Apple Widens Lead in Global Smartwatch Race on Strong Series 3 Demand, Says Report
Apple shipped 2.4 million cellular versions of the Series 3 Watch worldwide last year, said a Tuesday Canalys report. Total Series 3 shipments equaled just under 9 million for 2017, comprising nearly half of all Apple watch shipments. In Q4,…
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Apple watch shipments rose 32 percent to 8 million, a record number of shipments in a quarter for any wearables vendor, said the report. “Apple has won the wearables game,” said analyst Jason Low. Despite other vendors’ attempts at innovative designs such as rotating bezels and circular screens, “Apple has pulled far ahead as it continues to focus on its core iPhone user base,” said Low. Recent updates, including GymKit and Apple Heart Study, offer “compelling use cases, encouraging users to spend more on accessories,” Low said. The cellular-enabled Series 3 watches saw strong demand in the U.S., Japan and Australia, where major operators stocked the device for the holiday season, said analyst Vincent Thielke, but limited operator selection in the U.K., Germany and France stifled growth potential. Apple’s expansion into Singapore and Hong Kong this quarter, in time for Chinese New Year, “is a good move,” said Thielke.