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IDC: Q2 global smartwatch shipments drop 32%; Apple Watch deliveries drop 55%

posted by Alan F. / Jul 21, 2016, 5:58 PM

IDC: Q2 global smartwatch shipments drop 32%; Apple Watch deliveries drop 55%

According to IDC, year-over-year smartwatch shipments declined for the first time ever during the second quarter. 3.5 million units were shipped during the three month period that ended in June. That compares to the 5.1 million intelligent timepieces that were delivered in the 2015 quarter, and represents a 32% decline. Only one manufacturer in the top five had a year-over-year drop in shipments, and that was Apple.

The Apple Watch shipped 1.6 million timepieces in the quarter, giving it a 47% market share. That was a decline from the 3.6 million units Apple shipped in the same quarter last year, when it owned an impressive 72% of the market. Samsung saw its smartwatch shipments rise 51% during the second quarter as deliveries rose year-over-year from 400,000 to 600,000. The company's global market share more than doubled from 7% to 16%, allowing Sammy to take second place behind its rival.

Lenovo scored the best growth in global smartwatch shipments during the quarter with a 75% year-over-year gain. The company had 9% of the market, up from the 3% it owned last year. LG (8% of the global smartwatch market) and Garmin (4%) round out the top five.

"Consumers have held off on smartwatch purchases since early 2016 in anticipation of a hardware refresh, and improvemnets in WatchOS are not expected until later this year, effectively stalling existing Apple Watch sales. Apple still maintains a significant lead in the market and unfortunately a decline for Apple leads to a decline in the entire market. Every vendor faces similar challenges related to fashion and functionality, and though we expect improvements next year, growth in the remainder of 2016 will likely be muted"-Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst, IDC Mobile Device Trackers

IDC expects growth in the smartwatch market to return in 2017, possibly spurred on by the next generation Apple Watch rumored to be introduced in September.

Smartwatch shipments declined year-over-year during the second quarter

source: IDC

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37 Comments

1. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Apples figures don't surprise me, with a new watch coming soon. I'm really shocked at Samsungs figures, figuring the Gear S, and Gear Fit 2 are so damn good. If the Fit 2 had a speaker, and could compose text, emails, and make calls, it would be game over.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:12 PM 3

34. sgodsell

Posts: 7158; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

The race between, Apples watchOS, Android Wear, and Tizen. Is a lot closer than people think. Especially between watchOS and Android Wear. Just Lenovo and LG add up to Tizen's numbers. Which both of them only make Android Wear watches. However the others category has another 600,000 smart watches. So how many of those smart watches are Android Wear watches? Especially when Asus, Huawei, Casio, Sony, Fossil, Tag Heuer only make Android Wear watches. So the best case scenario (1.2 million) would bring Android Wear up to 35% of the market to Apples 47%. Naturally there are some other smart watch manufacturers that do not make Android Wear watches. So it would be interesting to see how many of the 600,000 would be Android Wear devices.

posted on Jul 22, 2016, 10:33 AM 0

2. HugoBarraCyanogenmod

Posts: 1412; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

Good to see Apple decline

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:25 PM 8

3. EC112987

Posts: 1214; Member since: Nov 10, 2014

That's normal...everyone who wanted a watch already has one. I love my Apple Watch as a sidekick to my phone.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:29 PM 1

5. maherk

Posts: 6767; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

I agree. People don't tend to change their smartwatches as frequent as they change their smartphones. I got my silver Huawei Watch when it was first released, same with Gear S2, and although I got myself a black HW as well, I don't think I will trade them for anything else in the near future. My brother still has his 1st gen Moto 360, and so does my cousin. Plus, the Apple Watch is the primary smartwatch for Apple users, and obviously those who wanted one have already got theirs a while ago.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:35 PM 3

7. EC112987

Posts: 1214; Member since: Nov 10, 2014

Exactly!! I wanted a gears2 for my edge plus but i don't wear 2 watches lol

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:40 PM 0

8. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

You already know how I get down lol. A set from each of the top 2 platforms.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:48 PM 0

32. maherk

Posts: 6767; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

That's because you understand that each platform has it's pros and cons, something trolls in here will never see.

