4
At the end of the first three months of the year, Apple grants itself 36.1% of the market, against 35.9% a year earlier, according to the firm Counterpoint. Far behind, Samsung consolidates its second place with a market share of 10.1%.
© Getty — Justin Sullivan
In the connected watch market, there is Apple and the others. Since 2015 and the launch of the first version of its Apple Watch, the Cupertino company has not only strongly contributed to the democratization of wearables, but also tirelessly reinforced its dominance in the connected watch market over the years. New illustration in the first quarter of 2022, at the end of which the apple brand takes 36.1% of the market, against 35.9% a year earlier, according to the firm Counterpoint.
After crossing the symbolic milestone of 100 million Apple Watch users in 2021, all versions combined, the American giant has been driven in recent months by the launch of the Apple Watch Series 7. Presented in September 2021 before be marketed a month later, this new version is not revolutionary. Following in the wake of a very good Series 6, Apple was content to add a larger screen as well as total resistance to dust to perfect its connected watch.
Apple holds a third of the market, far ahead of Samsung
This recipe that works has allowed the company run by Tim Cook to maintain its global dominance. “Apple accounted for more than a third of total shipments last year, and the company is further growing its influence with a 36% market share in the first quarter of this year. “iPhone is one of the success factors of the Apple Watch. This popularity seems to be higher among the younger generation, making Apple an unbeatable market leader. Of course, everything was possible thanks to the high performance of the product and the excellent connection between supported iOS devices. We expect Apple’s market share to increase further by the end of this year.”believes Sujeong Lim, an analyst specializing in this market for the firm Counterpoint.
Behind Apple, Samsung consolidated its second place between January and March with a market share of 10.1%. The South Korean giant is reaping the benefits of the popularity of its Galaxy Watch 4 in Asia, with its interface which is easily positioned among the best on the market. Huawei completes the podium (7.2%), while Xiaomi, Garmin and Amazfit stand in a pocket handkerchief, between 4 and 5%. While Samsung has experienced a significant 46% increase in shipments year-on-year, stronger than Apple’s 14%, it is especially Xiaomi which is currently in full swing with a growth of 69% year-on-year. The Chinese brand breaks its record for shipments every quarter, thanks in particular to its sales in the low-end segment of less than 100 dollars.
The impact of the war in Ukraine on the European market “Will get worse in the second trimester”
More generally, the market grew by 13% year-on-year, posting double-digit growth for the fifth consecutive quarter. “Although the global smartwatch market experienced weak growth in 2020 due to the impact of Covid-19, it has continued to perform well since its rebound last year”notes Sujeong Lim.
On the other hand, while most of the major regions of the world are posting sustained growth, Europe is lagging behind with stable growth. Brands such as Garmin and Fitbit have also recorded poor performance in the first three months of the year. “We initially expected the war between Russia and Ukraine to have minimal impact on the market in the first quarter, but the protracted conflict and resulting logistical constraints have started to affect the European region. impact of the war will worsen in the second quarter”indicates the analyst of Counterpoint.