, in principle, all things being equal, I'd choose a circular face and bezel control over square with a crown. Of course, choice is good...

You're forgetting that actual devs have to produce this thing you put on this little screens. That there is a reason why most info, besides time, was on squarish devices. Anything that complicates their life will slow down new app development for the device (because of higher costs).

Samsung or Apple, could produce an UI/Apps to fit any shape, but if they want more functionality on the watch, a squarish one is the way to go.

That Watches were round traditionally mostly because it was cheaper to make them round, not for some scientifically or even aesthetically developed reason. Link bracelets and cuffs existed a long time before watches. For most of the 1920s and early 1930s, square watches were plentiful by mostly used by the upper class (they were very expensive).

 

[theluggage]

square watches were plentiful by mostly used by the upper class (they were very expensive).

...I think the days of square watches being expensive bling are long gone, and electronic watches can be whatever shape you like (what annoys me is the way that even dumbwatches have got bigger over the last few years).

Anything that complicates their life will slow down new app development for the device (because of higher costs).

I'm happy to pay a bit extra for apps that put some thought into UI design - offering multiple skins is pretty "de rigeur" these days, and offering round & square skins isn't rocket science.

 

[I7guy]

A huge segment of Apple customers are emotionally attached to the brand.

In our narcissistic selfie loving times, Apple meets the needs of the image conscious individuals who's identity is linked to the products they own. Apple Watch enhances how they feel about themselves, a testimony to the brilliance of Apple marketing.

Samsung sells products consumers use. Apple sells the dream.

You should be happy about this. It's great for the price of your apple stock. Be careful what you wish for.

 

[lordofthereef]

Why are the Samsung smartwatches all circular?

The only reason to make your watch a circle is because it's an analog device... my digital watches have a much more rectangular shape, closer to that of an Apple Watch. There's nothing about your wrist that makes a circle a better usage of space.

My wife told me two days ago that she's thinking about getting an Apple Watch for the fitness features. I'm the nerd. Not her. She's more interested in it than I am. Which suggests that Apple is probably doing something right.

Aesthetic, I imagine. I don't really wear watches but I feel a round watch, in general, looks better. Personal preference of mine (and apparently the design teams I guess).

 

[AppleScruff1]

How are the 5c and 5SE "low cost". Calling them that is yeah, "hilarious" (sic).
You do say a lot of unsupported, nicely packaged (sic), crap.
[doublepost=1469387147][/doublepost]

That Watches were round traditionally mostly because it was cheaper to make them round, not for some scientifically or even aesthetically developed reason. Link bracelets and cuffs existed a long time before watches. For most of the 1920s and early 1930s, square watches were plentiful by mostly used by the upper class (they were very expensive).

That's interesting. How about a link?

 

[lordofthereef]

I've said this before: In Atlanta, the Apple Watch is pretty common. I see it worn by all sorts of people, including folks for whom the price doesn't seem to match their job's income, i.e. clerks, gas station employees, etc.. I notice the Apple Watch the most, probably Fitbits and trackers as often or more, and a smattering of other "wearables" from time to time.

Around Boston you can pretty easily get a base model watch for $150 used. I wouldn't call that cost prohibitive for most workers.

I'll also add that tmobile (and maybe others) offers an interest free payment plan. Base model turns out to be something along the lines of $14.50 a month, which is exactly two hours of federal minimum wage.

 

[maxsix]

You should be happy about this. It's great for the price of your apple stock. Be careful what you wish for.

Funny you should mention it. Sept 17, 2012 was a milestone day. I sold a vast amount of my APPL stock for a mere $702 per share.

Bought in the 90's for under $20, holding it for so long paid off nicely. Today I watch the market just for entertainment.

 

[I7guy]

Funny you should mention it. Sept 17, 2012 was a milestone day. I sold a vast amount of my APPL stock for a mere $702 per share.

Bought in the 90's for under $20, holding it for so long paid off nicely. Today I watch the market just for entertainment.

So now Apple can collapse?

 

[CFreymarc]

Health bands and smartwatches are converging. Smartwatches in some form have a future.

Issue with Apple Watch and others - they try to do too much.

IMO, we will see a shakedown in the smartwatch market in the next year or so. Typically, three companies end up surviving with a combined ~90% of the market space with the rest vertical niches. My predict is that Apple Watch iOS and Google Wear will be predominate mirroring the mobile market. As for #3, it wouldn't be surprising to see companies like Pebble, FitBit and others to merge for resource sharing.

 

[Keirasplace]

...I think the days of square watches being expensive bling are long gone, and electronic watches can be whatever shape you like (what annoys me is the way that even dumbwatches have got bigger over the last few years).



