According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global wearables shipments reached 22 million units in the first quarter of 2017. Apple captured 16 percent marketshare and became the world’s largest wearables vendor, overtaking Fitbit.
In a statement, Steven Waltzer, Industry Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, “Global wearables shipments reached 22.0 million units in Q1 2017, rising 21 percent annually from 18.2 million in Q1 2016. Stronger demand for new smartwatch models in North America, Western Europe and Asia drove the uptick.”
Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Apple shipped 3.5 million wearables worldwide in Q1 2017, rising 59 percent annually from 2.2 million units in Q1 2016. Apple captured 16 percent global marketshare and overtook Fitbit to become the world’s largest wearables vendor. The new Apple Watch Series 2 is selling relatively well in the US, UK and elsewhere, due to enhanced styling, intensive marketing and a good retail presence. Xiaomi shipped 3.4 million wearables for 15 percent marketshare worldwide in Q1 2017. Demand for its popular Mi Band fitness range was broadly flat across its core markets of Asia.”
Cliff Raskind, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Fitbit shipped 2.9 million wearables worldwide in Q1 2017, falling a huge 36 percent annually from 4.5 million in Q1 2016. Fitbit has lost its wearables leadership to Apple, due to slowing demand for its fitnessbands and a late entry to the emerging smartwatch market. Fitbit’s shipments, revenue, pricing and profit are all shrinking at the moment and the company has a major fight on its hands to recover this year.”
Global Wearables Vendor Shipments and Marketshare in Q1 2017
Numbers are rounded. The definition of wearables includes products such as smartwatches, fitnessbands and smartglasses, but does NOT include peripheral attachments such as smart weighing scales.
The full report, Global Wearables Vendor Market Share by Region: Q1 2017, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wearable Device Ecosystems (WDE) service, details of which can be found here.
MacDailyNews Take: Well, it doesn’t sound like they’ve counted AirPods – which are also wearables and, as we wrote back in December 2015:
Mixing Apple Watches that start at $349 [now $269] with fitness bands that you can get for under $20 (Xiaomi Mi Band) is a goofy way to measure unit share.
It’s like including golf cart makers in with automakers and calling it “worldwide vehicle share.” It’s technically correct, but utterly meaningless.
If Strategy Analytics simply looked at smartwatches (anything over US$250), Apple’s utter dominance would make so-called competitors blanch.
And, now – drumroll, please – TGIF! Interns, TTK!
🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺…
SEE ALSO:
Apple looks to face down Apple Watch naysayers – May 3, 2017
As it turns two, Apple Watch focuses on core strengths – April 24, 2017
Happy second birthday, Apple Watch! – April 24, 2017
New limited edition Apple Watch Nikelab champions neutral-toned style – April 20, 2017
Apple Watch Series 3 coming in second half 2017, sources say – April 5, 2017
The Apple Watch is still the best designed smartwatch – March 14, 2017
The Apple Watch is winning – March 2, 2017
Apple Watch had massive holiday quarter; took nearly 80% share of total smartwatch revenue – February 10, 2017
The Apple Watch ‘WOW’ moment – February 3, 2017
Apple Watch dominates with 63% of worldwide smartwatch market – February 2, 2017
Apple smashes Street; iPhone, Services, Mac and Apple Watch set all-time records – January 31, 2017
Apple Watch has blood on its hands: Pebble is dead – December 7, 2016
Apple Watch has blood on its hands: ‘Microsoft Band’ wearable is dead – October 4, 2016
Computerworld reviews Apple Watch Series 2: It’s time to jump in – September 27, 2016
Ars Technica reviews Apple Watch Series 2: ‘Great experience with very few hiccups’ – September 22, 2016
Mossberg reviews Apple’s watchOS 3: Quicker, easier, and more useful – September 21, 2016
CNET reviews Apple Watch Series 2: ‘The smooth wrist companion it was always meant to be’ – September 14, 2016
WSJ reviews Apple Watch Series 2: ‘Apple Watch finds its purpose in life’ – September 14, 2016
The Verge reviews Apple Watch Series 2: There’s something effortlessly cool about it – September 14, 2016
Apple Watch Series 2: Apple refocuses its smartwatch – September 12, 2016
I wouldn’t have expected this. Though, I also didn’t expect Pebble to nearly go bankrupt and be bought out by Fitbit. I expected Pebble to be popular to due to the lower price – just like IBM Clones.
“Others” is ahead by a wide margin.
Crap $15 Chinese no-name “fitness bands.”
Where is the Watch assembled?
Assembled in China. Not designed in China. Not sold by some IP-infringing no-name Chinese “company.”
Are you stupidly trying to equate $15 step counters with $250+ extremely powerful Apple Watches like Strategy Analytics and any other idiotic beancounter making the same mistake?
Apple is also the world’s largest Mac vendor coming in at 100%.
It’s all in how you narrowly define your categories.
Fruit of the Loom remains a much more dominant Wearables vendor.
Funny numbers.
The Watch along with other Apple wearables are going to make more money for Apple than the Mac and iPad combined within two years.
It’s going to be iPhone, wearables, services, and the Mac will be listed in “other”
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