Grading the Apple Watch after the first six months: hit or miss?

APLLE set out to change the face of wearable technology with the April launch of the Apple Watch.

Six months later, analysts are giving the release a pass grade but say its best is but to come.

before release, predictions on Watch income ranged from eight million to forty million units.

With such an severe variety, you can say the Watch is either a ways exceeding expectancies or falling dismally below them.

Given Apple has refused to launch sales figures, the nice assessment of the Apple Watch comes from evaluation.

What is obvious is the Apple Watch is the most a success smartwatch so far and, although it is past due to the market, once more Apple is the one to chase.

IDC estimates Apple shipped 3.6 million Watches inside the second area of the year — just a fraction short of prevailing Fitbit’s crown as the largest vendor of wearable devices.

approximately two of each smart wearable device — smartwatches and activity trackers — shipped inside the sector was an Apple Watch.

strategy Analytics estimates Apple sold four million Apple Watches in the first area of the year.

to position that into angle, the firm says it took Apple just 67 days to lower Samsung’s smartwatch market share from seventy three.6 in step with cent to 7.five in step with cent, and in 90 days Apple sold extra smartwatches than all other players blended final 12 months.

Ramon Llamas, research manager for IDC’s wearables group, describes Apple as the stick towards which different wearable products could be measured.

remark below: Do you have an Apple Watch? What’s your verdict?

 “I’m sure Apple might grade the first six months a success,” Llamas says.

“As for myself, I assume the numbers might be robust and hold Apple a few of the market leaders in wearable era. but, my expectancies are low. watch for the second and third technology Watches to come out, due to the fact that’s whilst we’ll see the mass marketplace take to them in large volumes.”

Analysts say the Apple Watch’s momentum will maintain beyond its first six months as Apple offers the Watch in new markets and adds new capabilities.

“I certainly think Apple may promote more Watches in the 2nd six months than the first, for multiple motives,” Dawson says.

“firstly, I think phrase of mouth will start to get stronger as greater people have them and tell their pals and own family approximately them, so there’s a virtuous circle there so that it will begin working for the Watch.

“Secondly, Christmas and other gift-giving vacations over the next few months will see loads of Apple Watches given as provides to those who couldn’t justify shopping for them for themselves.

 “Thirdly, WatchOS 2 ought to make for more compelling apps at the Watch, which should help the appeal. And ultimately, Apple is now past its early supply constraints and has even released new fashions and new bands, all of which ought to assist broaden the attraction.”

As Apple seeks to cement the Watch as a mass client product, Dawson and Llamas agree Apple may be working on other wearable gadgets because the market matures.

“Any wearable apart from a watch will require Apple to reconsider its ordinary approach due to the fact different stuff you wear generally tend now not to have displays,” Dawson says.

“That gives some unique demanding situations in regards to how you’d have interaction with it and get fee out of it.”