Wear OS will soon be at 50 percent of Apple Watch sales

Counterpoint Research projects 27 percent market share this year, to Apple's 49.

See full article...

 

[50me12]

Provided Google doesn't spot a squirrel and chase something else.

 

[Merced]

No thank you.

 

[thelee]

i was a wearOS early adopter and suffered through several (watch) generations worth of horrible qualcomm tech before bailing and switching to apple. here's hoping that this time around google does better

 

[icwhatudidthere]

Too bad they killed all the fashion watch brands. Actually started out with the Moto 360 and then a Tag but it was clear that was a dead end for any new functionality. So Google lost me wholesale when I switched to the Apple Watch and iOS.

 

[Skyssx]

You'd have to come out pretty hard to get Garmin off my wrist.

 

[ERIFNOMI]

I quite like my Pixel Watch 2. It does what it's supposed to do.

 

[MeowTeChing]

I’m an Apple Watch user but I have to say that I do like the styles. I prefer the shape of the Apple Watch from a readability standpoint, but it’s refreshing to see something else out there in the market.

 

[OrangeCream]

i was a wearOS early adopter and suffered through several (watch) generations worth of horrible qualcomm tech before bailing and switching to apple. here's hoping that this time around google does better

I don't know why anyone would ever expect that. I'm amazed at their Pixel line, not because it's an amazing phone, but because they've released phones now for 9 continuous years without breaks or rebooting the product. You can argue that the 2018 model, with the move from LG -> Foxconn, and the 2021 model, with the switch from Qualcomm to Tensor, are soft reboots, but given that the branding and features have more or less been continuous feels like a huge improvement in how Google's consumer products are handled.

So the hope is that their watches now will be similar; an updated Pixel Watch in 2022, then Watch 2 in 2023, and a Watch 3 in 2024 would be a good sign.

 

[EBone]

I'm an iPhone user who wants the following feature combination in a smartwatch:
1. Watch OS (and supporting apps) that respect that my data only belongs to me. This tends to rule out WearOS and chinese brands/mfgs.
2. Watch battery that lasts a week or longer per charge. This rules out most/all Apple watches.
3. Watch has annual depreciation of $50 or less. This rules out most Garmin watches.

Would you like a magical pony as well?

 

[citizencoyote]

It's too bad Qualcomm faffed around for years and let their watch chipsets rot, otherwise WearOS could have been doing better. As it is all I can do is point and laugh at Qualcomm now, as Apple and Samsung eat their lunch in this area.

 

[Aristotle Hume]

That "Other" group would have to be Garmin watches, a few remaining Fitbit smartwatches like the Versa and Ionic

Hopefully not the Ionic since they were recalled due to overheating and causing burns.

 

[qazwart]

I suspect that WearOS will grow. Apple Watch mainly grows as users talk to other users. Android users couldn’t get an Apple Watch, but know friends who have and use one. There’s a lot of demand for an Android equivalent.

 

[Skyssx]

I'm an iPhone user who wants the following feature combination in a smartwatch:
1. Watch OS (and supporting apps) that respect that my data only belongs to me. This tends to rule out WearOS and chinese brands/mfgs.
2. Watch battery that lasts a week or longer per charge. This rules out most/all Apple watches.
3. Watch has annual depreciation of $50 or less. This rules out most Garmin watches.

Multiple examples of fenix 5x are available on eBay for the $180 range and it is a 2017 watch. Bought new in 2017 that would easily fit under your $50/yr requirement.

 

[Toastr]

I'm an iPhone user who wants the following feature combination in a smartwatch:
1. Watch OS (and supporting apps) that respect that my data only belongs to me. This tends to rule out WearOS and chinese brands/mfgs.
2. Watch battery that lasts a week or longer per charge. This rules out most/all Apple watches.
3. Watch has annual depreciation of $50 or less. This rules out most Garmin watches.

Sounds like you oughta just buy a regular old wristwatch and call it a day. Maybe pick up a used mechanical watch if you're serious about "annual depreciation".

 

[50me12]

I’m an Apple Watch user but I have to say that I do like the styles. I prefer the shape of the Apple Watch from a readability standpoint, but it’s refreshing to see something else out there in the market.

The watch style is such a wild "usability" vs "fashion" balancing act.

A nice round face can have so much style.

But as a smartwatch ... it's also hard to make do a lot of things.

 

[TimeWinder]

I'm an iPhone user who wants the following feature combination in a smartwatch:
1. Watch OS (and supporting apps) that respect that my data only belongs to me. This tends to rule out WearOS and chinese brands/mfgs.
2. Watch battery that lasts a week or longer per charge. This rules out most/all Apple watches.
3. Watch has annual depreciation of $50 or less. This rules out most Garmin watches.

Yeah. I want that, too. Plus, it should add $1000 a week to my bank account automatically. I'm willing to wait a couple years for the "and makes me more physically attractive" feature, though.

