IDC: Smartwatch shipments fall for the first time; Apple only company in top 5 to decline

VentureBeat ^ | July 21, 2016 | EMIL PROTALINSKI

[Shanghai Dan]

he smartwatch market has hit its first bump, and it’s all Apple’s fault. Vendors shipped a total of 3.5 million smartwatches worldwide last quarter. This Q2 2016 figure is down 32 percent from the 5.1 million units shipped in Q2 2016, marking the first decline on record.

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As you can see above, Apple’s market share decreased 25 percentage points (from 72 percent to 47 percent) and it shipped less than half the smartwatches (1.6 million). But the company still holds almost half the market, with every other vendor shipping fewer than a million units.

[LouieFisk]

Thanks for the indepth response/review. I really wouldn’t have a need for the all the cool tricks the gadget can do.

But it seems as if some people spend a whole lot more time on the phone than I do!

[Swordmaker]

Can you name another Apple product that took a 25-30% decline in sales over a year, after its introduction?

Every model of iPhone has a major decline of sales of about that level from the introductory quarter. Sorry to bust your bubble all to pieces.

[Swordmaker]

Thanks for the in-depth response/review. I really wouldn’t have a need for the all the cool tricks the gadget can do.

But it seems as if some people spend a whole lot more time on the phone than I do!

Many people don't. . . but many find it is indispensable once they start to use it. It has saved quite a few people's lives.

[Swordmaker]

You might find this report interesting (bold emphasis in paragraph mine):

On the Go with Watch — Wristly Apple Watch Insider’s Report #49

In this report we are delving back into the fitness and activity habits of Apple Watch owners. Ten months ago we first asked about the importance of Activity and Fitness tracking in your decision to buy the Watch. 60% responded that those features were core to your purchasing decision. After purchasing the Watch, 83% of you indicated a notable improvement in your overall fitness and health.

It should come with no surprise that we find nearly a year later that Apple Watch owners are still very active. Let’s first look at how frequently Watch owners exercise.

68% of Users Exercise at least 3 times per Week

The vast majority of Apple Watch users exercise regularly, with 86% exercising at least once per week and 22% of those exercising 6–7 days per week! Leaving only 14% stating that they are not doing regular exercise. When looking at the types of exercises, the most common among respondents is running/jogging, followed by weight training and cycling.. . . (more)

[Cementjungle]

These things are just a gimmick with no real value. I think the novelty is wearing off now that people have lived with them for a while.

[LouieFisk]

That’s good, but I think it’s better if people learn to stay fit and healthy independent of any gadget or gimmick. I’m of the “we’re way too gadget/screens dependent” school of thought.

[Cementjungle]

After purchasing the Watch, 83% of you indicated a notable improvement in your overall fitness and health

I have the iBelt for that. It's amazing... when I find that I need to loosen the belt a notch, it means that it's time to exercise more.

I couldn't afford the $4,000 leather version, so I got the $700 one made from recycled Chinese tire tread... works great.

[Swordmaker]

These things are just a gimmick with no real value. I think the novelty is wearing off now that people have lived with them for a while.

So speaks a person who has never owned or used one, who therefore speaks with no knowledge at all of what he's talking about.

Here's a couple of interesting footnote from IDC:

• Vendor shipments are branded device shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors.
• The “Vendor” represents the current parent company (or holding company) for all brands owned and operated as a subsidiary.

In other words, IDC did not count any of the Apple Watches sold by all 450 Apple Retail Stores or sold by the Apple Online Store in its guesstimates. Say what????

[Neidermeyer]

Several errors on your part, Neidermeyer.
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No errors on my part , none of the words are mine , just quoting an unbiased trusted source.. The drop in sales seems to confirm what we have suspected.

[Swordmaker]

No errors on my part , none of the words are mine , just quoting an unbiased trusted source.. The drop in sales seems to confirm what we have suspected.

Your source is far from unbiased as you are not. The stuff he fed you was completely wrong as I showed you. . . but you did not address even one of my very accurate points, such as in one year, the Apple Watch sold enough, had it been a stand alone company to have joined the Fortune 400 list, let alone be included in the Fortune 500. Yet YOU persist in insisting that product is a flop. What other products in history can boast such a first year success?

You just don't like facts when they don't support your biases.

IDC admits they are not even counting any of the Apple Watch sales made through Apple's own retail stores or on-line stores, where the MAJORITY of Apple Watches were sold. Ergo, their entire comparative statistics trying to show anything about market share are bogus!