According to the latest data from International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, Apple now ranks number two in the worldwide wearables market, which grew 223.2% in 2Q15. According to the report, Apple shipped a total of 3.6 million units in the second quarter of 2015 (2Q15), just 0.8 million units behind Fitbit’s 4.4 million units.
“Anytime Apple enters a new market, not only does it draw attention to itself, but to the market as a whole,” noted Ramon Llamas, Research Manager for IDC’s Wearables team. “Its participation benefits multiple players and platforms within the wearables ecosystem, and ultimately drives total volumes higher. Apple also forces other vendors – especially those that have been part of this market for multiple quarters – to re-evaluate their products and experiences. Fairly or not, Apple will become the stick against which other wearables are measured, and competing vendors need to stay current or ahead of Apple. Now that Apple is officially a part of the wearables market, everyone will be watching to see what other wearable devices it decides to launch, such as smart glasses or hearables.”
The data highlighted that the Apple Watch had a huge impact on the “smart” wearables category (devices that runs third party applications).
“About two of every three smart wearables shipped this quarter was an Apple Watch,” said Jitesh Ubrani, Senior Research Aanalyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers. “Apple has clearly garnered an impressive lead in this space and its dominance is expected to continue. And, although Fitbit outshipped Apple, it’s worth noting that Fitbit only sells basic wearables – a category that is expected to lose share over the next few years, leaving Apple poised to become the next market leader for all wearables.”
Top Five Wearables Vendors, Shipments, Market Share and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q2 2015 (Units in Millions)
| Vendor |
2Q15 Shipment Volume |
2Q15 Market Share |
2Q14 Shipment Volume |
2Q14 Market Share |
2Q15/2Q14 Growth |
| 1. Fitbit |
4.4 |
24.3% |
1.7 |
30.4% |
158.8% |
| 2. Apple |
3.6 |
19.9% |
0 |
0.0% |
% |
| 3. Xiaomi |
3.1 |
17.1% |
0 |
0.0% |
% |
| 4. Garmin |
0.7 |
3.9% |
0.5 |
8.9% |
40.0% |
| 5. Samsung |
0.6 |
3.3% |
0.8 |
14.3% |
-25.0% |
| Others |
5.7 |
31.5% |
2.6 |
46.4% |
119.2% |
| Total |
18.1 |
100.0% |
5.6 |
100.0% |
223.2% |