Smartwatches to Drive Strong Wearables Growth on New Form Factors, Says IDC

will fuel growth, said analyst Ramon Llamas. In the next phase, wearables will move beyond gaining awareness to “getting the experience right,” said Llamas, predicting a proliferation in device diversity and declining prices that will appeal to a broader audience. Watches will account for most wearables shipped during the forecast period, with basic models from traditional watchmakers that don’t run third-party apps out-shipping smartwatches, IDC said. Smartwatches will see a bump in volume in 2019 as they gain cellular connectivity, said the research firm, and wrist-worn fitness trackers will see slowing growth in years ahead as users shift to watches for additional utility. Earwear, such as the Samsung Gear IconX and Bragi Dash, which send information back and forth to a smartphone app, will become more popular, offering fitness data along with real-time audio filtering and language translation, it said. Wearable clothing is moving ahead, largely on Chinese vendors producing connected apparel such as shirts, belts, shoes and socks. Consumers have had a tepid response to connected clothing, but professional athletes and organizations “have warmed to their usage” to improve performance, IDC said. The upcoming release of Google and Levi’s Project Jacquard-enabled jacket, with technology woven into the fabric, could change consumers’ attitudes toward connected clothing, it said.