Apple snared more than 63 percent of the global digital watch market in the fourth quarter of 2016, shipping some 5.2 million Apple Watches, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics.Overall worldwide shipments of smartwatches by all
makers increased by just one percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2015,
reaching a total of 8.2 million units.
South Korea’s Samsung maintained its position as the No. 2 seller of
smartwatches with an estimated 10 percent market share, less than a sixth of
the Apple total. The Korean company shipped just 800,000 watches, down 38
percent on Q4 2015 figures.
“Smartwatch growth is recovering slightly, due to new product launches
from Apple and stronger seasonal demand in major developed markets like the US
and UK,” said Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics.
Smartphone shipments were up 9 percent in the quarter, Strategy Analytics says.
Apple logged a 17.8pc market share, eclipsing Samsung due to the latter’s
Galaxy Note 7 recall.
