Apple Watch’s biggest problem: Women don’t dig it

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Is Apple Watch mostly for men?
Is Apple Watch mostly for men?
Photo: Beyonce/Twitter

The only Apple Watches I’ve seen in the wild so far have been strapped to men’s wrists, and according to one of the world’s top Apple analysts, that could be a bad indicator for the digital timepieces’ popularity.

In a new note to investors, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has cut his 2015 expectations for Apple Watch sales from 30 million down to just 15 million after research found that Apple Watch has attracted mostly men.

Apple has never said the smaller 38mm Apple Watch is specifically for women while the 42mm version is for men, but KGI’s researchers found that demand for the smaller Apple Watch is significantly lower than the 42mm units.

“We have learned that 42mm Apple Watch accounts for 60-70% of production. However, the shipping times of 38mm models are generally earlier than those of 42mm. We believe this is because demand for 38mm watches is significantly below that of 42mm ones. We estimate that 42mm models account for over 80% of sales. Assuming that 42mm and 38mm watches are mainly purchased by men and women respectively, the Apple Watch has attracted mostly men.”

It could just be that women are opting to buy the 42mm Apple Watch instead of the tiny 38mm. Both sizes are significantly smaller than popular Android smartwatches on the market, but the 42mm comes with a slightly larger display and better battery life.

We know Katy Perry and Beyonce love their Apple Watches, and a few of our wives here at Cult of Mac have ordered one. Surely more women will flock to the device once it matures.

As a result of the disappointing 38mm sales, Kuo has lowered his third-quarter forecasts by 30 percent to 5 million to 6 million units sold. Like the original iPhone before it, Kuo sees a number of problematic areas that need to be improved, specifically the smartwatch’s battery life, the Digital Crown, and the lack of a truly killer app.

Via: MacRumors

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