Research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) recently released a report that Apple Watch Series sales have hit record highs in the fourth quarter of 2016. This is good news for Apple, which has struggled in previous periods to gain market share in the smartwatch market. Fitbit, on the other hand, did not do too well.
Numbers don’t lie
Based on IDC estimates, Apple sold approximately 4.6 million watches during the fourth quarter of 2016. That’s about 500,000 more devices sold compared to the same quarter of 2015. The result is a 13% year-over-year growth with a market share of 13.6%.
Although Fitbit is still the market leader with 19.2% market share, Apple has closed the gap significantly with their latest Apple Watch series release.
Upgrades bring life to an underperforming device
Apple Watch Series 1’s exclusivity to a certain market has led it to perform below par in the quarters following its debut in 2015. Many reasons were given for this. Series 1 was a product directed at a specific niche of consumers, specifically the health-conscious junkies, and the tech type general population and Apple loyalists. It did cost more than its competitors and required a compatible iPhone for it to be used.
With Series 2, these reasons have not changed much, but with the upgrades like a brighter screen, more versatile GPS, solid battery life, proper water-proofing technology, sales of the device have been on the rise.
This is despite its high price, which is still expensive. IDC sums it up well. The company has been able to quickly recover by refocusing its watch to become popular with the consumer market through innovations to make it more multi-functional.
What’s going around with series 3?
Based on a recent report from Digitimes, Apple supplier TPK Holding reveals that for the new series the company is going to ditch the touch-on-lens system in favor of the glass-film touch system.
Shipment of this element will begin in the second half of 2017, which paves the way for a possible release of the Apple Watch series 3 on September 2017.
Prices are expected to range from $459 to $499.
