Before the Apple Watch launched, market analysis firms weighed in with their predictions on how well it would sell. Some such as J.P. Morgan predicted that sales could top 25 million units in the first year alone. KGI Securities expected sales to fall in the range of 20 to 30 million units. In a new research note, the latter now expects that sales will come in lower than it initially forecast.
Supporting earlier rumours, KGI expects that Apple has been able to put its Taptic Engine production woes behind it this month. It also found that suppliers do not appear to have ramped up production of the key component in recent weeks while shipment times do not appear to have slipped much further out than they did shortly after pre-orders began. It has concluded that Apple Watch demand may be slowing down. Between those early production challenges and waning demand, KGI now expects that Apple will ship just under 15 million Apple Watches this year. If so,, it will still almost surely remain the best selling smartwatch this year.
KGI also found that the 42mm Apple Watch accounts for as much as 80% of all orders. It adds that this suggests that the Apple Watch may be selling better with men who would presumably prefer the larger model.
Source : 9to5Mac