As expected, Apple dominated the global smartwatch market during the fourth quarter of 2020.
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Once again the Apple Watch is the top selling smartwatch globally
Apple continues adding health related features to the Apple Watch. In Series 6 it added a blood oxygen sensor that determines whether you are sending enough oxygen throughout your body. This tool, known as a pulse oximeter, can also give you a warning in advance whether you do have COVID-19. The Series 7 Apple Watch was originally thought to include a sensor that would monitor the user’s blood glucose level. With that reading, diabetics are able to determine how much insulin they need to inject themselves with before they sit down to eat. However, the latest word from Apple is that this feature will not be ready in time for this year’s Apple Watch. That is too bad because offering such a feature on the Apple Watch could save diabetics a ton of money and pain. Apple’s test would be non-invasive so there would be no need for the user to prick himself with a sharp needle and draw blood. There also would be no need to continuously buy the disposable strips used to test with.
Counterpoint analyst Sujeong Lim says that Apple’s increasing market share despite its rather hefty price means that smartwatches with higher Average Selling Prices are benefiting from higher demand. Lim says, “The smartwatch market is being driven by three premium brands – Apple, Samsung and Huawei,” she said. “We believe the ASPs will continue to rise over the next two to three years as these companies’ flagship models continue to lead. On the other hand, Apple’s success with its Watch SE model will likely spur others like Samsung to release similar variants, moving closer to the mass market.”
The Apple Watch SE is a cheaper version of the Apple Watch that eliminates some of the health features and the new always-on-display. It is priced $120 cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 6 and is a generation behind when it comes to chips. However, it is a serviceable device that will surely be the first step for many on that road titled “the Apple ecosystem.”