I'm happy to pay a bit extra for apps that put some thought into UI design - offering multiple skins is pretty "de rigeur" these days, and offering round & square skins isn't rocket science.

Right... I disagree. And I've been 30 years in software/hardware. When profit margins on apps are minuscule, and the market for your kind niche is so very small (the market for independent watch apps being itself very small), even a small effort is TOO MUCH.

I always find the whole "it doesn't take rocket science" funny. When something is barely profitable at the best of times, there are many many levels below "rocket science" that can stop devs from even going there.

Android devices have a much bigger market and there screen are all square yet fragmentation is being blamed for the dearth of good apps.

If all it takes to transform data from square to round is skinning, one of the two will be terrible : the one with the smallest market being the prime candidate for this.

 

[deusx]

How are the 5c and 5SE "low cost". Calling them that is yeah, "hilarious" (sic).
You do say a lot of unsupported, nicely packaged (sic), crap.

I find your ability to read, or lack thereof, disturbing. To argue..., even worse.

 

[PabloRe]

Well, Apple is better in everything. Not only functionality, but stability and appearance. So, the difference is quite natural.

 

[lowendlinux]

I've been pondering a smart watch but I think I'm going to hold off and see if the Nexus watch shows up. I'm not a big fan of the various Android wear watches and Sammy is Tizen and only fully works with Sammy phones IIRC.

I guess I'm just waiting to see how things shake out

 

[theluggage]

the market for independent watch apps being itself very small

...now, there's your real problem - the assumption that there should be a huge market for third-party smartwatch apps.

The reason that margins are small is that you can't charge a premium. The reason you can't charge a premium is that the apps don't have any compelling value to the user & so they won't pay more than small change. The reason the apps don't have any compelling value is that the "built-in" apps from the manufacturer pretty much cover the things that a modern smartwatch is good for: telling the time, fitness tracking and relaying alerts from your phone.

 

[pdqgp]

AW is a useless since it requires tethering to phone. Gear 2 with built in cellular to operate untethered is better and it doesn't look like the old ugly Casio calculator watch but I'll wait until 3rd gen for further refinement.

The LG Urbane 2 is the way to go vs the Gear 2. I have an original Gear S and couldn't stand the roll back in features the Gear 2 had compared to it.

Now that I have the Urbane 2 the Samsung sits at home except for when I am in shorts and a T-shirt.

Way nicer looking more functional faster and more reliable than the Gear series.

 

[Mac 128]

How are the 5c and 5SE "low cost". Calling them that is yeah, "hilarious" (sic).
You do say a lot of unsupported, nicely packaged (sic), crap.
[doublepost=1469387147][/doublepost]

You're forgetting that actual devs have to produce this thing you put on this little screens. That there is a reason why most info, besides time, was on squarish devices. Anything that complicates their life will slow down new app development for the device (because of higher costs).

Samsung or Apple, could produce an UI/Apps to fit any shape, but if they want more functionality on the watch, a squarish one is the way to go.

That Watches were round traditionally mostly because it was cheaper to make them round, not for some scientifically or even aesthetically developed reason. Link bracelets and cuffs existed a long time before watches. For most of the 1920s and early 1930s, square watches were plentiful by mostly used by the upper class (they were very expensive).

That's interesting. How about a link?

I was just about to ask the very same thing. Love to see the research on these very expensive square watches.

 

[PaladinGuy]

Apple isn't a person, it's a company. But if Tim Cook were to convince Nintendo to do this (they already sell their own Pokemon Band), they would have to charge more for the app than they do for the band. Likewise, it wouldn't be a smart move for Nintendo and eDNA to make the app exclusive to Apple products.



However, the FitBit is still not as accurate as the Apple Watch for fitness tracking. Considering the Apple Watch is not as accurate as the Microsoft Band 2 or the Moov, neither the FitBit or Apple Watch are great for accuracy and fitness junkies like myself.



The way tablets are moving, I would say 5 or 6 years would be a good time frame for your prediction. Once we get into perfecting 7nm chips, tablets will be able to do almost everything their laptop counterparts can without much performance loss.

The Apple Watch should have more health sensors and needs to be more accurate for fitness, because a I mentioned above, they are trailing behind Microsoft's Band 2 on fitness. Both the Apple TV and the Apple Watch can really help Apple get back on track.

