If Jupiter Research’s estimates are anywhere near accurate, the Apple Watch was easily the most popular smartwatch during 2015, grabbing around 51.5% of all shipments during the year. That comes out to around 8.8 million units or so. Estimated, of course!
By comparison, Android Wear devices made up less than 10 percent of the market, Jupiter said. The firm calculated that including the Apple Watch, overall smartwatch shipments likely reached 17.1 million units.
One major reason for the Apple Watch’s popularity is the sheer number of apps available for the Cupertino-made wearable. Jupiter notes that near the middle of last year, Android Wear devices had a mere 4,000 apps available, while the Apple Watch already boasted over 8,000 apps, just a few months after its debut. (According to a mid-year comment from Apple CEO Tim Cook.)
There are still quite a few folks out there that don;t have a smartwatch, and don’t plan to buy one. Of those Jupiter surveyed that didn’t have immediate plans to buy a smartwatch, 30% said they just didn’t think they’d really use one.
Of course, keep in mind that all of this is merely estimated data, as Apple doesn’t release official sales figures for its wearable.
