Apple Watch opening weekend sales could hit one million units, according to a newly released forecast.As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray has predicted one million opening weekend sales, however Munster holds a more conservative outlook for 2015 than Wall Street consensus.
While Wall Street has expectations of 14 million Apple Watch sales in 2015, Munster has forecast sales of eight million units, the WSJ reported.
Apple announced in March that the Apple Watch – which will be available in two sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm, and three versions, the Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition – will go on sale in nine countries, including Australia, from April 24.
In Australia, Apple Watch pricing will start at $499 for the Apple Watch Sport, with pre-orders to commence from April 10.
Munster has predicted Apple will sell 300,000 units in the first 24 hours of pre-orders, the WSJ reported.
By way of comparison, figures released by research firm Canalys earlier in the year show 720,000 Android Wear devices shipped in 2014 out of a total of 4.6 million smart wearable bands.
The International Data Corporation (IDC) this week forecast the wearables market will post steep growth in 2015, with the IDC expecting the Apple Watch to play a major role in driving the market forward.
“Smart wearables are about to take a major step forward with the launch of the Apple Watch this year,” Ramon Llamas, IDC wearables team research manager, stated of the Apple Watch’s entry into the market.
“The Apple Watch raises the profile of wearables in general and there are many vendors and devices that are eager to share the spotlight.”
