Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Wearables
  3. News

Wearable market mayhem: Apple closes in on FitBit, while Xiaomi hunts down Apple

By

FitBit Surge clock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Despite its relative newness and high price, the Apple Watch is not struggling to win customers, taking second place overall with 18-percent market share, a new report from IDC reveals. Not bad considering it hasn’t been on sale for a year.

FitBit remains the leader in the wearables market, though not by much. It currently manages 22-percent of wearable shipments, sending out 4.7 million wearables compared to Apple’s 3.9 million. However, while Apple’s chasing down FitBit, Chinese brand Xiaomi is in turn hunting down Apple; and Android Wear is nowhere to be seen.

Recommended Videos

FitBit has been in the game a lot longer than its two rivals, and sells a range of models, from the inexpensive Zip to the $250 Surge, but has yet to launch a fully-fledged smartwatch. The wearable manufacturer has seen a rather steep drop in market share since last year, when it held 32 percent of the market. That said, FitBit is starting to attract the corporate crowd, selling 335,000 units through its Corporate Wellness program over the past few months, according to IDC.

Apple and FitBit haven’t secured first and second place forever. In third place it’s Xiaomi, which also only sells a couple of wearables, but for considerably less money than other manufacturers. This makes its 3.7 million sales over the past three months impressive, a figure no doubt assisted by Singles Day in China on November 11, at which time the company put the new Mi Band Pulse on sale. Following Singles Day, Xiaomi said the $15 Mi Band was its biggest selling smart device.

Further down the list, Garmin still holds onto fourth place, with 4.1 percent of the market, followed by BBK, a relatively unknown Chinese manufacturer. There are some big names missing from IDC’s top five list, and have presumably been relegated to its ‘Others’ category. Jawbone, a rival of FitBit, for example, and Samsung only crept into sixth with 600,000 shipments. Will the problematic Gear S2 improve things?

Android Wear manufacturers were absent from the top five, showing the significant gap in popularity between the Apple Watch and Android Wear smartwatches. There are currently over ten smartwatches available from Asus, Motorola, Samsung, LG, and Sony, yet none have shipped more than 700,000 units, according to IDC’s data.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
David Curry
David Curry
Former Digital Trends Contributor
David has been writing about technology for several years, following the latest trends and covering the largest events. He is…
Xiaomi shows no self-restraint, teases Apple Watch-look-alike smartwatch
xiaomi smartwatch news watch grey silver

Xiaomi will launch a smartwatch on November 5. However, Xiaomi seems unwilling to shake its reputation for making products that resemble those made by Apple, as the watch bears a distinct similarity to the Apple Watch. The oblong body and the crown on the upper right-hand side instantly recall Apple’s top-selling wearable, along with the option of a dark gray or a silver color.

It’s not an exact copy though. In other images, the Xiaomi watch has a boxier, more sharply angled design, which makes it look much more like the traditional image of a smartwatch. There is another button below the crown — just like on the Apple Watch, and the glass over the screen has a curved edge for better tactility and improved aesthetics. The strap is confusing, as it appears to be built into the body itself, and may not end up being replaceable.

Read more
Fitbit recalls Ionic smartwatch after several burn reports
best walmart deals on apple watch garmin and fitbit ionic smartwatch adidas edition ice gray silver

Fitbit Ionic smartwatch users need to stop using their devices right now. The company has recalled its Ionic wearable after over 150 reports of the watch’s lithium-ion battery overheating, and 78 reports of burn injuries to the users. It will offer a refund of $299 to the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch users who return the device.

Fitbit has received at least 115 reports in the United States and over 50 reports internationally about the Ionic smartwatch's battery overheating. It is recalling the device as there are two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns out of the 78 total burn injuries report.

Read more
Razer Anzu smart glasses deal knocks $140 off the price tag
The Razer Anzu smart glasses placed on top of an open book.

While smartwatch deals have slowly claimed their place in the mainstream, smart glasses haven't turned out to be as popular. Gaming-focused brand Razer, however, is trying to renew interest in smart glasses with the Razer Anzu, which you can currently purchase from Best Buy at $140 off. If you'd like to give them a try, they're available for just $60, less than half their original price of $200.

There have been failures like the Google Glass and Snap Spectacles, and hopeful attempts like Oppo's Air Glass and Apple's secretive project, but the Razer Anzu smart glasses take a different spin on the wearable device by designing them for indoors. While they come with polarized sunglass lenses, their clear lenses are more useful with their blue light filter, which protects your eyes from screen glare to prevent discomfort even after hours of playing video games or working from home. The smart glasses, which also have a built-in omnidirectional microphone and speakers, may also be more comfortable to wear for an extended period of time compared to headsets and headphones. You'll enjoy smooth, stutter-free sound with the Razer Anzu's low latency audio with a 60ms Bluetooth connection.

Read more