Apple beats Fitbit to lead wearables market in Q1 2017

Wearables Vendor Shipments and Marketshare in Q1 2017
Technology giant Apple overtook Fitbit to lead the global wearables market in the first quarter of 2017, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics.

Wearables shipments rose 21 percent to reach 22 million units in the first quarter of 2017.

“Stronger demand for new smartwatch models in North America, Western Europe and Asia drove the uptick,” said Steven Waltzer, industry analyst at Strategy Analytics.

Apple has captured 16 percent market share, overtaking Fitbit. Apple’s wearables shipments rose 59 percent to 3.5 million wearables in Q1 2017 from 2.2 million units in Q1 2016.

Apple has achieved the number position globally thanks to the strong demand for the new Apple Watch Series 2 in the US, UK and elsewhere, due to enhanced styling, intensive marketing and a good retail presence.
Apple Watch
Xiaomi has shipped 3.4 million wearables for 15 percent market share in Q1 2017. The report said demand for Xiaomi’s popular Mi Band fitness range was broadly flat across its core markets of Asia.

Fitbit has shipped 2.9 million wearables, dropping 36 percent from 4.5 million in Q1 2016. Fitbit has lost its wearables leadership to Apple, due to slowing demand for its fitness bands and a late entry to the emerging smartwatch market. Fitbit’s shipments, revenue, pricing and profit are all shrinking.