Global smartwatch shipments dipped 7% in 2024, marking first annual decline

In brief: Global shipments of smartwatches dropped seven percent in 2024, marking the first annual decline for the wearables category. Apple maintained its position as the leading manufacturer, but shipped 19 percent fewer devices than it did a year earlier. According to Counterpoint senior research analyst Anshika Jain, Apple Watch experienced a decline in its 10th year on the market thanks in part to minimal feature upgrades in the Series 10 lineup, the lack of an Ultra 3 model, and the fact that there hasn't been a new SE model introduced since 2022. Most assume Apple passed on an Ultra 3 due to price concerns; a third-gen Apple Watch SE is expected sometime this year. Another contributing factor that slowed smartwatch shipments in 2024, Jain noted, was patent disputes. Earlier this week, Apple got an appeals court to side with it in a patent dispute against medical device maker AliveCor. Apple captured 22 percent of the smartwatch market last year, followed by Huawei with a 13 p ... Read full article.