posted on Jul 22, 2016, 6:44 AM 1

33. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Yes sirrrrrr

posted on Jul 22, 2016, 7:18 AM 0

29. iushnt

Posts: 3085; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

What would you recommend?? Gear s2 or Huawei watch. I'm thinking to buy one to pair it up with my huawei smartphone.

posted on Jul 22, 2016, 1:13 AM 0

30. maherk

Posts: 6767; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Tough choice. The Huawei Watch looks more traditional and can go along with almost everything you wear, the S2 Sport doesnt. Tizen for me is the better OS, but it lacks the app support you will find on the HW. HW has a speaker, which is a huge plus in my book. Both watches offer a fantastic battery life thanks to the amoled screen. Much better than my old Moto 360. It is a close call, but I would pick the HW if I had to live with one, it looks more expensive and acts like one.

posted on Jul 22, 2016, 6:04 AM 0

31. iushnt

Posts: 3085; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

Thanks!! Your opinion was valuable. I am leaning towards HW now.

posted on Jul 22, 2016, 6:11 AM 0

10. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Have you seen the watch OS 3 preview? Some nifty new features coming. I probably won't buy another watch for 2-3 years.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:49 PM 0

12. EC112987

Posts: 1214; Member since: Nov 10, 2014

I'm really excited for it..I don't think I'll get one anytime soon unless the redesign of the apple watch 2 is insane. Off topic I'm thinking of skipping the iPhone 7 and jumping on the Note 7

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:55 PM 0

13. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

I'm skipping both, and getting the 2017 models. I agree with the Apple Watch, the design would have to be crazy tight for me to switch up. I actually like how the current model looks, sans the digital crown, which does have practical functionality. Good luck with the N7.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 7:23 PM 0

4. Martineverest

Posts: 521; Member since: Oct 27, 2015

smartwatch is a fluke....really sad that ARM isnt going beyond phones

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:29 PM 1

22. sgodsell

Posts: 7158; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

What the hell are you talking about? Clearly you are not looking, or you don't know. The vast majority of smart watches and fitness bands are using Arm processors. Not to mention the IoT, and SBC market is dominated by Arm processors, and with 50 billion IoT devices by 2020. Arm out sells Intel by miles.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 8:21 PM 2

6. Alpha1

Posts: 100; Member since: Jul 06, 2016

Smartwatches are a joke. Unless they reduce the size and thickness of these and get rid of the heart rate monitors, they will always be a useless joke. No one needs to monitor their heart rate all the time and that only adds useless thickness to these watches. Apple will keep falling just like their tablet sales.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:36 PM 2

9. ctdog4748

Posts: 797; Member since: Mar 05, 2016

Apple Watch sales decline and Samsung watch sales increase, yet the Apple Watch is still the better seller, by a wide margin. That proves, like I've said many times before, not even Samsung's most rabid fans want that crappy Gear S2 or Gear Fit or whatever other wearable that Samsung is pushing.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:49 PM 0

11. kiko007

Posts: 7493; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

I find wearables in general to be unappealing, even Apple's iteration sadly. I can grab a G-Shock for half the price, and I don't feel I'm missing our on much.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 6:54 PM 2

17. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Would you consider a Samsung watch?

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 7:44 PM 0

20. kiko007

Posts: 7493; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

Tried a Gear S a few years back, just couldn't find a use for it. I don't think I've tried Moto's offerings though.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 8:06 PM 0

23. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

I feel u. I drive County transit, and for me they're super handy. Can't have my phone out behind the wheel.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 8:22 PM 0

15. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

I'm not really a Gear S2 fan, but the Gear Fit 2 is awesome dude. The standalone detailed fitness logs, being able to log your qwater and coffee intake on the watch. Start and soft times down to the second. The super deep logging of HBPM, light calorie burn, heavy calorie burn, GPS without the phone, built in music player, and so much more. It's a bad ass fitness tracker.

posted on Jul 21, 2016, 7:30 PM 0

35. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

But the Gear S2 with S-health offer the same thing. I don't see why you would own 2 devices that do the same thing. When you open S-Health on the Gear S2, you have the option to try water/coffee intake. Calorie count is based on the estimated calorie burn based on your size and weight and what activity you are doing. I usually don't worry about calorie count because I'm presently on a know calorie and low carb diet. I like the Gear Fit too. I bought the original for the wife. It now just sits because the GS2 does the same thing. I've even abandoned by Gear S. But I miss that larger display.