Apple is placing a lot of its hopes for the future on the Apple Watch, but a new survey indicates Cupertino is looking at a big uphill battle.
More than 50 percent of Americans say they think smartwatches are a passing fad.
Limited awareness about Apple Watch and its functions could be the biggest culprit behind the negative sentiment. Of the 1,245 Americans surveyed between March 9 and March 13 for the latest Ipsos Poll, only half said they had heard about Apple Watch, the device Cupertino hopes will provide a major new revenue stream. Only a quarter of respondents said they plan to buy an Apple Watch.
Most people seem to have already made up their minds about Apple Watch, as only 6 percent of respondents said they were unsure whether they’d purchase one, but a whopping 69 percent said they have zero desire for the new timepiece.
It wasn’t all bad news, though: About 13 percent of people surveyed who don’t currently own an iPhone said they would consider buying an Apple phone to pair with an Apple Watch, which is pretty much useless if you don’t own an iPhone 5 or greater.
The Apple Watch goes on sale April 24 at Apple Stores and select fashion retailers, but Apple is looking to win over skeptics before the launch by offering in-store demos starting April 10.
Source: Reuters
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
22 responses to “Over 50% of Americans think smartwatches are a ‘passing fad’”
I wounder what there sample of people were. Most likely people who don’t even know what a smart phone is. They should ask the millions of iPhone user I bet that number would be a lot higher.
I think those that think smart watches are a fad either never wore one or used a really crappy one that didn’t work that well.
We’ll see how well the AppleWatch does a year from now.
I think Apple would sell the piss out of the AppleWatch if they came out with a high quality PolyCarb version for $250 to $299, but they probably have to ramp up production if they did.
I remember when I thought smartphones were pointless too. Yeah….
I waited a few years. Any time there is a new type of gadget, it takes a few years for the technology to get good, plus it takes time for the mfg to figure out what people want, use and how they use the product. I think now is a lot better for smart watches than the crap that came out years ago. I thought the fitness bands were kind of silly.
Haha lets see where are sales are a year from now. Most likely flat.
The only thing flatter a year from now will be the phone itself as it gets more compact, yet capable. Anyway, that’s my guess.
The poll definitely means I won’t buy one!
If 31% of Americans buy the cheapest Apple Watch that would equate to 34.8 Billion in revenue…
I’m sure they’ll change their minds once they tried one and got used to them. Some people simply hate technology and will never own a computer. Yeah, there are plenty of people like that. They enjoy being in the “dark ages” as they prefer the way people lived before computers emerged.
I wonder how many surveyed are watch people. i think for me thats a major factor in my dissinterest. i’ve never worn or had any interest in wearing watches, so my smartwatch interest is really low, especially whilst its an accessory.
I don’t think it’s reached the state of being a fad yet.
I really want to like the watch but at a price point where the band reminds me of an 80’s swatch I just cannot justify spending more for a band .
“Over 50% of Americans think smartwatches are a ‘passing fad’”
The headline is misleading. No, make that completely incorrect. The article says, “Of the 1,245 Americans surveyed between March 9 and March 13 for the latest Ipsos Poll, only half said they had heard about Apple Watch.” If I’m not mistaken, that’s a •completely• different metric. Not to mention (but I will), that 1245 people interviewed by an Ipsos Poll (whoever they are), is hardly a credible or reliable cross-section of the American public.
No one knows whether smart-watches are a passing fad (although my money is on the Apple Watch being a huge success), but articles like this are just silly. Or let me put it this way: two out of two people in this household who read this “news” thought it was bunk. That’s 100-percent of those polled.
Not to mention that most Apple customers are too busy to take time out to be involved in a poll. I get calls all the time asking me to stop what I’m doing and talk to a pollster. I hang up immediately.
Only 50% of my wrists will sport an Apple Watch
I just went to the eye doctor today and one of the employees had that Moto (I think that’s what it was) and it was FUGLY. It was HUGE and it wasn’t even that good looking. So, it depends on what smart watch people have seen. If the Moto was the only one, would think that they are a passing fad too. :-)
And the Apple watch isn’t ugly? I’d much rather have a watch-shaped smartwatch than a square one.
Over 50% of Americans also think that President Obama was born in Kenya and is probably a Muslim. We are morons.
Rap was a fad…
It has taken until the iPhone 6 for most people to see the light and buy one. Those of us at the beginning have been enjoying ours for eight years! The Watch will be the same: a trickle at the beginning with a majority figuring it out later.
Apple Watch is a fad. Just like iPhone, iPad, and iPod.
Yup, cell phones were a fad, the internet was a fad, .com was a fad, bottled water was a fad, dieting is a fad…Billions of dollars later. Yes there are heaps of fads that stay that way. Time will tell.