The number of people buyingsmartwatchesfell for the first meter in the history of the family in 2024 , according to newly published globular sales data .
The report fromCounterpointsays dispatch fell 7 % in 2024 . While that ’s not a abrupt fall , the sphere had previously grown each class prior to that . harmonise to the enquiry the slump may be down to the Apple Watch range falling out of party favour fairly .
Apple does n’t bring out its individual sales figures for its marketplace - leading wearable , but the market research company figure thebest Apple Watchshipments fell 19 % last year .
That may have been down to the expectedApple Watch Ultra 3 pulling a no showlast September , but it could also be approaching market place chroma with more Apple Watch owner and keeping them for longer .
Counterpoint also hint that theApple Watch Series 10could be to blame for “ minimal feature article upgrades , ” but that ’s not strictly precise . It got a large exhibit than before , and added a great eternal sleep apnea detection feature .
Our reviewer called it the secure smartwatch foriPhoneusers pronounce “ it ’s packed with wellness and wellbeing feature , wonderful screen and more . ”
Apple ’s share of the global smartphone market did fall to 22 % in 2024 ( down from 25 % in 2023 ) the inquiry firm claims . That ’s also down to improved showing in the far due east from society like Xiaomi , Huawei and Imoo , allot to Counterpoint .
Opinion
I disagree with the Counterpoint analysis . I do n’t really think the absence of an Apple Watch Ultra 3 would have had that nifty an core on the market . The Ultra is far from the most poplar Apple Watch and when Gen 3 did n’t go far people may have just bought the Ultra 2 instead . The Apple Watch Series 10 was n’t the smallest update we ’ve learn from the company either .
I think this is more of a natural progression . Apple may just be reaching a detail where it has now sold an Apple Watch to most people who fancy one . Once you have one , you ’re not going to update it every 3 year like a phone . You ’re likely to keep hold of it until its no longer supported , or it conks out .
Now that , of course , is a problem in itself . How does Apple reach more citizenry after a tenner of peddle the Apple Watch ? The reply , it believes , is transition the range into a wellness - first wellness twist with a serial of potentially biography - saving feature that will invoke to substance abuser vernal and erstwhile .
Whether that scheme is succeed remains to be seen . Purported sales drops would suggest there ’s still forge to do .