The Apple Watch is expected to be another home run for the California company. It has been on an impressive run since it launched the first iPhone in 2007 and there is little to suggest that this latest product will be any different. Market analysis firms have all been busy gazing into their crystal balls to predict how successful the Apple Watch will be. The latest to do so is Strategy Analytics.
Their latest report indicates that Apple will sell just under 15 million Apple Watches and account for nearly 55% of all smartwatch sales in 2015. Those numbers are far more conservative than some other firms have suggested. For example, J.P. Morgan suggested that Apple would ship nearly 26 million watches this year alone. Strategy Analytics suggests that the Apple Watch is not perfect and that it may face stiff competition from more attractive rivals such as the recently announced Huawei Watch.
Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “The Apple Watch is the catalyst to ignite the global smartwatch market. Apple’s famous brand, loyal fan base, deep retail presence and extensive apps ecosystem will ensure healthy uptake for its Watch. However, Apple’s first-generation Watch is not yet perfect. For example, Apple’s Watch hardware design is arguably less attractive than some rival models such as the Huawei Watch, battery life may not be as long as many traditional wristwatch owners are used to, and Apple’s premium pricing may be challenging for mass-market consumers. Apple will need to upgrade tangibly its second-generation Watch to stay ahead of competitors later this year.”
Whether the Apple Watch lives up to analyst expectations or not, it is likely to be one of the top if not the top selling smartwatch in 2015. If nothing else, it will force competitors to up their games (something we’re already seeing) and that can only benefit the smartwatch market as a whole.
Source : Strategy Analytics