Smartwatches continue their climb against
all other wearables.
The wearables market also just reached a turning point, as basic wearables that don’t run third-party apps declined for the first time, according to new tracking
data.
There was good news for the overall market, as worldwide wearable shipments grew 10%, reaching 26 million units for the second quarter, according to the worldwide wearable device tracker
by the International Data Corporation.
The big activity is in smartwatches.
Devices like the Apple Watch and Android Wear grew 61%, boosted by fitness and fashion enthusiasts.
Studies consistently point to smartwatches overtaking fitness trackers as time marches on, as additional features relating to health and fitness migrate into smartwatches.
The increase in
smartwatch sales is due to several factors, including the targeting of specific market segments, such as fashion conscious and outdoor enthusiasts, lower price points and a more warming reception from
consumers and enterprise users alike, according to IDC.
There also was triple digit growth from clothing and eyewear.
“These products are still in their initial stages, but by
targeting specific market niches or providing unique value propositions, these products are offering solutions to problems other than simply reporting data and gaining traction,” stated Ramon
Llamas, research manager for IDC’s wearables group.
Apple and Fitbit both were overtaken by Xiaomi, as the Chinese company continued its push of low-cost devices. Here are the shipment
volumes for the last quarter:
- 4 million – Xiaomi
- 3 million – Apple
- 3 million – Fitbit
- 1 million – Garmin
- 1 million
– Fossil
There are many other manufacturers that account for 14 million units shipped, but none selling at the scope of any of the major makers.
Just as early mobile
phones evolved into small, handheld-computers, wearable technology is morphing into miniature computers worn on the wrist.