Apple Watch is going from strength to strength, with shipments of the device growing 22% last year. That’s according to Counterpoint Research, which pins the cause on the excellent Apple Watch Series 4.
Analyst Satyajit Sinha notes that the Apple Watch Series 4 was the year’s “star performer.” Sinha says that it sold 11.5 million units in 2018, making it the year’s best-selling smartwatch.
“We believe its success was due to its focus on health-related features like ECG and fall detection,” Sinha continues. “Further, it speaks volumes of how far Apple has come with Apple Watch as a meaningful health device.”
The Series 3 Apple Watch was the year’s second most popular seller. While Apple’s share of the overall smartwatch market is shrinking, it still occupies lead position. Apple’s 37% is significantly higher than Imoo and Samsung, which occupy 10% and 9% of the market respectively.
Counterpoint Research thinks that Apple will drop one more percentage point during 2019. Nonetheless, with the overall size of the market increasing, Apple’s well positioned to take advantage of it.
Photo: Counterpoint Research
What’s coming next?
The second half of 2019 is likely to be big for the Apple Watch. WatchOS 6 will ship to the general public. It will make Apple Watch even less dependent on the iPhone, thanks to its own App Store. It also includes brand new faces and complications — and new apps like Audiobooks, Voice Memos, and Calculator.
Meanwhile, September will likely see the launch of an Apple Watch Series 5. We don’t yet know too much about the Apple Watch Series 5 — apart from that Japan Display is reportedly supplying the screens. However, given the success of the life-saving health features in Apple Watch Series 4, I’d highly expect Apple to double down on that aspect.
What are you hoping for from the next-gen Apple Watch? Were you among the people buying his or her first smartwatches in 2018? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Via: 9to5Mac
