The connected watch segment is very strongly marked by the imprint ofApple. The Cupertino group monopolizes the first place in the world with its famous AppleWatch equipped with watchOS.
According to data from Counterpoint Research, the connected watch segment grew by 13% year-on-year in the first quarter. The market share ofApple was 36% before Samsung to 10%, which had experienced good annual growth.
Without jeopardizing the group’s leading position, the world market share ofApple however, decreased in the second quarter (29%). A decline is also likely to occur in the third quarter, before a rebound in the fourth quarter as usual.
These fluctuations are closely linked to the new product release scheduleApple. And when it comes to smartwatches, theApple Watch Series 8 has just made its appearance alongside a Apple WatchSE second generation in the entry level and a Apple Watch Ultra which inaugurates an extreme sports orientation.
The new range is out…think old
Counterpoint Research thus estimates that the market share ofApple should increase further compared to what it was at the beginning of the year. Apart from the intrinsic quality of the products, the analysis firm underlines the great loyalty to the apple brand of the users ofiPhone which is a factor in the success of theAppleWatch. A popularity that would be even higher among the younger generation.
However, there remains the question of price ofAppleWatch which remains higher than the average. With the last batch, they start at €499 and €299 for theApple Watch Series 8 and theApple Watch SE 2022while the entrance ticket is 999 € for theApple Watch Ultra !
As the changes are not always large-scale each year, there is always the possibility of turning to the model of the previous year. Apple does not really facilitate things at this level, and for example no longer sells theApple Watch Series 7… yet close to theApple Watch Series 8.
The Apple Watch can also be found in the refurbished
To find what you are looking for and possibly make good deals, you have to tap into the stocks of resellers who, however, tend to run out quickly for previous generation models. And for models of an even older generation, it’s the Stations of the Cross.
A reflex to have is to turn towards the refurbished market for which there are well-established players, so you can find some Apple Watch 6 on Back Market in France. A possibility that does not immediately come to mind, however, as the refurbished market is almost systematically associated with that of the smartphone (and mainly in the high end). Wrongly.
This refurbished market is much larger, including connected watches and therefore the star AppleWatch too. We may have to wait for the arrival of theApple Watch Ultra in the refurbished … but it may be quite long. For the moment, the best is to crack for a superb Apple Watch 6 for example, available from €260.