Why the big time has not yet come for world’s smartwatch makers
Chunky, with short battery life and screens that don’t stay lit, smartwatches still appeal largely to geeks. Apple has bet on the fitness sector to grow sales, Sony on innovation and Samsung on traditional watchmakers as partners
They were hyped as the next big thing after smartphones, but tech giants have struggled to put a smartwatch on every wrist and Apple’s latest offering, aimed mainly at fitness enthusiasts, is unlikely to change that, analysts say.
Three years after smartwatches were launched to great fanfare, sales have disappointed; consumers have failed to get excited about the possibility of checking calls, texts and e-mails on the go without ever getting their phones out. Grumbles about bulky design and short battery life haven’t helped.
Global smartwatch shipments soared from five million units in 2014 to 40.3 million in 2015, according to estimates by Gartner consultancy. But the pace of growth has since slowed, with 60.4 million watches to be shipped this year and 66.3 million in 2017.
Industry players, however, argue there is still a lot to play for, and market leader Apple led the way earlier this month when it launched its second-generation Apple Watch.
Designed to be waterproof so you can take it swimming, with a built-in GPS for runners and cyclists, the device is most likely to appeal to sports lovers who want to track their workouts without carrying their phones.