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Apple Watch Sales Remain Steady After 15 Months Despite Lack of Next-Generation Model

Tuesday July 19, 2016 9:44 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple-Watch-trioNearly fifteen months after the Apple Watch launched in the U.S. and eight other countries on April 24, 2015, new data shows that sales of the device have yet to experience an overly precipitous decline so far this year.

Swiss bank UBS has issued a research note that projects Apple Watch sales totaled 1.7 million units in the June quarter, a somewhat surprising increase of 100,000 units compared to its estimate of 1.6 million sales in the March quarter.

Apple Watch sales have remained steady throughout the first half of 2016, despite the formation of an elongated refresh cycle that will likely reach at least 17 months -- the so-called Apple Watch 2 is rumored to launch in the third quarter, possibly alongside the next iPhone in September. The new Apple Watch could feature a FaceTime video camera, expanded Wi-Fi capabilities, cellular connectivity, and other internal upgrades, while new models and bands are always possibilities.

UBS forecasts that Apple Watch sales will rise to 2 million in the September quarter, contributing to a total of 10.35 million units in the 2016 fiscal year. If those estimates are accurate, that would make Apple Watch the most popular smartwatch for the second consecutive year, ahead of Samsung among smartwatches and only behind Fitbit and its cheaper fitness trackers in the broader wearables market. Apple Watch commanded a leading 52.4 percent share of the smartwatch market in the first quarter, well ahead of Samsung at 14.3 percent, according to Strategy Analytics.

Apple does not disclose Watch sales in its quarterly earning results, instead grouping the device under its Other Products category alongside iPods, Apple TVs, Beats Electronics, and accessories. Without official data, analysts are forced to estimate, but predictions can vary between research firms. Strategy Analytics, for example, estimated Apple Watch sales actually totaled 2.2 million in the March quarter, which is significantly higher than UBS' estimate of 1.6 million sales for the same quarter.

Regardless, it is clear that consumers remain interested in the original Apple Watch in the months leading up to an alleged new model. The device's relative success can conceivably be attributed to, among other factors, its new product category, customizability, and sales and price drops offered by third-party resellers. watchOS 3 will also give the Apple Watch a breath of fresh air, with a dedicated Breathe app, a dock with favorite apps that instantly open, a redesigned Control Center, and more.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5, watchOS 6
Tag: Apple Watch Series 2
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
[ 184 comments ]


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magicschoolbus
41 months ago
Most computing will be done on an Apple watch soon since Apple does not make computers anymore.
Rating: 34 Votes
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Benjamin Frost
41 months ago
And these are based on speculation.

Tim Cook has never revealed sales figures, supposedly for competitive reasons.

We all know the real reason.
Rating: 19 Votes
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EricTheHalfBee
41 months ago

And these are based on speculation.

Tim Cook has never revealed sales figures, supposedly for competitive reasons.

We all know the real reason.


Still posting this tripe? Yet you're so quick to believe "estimates" when it's someone else.

Nobody publishes sales figures for any products, with the exception of Apple for the iPhone and iPad. Does that mean the entire consumer electronics industry is tanking?
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Looking forward to the software update.

As for the watch, the second hand prices are very low, it's resale is probably the worst of all the Apple devices I have owned, so not sure about demand.


At $299 brand new with a full warranty who'd buy one used to save a few bucks? Pretty much anything in the consumer space that has a low retail price sells for nothing used.
Rating: 12 Votes
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dannyyankou
41 months ago
I'm seeing them all over the place now.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Pbrutto
41 months ago
"will also give the Apple Watch a breath of fresh air, with a dedicated Breathe app"...... I see what you did there
Rating: 10 Votes
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Aluminum213
41 months ago

I was able to return my Apple Watch for a full refund after 11 months of ownership. It will go down as one of my happiest days of 2016.


You must be having a sad 2016
Rating: 10 Votes
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deany
41 months ago
I lost my iphone 6 last night after a late night walk in woods nearby.
I used "find iPhone" on rMBP "iCloud" to locate approximate area in woods. Got up early and my apple watch picked up on the iPhone - then I "pinged it".
Brilliant.
Very relieved - the apple watch and find iPhone saved the day.
Rating: 9 Votes
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DocPenguin
41 months ago
I was able to return my Apple Watch for a full refund after 11 months of ownership. It will go down as one of my happiest days of 2016.
Rating: 7 Votes
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mdelvecchio
41 months ago

And these are based on speculation.

Tim Cook has never revealed sales figures, supposedly for competitive reasons.

We all know the real reason.

utter nonsense. your buddies Samsung dont post sales numbers, nor Amazon. nor just about anybody except Apple. and as they said before launch, they wouldnt release it for this since its a brand new product and category for them, why give that data away to competitors?

so your attempt at spreading more FUD is a complete and utter failure. again.
Rating: 6 Votes
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2457282
41 months ago

I have one. Bought it on launch day.
To me, it's just clunky.

As a fitness watch, it's not waterproof and it feels fragile enough that doing 'active sport stuff' is really limited (for me) to just gym workouts (boring), biking (meh..heart rate sensor stops working after a while), tennis and running. Again the heart rate sensor is 50/50. It's not continuous and often gives a bad reading when you're actually active. Yes I've tried tightening and moving it up my arm.

As a watch, it looks cool but not in the same pleasing way as my other watches look. It just looks like a computer on my wrist.. I still think it's a niche look. It still feels out of place in my opinion.

As a smartwatch, I've yet to find a compelling app for it. Everything on it for now just seems tacked on. Like it does not do anything better than my iPhone, and it never feels actually more convenient to use those apps vs. pulling out my phone and using the real app.
I do like the notifications and the hey siri features. But that's a small feature list for a $500 expense.


I won't buy version 2, though I'll keep version 1 in rotation. Maybe watchOS3 will make me like it more.

I ordered mine on launch day but did not receive it for what seemed forever (I think it was delayed 2 months) - and yes I still haven't forgiven you Angela. I wear mine every day. I find that text, reminders, and even a phone call when I cant find the phone are all really nice features that I use. Turned off email after a week because that was too much. I also use the timer alot for cooking/laundry/all kinds of stuff that need timing. I use the health app and that actually motivates me to do a little extra each day. I have tried several pill reminders for all my supplements but have not found one that works for me yet (tried 5 so far). I bought high end -- the SS with the Link band, because I did not expect to flip this watch every year. Watches are meant to be worn and used for years. I would have a hard time justifying upgrading my watch more than once every 5 years at best. Bottom line is that I think its great and if it last the 5 years will not be too expensive. I get plenty of use out of it, but would like a good pill reminder app.
Rating: 6 Votes

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