This is exactly why I started wearing a Garmin Vivosmart HR+ instead. I overwhelmingly prefer the look of the Apple Watch, but the fact that it's less accurate and not guaranteed to be water resistant are big to me. I also do not like the goal mentality that Apple Watch uses for exercise. It seems too easy to get exercise sometimes on Apple Watch, and I don't agree with pushing people to exercise every single day of the week (Sunday-Saturday). It doesn't take into consideration the need for rest. I find Garmin's approach to be much more realistic and better, shooting for 150 minutes of intense exercise a week. This way, you have a weekly goal. Once you hit that, you don't feel guilty for having a rest day or doing something that isn't cardio occasionally. I just wish all of these devices would become even less step-centered. Ticks me off when I do speed jump roping for 25 minutes and it acts like it's a brisk walk or bike 20 miles and be told you aren't being active enough!

 

[admob71]

I have an Apple Watch and a Samsung Gear S2. I see a lot of websites that "rank" the Gear S2 above the Apple Watch. I attribute this mostly to people refusing to acknowledge Apple as having a superior product.

I have had the Apple Watch since launch day last April and wore it every day for over a year. I got the Gear S2 about 3 months ago and have used it nearly everyday, so I feel I have a pretty good gauge how the two watches truly compare.

It is night and day different, the Apple Watch is hands down better. It is always buggy, often apps will crash, and overall I'm just unimpressed with the Gear S2. It seriously blows my mind when I see websites trash on the Apple Watch but talk about how great the S2 is.

Here's my recent adventure using the S2: I decide to reply to a text message on my watch. Siri has its faults on replies on an Apple Watch, but the S Voice on the Gear S2 I find is actually way less reliable. So I tend to reply via the on screen keyboard. I want to text back, "Thanks man, I'll see you later." It's a simple phrase. I have normal sized fingers so this should be easy, right? Nope. Could not get the words typed, and by the time I kept trying to retype a word the whole message app crashes, then proceeds to change my watch face to a totally different design and I cannot use the watch for about 10 seconds due to lag and crashes. The whole process takes me about 2 minutes. Total waste of time, I could have sent multiple texts on my phone in that time.

Gear Adventure #2: I'm getting ready to drive around while visiting Chicago and am trying to use my watch to mimic my Google Maps app on my Galaxy Note 5. After messing with it for about 5 minutes I cannot get the directions to synch up with my phone, the app proceeds to be super laggy, crashes, then resets my watch face. I try this process 2 more times with the exact same results.

These are not isolated events. These happen to me at least once a week. Now smart watches are a relatively new technology, so I don't expect perfect results every time. But come on, this happens way too frequently. In all my time using the Apple Watch I never had any issues remotely close to how awful the Gear S2 is in comparison.

Sure, you can write your hipster article all you want ranking the Gear S2 over the Apple Watch. But the fact is with my experiences, mixed with the fact that the Apple Watch is infinitely more customizeable, there is no way on Earth the Gear S2 is as good as the Apple Watch.

In your one off annecdotal experience you forgot to add at the end. It sounds like you got a duff device, I have one which works like a charm, gets almost 3 days battery life and I love it. Is it better than the AW? Don't know, don't care as I don't have one of those so it doesn't effect me either way.

Ps, can you still not get 3rd party watch faces for the AW? , how many come pre.loaded. with you saying it was more customizable. I have a watch face app with a 1000 different faves which you can stylize many you your exact tastes. Not exactly shabby..
[doublepost=1469892937][/doublepost]

Well, Apple is better in everything. Not only functionality, but stability and appearance. So, the difference is quite natural.

Define better? The battery life which some would say is vital in a smartwatch is shocking compared to the Gear s2 . Please Spin this is a way to make less battery a positive.

 

[JoeyEatWorld]

In your one off annecdotal experience you forgot to add at the end. It sounds like you got a duff device, I have one which works like a charm, gets almost 3 days battery life and I love it. Is it better than the AW? Don't know, don't care as I don't have one of those so it doesn't effect me either way.

Ps, can you still not get 3rd party watch faces for the AW? , how many come pre.loaded. with you saying it was more customizable. I have a watch face app with a 1000 different faves which you can stylize many you your exact tastes. Not exactly shabby..
[doublepost=1469892937][/doublepost]
Define better? The battery life which some would say is vital in a smartwatch is shocking compared to the Gear s2 . Please Spin this is a way to make less battery a positive.

Yeah I think you're right I may have a dud device as a few others with the Gear S2 have not had the same issues I have had. I still use the watch everyday but have essentially stopped using the apps and only use it for notifications. For my Gear S2 anytime an app crashes, which is frequent, it changes the watch face randomly and that really gets me mad, haha.

Anyway I had a great app for the Apple Watch, for the life of me I cannot remember the name, but it changed the watch face to a new picture every time you looked at it. It was pretty amazing and I rocked that for the last 4 or so months I used the watch. But yeah there really are no 3rd party apps yet on the Apple Watch, or at least the last time I used it.