I suspect that WearOS will grow. Apple Watch mainly grows as users talk to other users. Android users couldn’t get an Apple Watch, but know friends who have and use one. There’s a lot of demand for an Android equivalent.

Nearly every time I pay for something with my Apple Watch (almost everything brick-and-mortar now that Apple Pay has become ubiquitous post-pandemic), the sales person either says "I didn't know you could do that with an Apple Watch" or "I need to set mine up to do that." (Or sometimes, "I don't use that because it allows anyone to steal my credit card number by walking by." I sometimes tell them about the chip in their physical credit cards, which actually can do that (although they're getting more secure these days, too)).

So they're popular, but there seems to be a breakdown in feature messaging, still.

 

[50me12]

I'm an iPhone user who wants the following feature combination in a smartwatch:
1. Watch OS (and supporting apps) that respect that my data only belongs to me. This tends to rule out WearOS and chinese brands/mfgs.
2. Watch battery that lasts a week or longer per charge. This rules out most/all Apple watches.
3. Watch has annual depreciation of $50 or less. This rules out most Garmin watches.

I think you ruled out all smart watches

 

[50me12]

Yeah. I want that, too. Plus, it should add $1000 a week to my bank account automatically. I'm willing to wait a couple years for the "and makes me more physically attractive" feature, though.


Nearly every time I pay for something with my Apple Watch (almost everything brick-and-mortar now that Apple Pay has become ubiquitous post-pandemic), the sales person either says "I didn't know you could do that with an Apple Watch" or "I need to set mine up to do that." (Or sometimes, "I don't use that because it allows anyone to steal my credit card number by walking by." I sometimes tell them about the chip in their physical credit cards, which actually can do that (although they're getting more secure these days, too)).

So they're popular, but there seems to be a breakdown in feature messaging, still.

I get the same "you can do that?!?!?" a lot too.

And here I thought I was late to the game, and also amazing, to me that's one of the big features of having a smart watch, no wallet needed many places.

 

[ergonomicBagel]

I'm an iPhone user who wants the following feature combination in a smartwatch:
1. Watch OS (and supporting apps) that respect that my data only belongs to me. This tends to rule out WearOS and chinese brands/mfgs.
2. Watch battery that lasts a week or longer per charge. This rules out most/all Apple watches.
3. Watch has annual depreciation of $50 or less. This rules out most Garmin watches.

Other than depreciation this list aligns pretty well with my preferences.

I just got rid of it but in hindsight I should have tested out my Garmin’s USB > PC syncing. They let you disable the cloud/online syncing functions but I feel it takes more functions than it should with it but if the PC program compensates that wouldn’t have been bad at all.

For now I’m going watch-less and found an app to track bike rides with but I haven’t decided what’s next yet. (I’m not intense enough to go get a dedicated bicycle computer at this time)

Still missing my Pebble that fit the first couple points. Funnily enough, I wonder if a Pebble today would meet the depreciation requirement since I imagine they’ve hit a value floor.

 

[chabig]

I'm suspicious of this report. When iPod/iPhone/iPad were new, there were plenty reports describing how Apple was going to fail, supported by imaginary future market share figures which usually included a large segment of "Other".

Also, the funding of this report is opaque. Counterpoint Research is an agency for hire. They are paid by industry players to write press releases disguised as market research.

 

[OrangeCream]

I'm an iPhone user who wants the following feature combination in a smartwatch:
1. Watch OS (and supporting apps) that respect that my data only belongs to me. This tends to rule out WearOS and chinese brands/mfgs.
2. Watch battery that lasts a week or longer per charge. This rules out most/all Apple watches.
3. Watch has annual depreciation of $50 or less. This rules out most Garmin watches.

Low Power Mode changed the way I use my Apple Watch Ultra | Digital Trends

Low Power Mode is said to make the Apple Watch Ultra's battery last for 60 hours on a single charge. We found out it doesn't. It can last much longer.

www.digitaltrends.com

At 9 p.m. Thursday, when the 60-hour period was up, the Apple Watch Ultra still had 56% battery remaining. Used minimally in Low Power Mode like this, it’s realistic the Apple Watch Ultra could continue on and reach 120 hours of use on a single charge, even with another hour’s worth of workouts. That’s five days.

The secret is evidently doing nothing. In other words, the more your watch does, the lower the battery life. If you get an Ultra and use low power mode you can at least approach a week.

 

[Questar]

Nearly every time I pay for something with my Apple Watch (almost everything brick-and-mortar now that Apple Pay has become ubiquitous post-pandemic), the sales person either says "I didn't know you could do that with an Apple Watch" or "I need to set mine up to do that." (Or sometimes, "I don't use that because it allows anyone to steal my credit card number by walking by." I sometimes tell them about the chip in their physical credit cards, which actually can do that (although they're getting more secure these days, too)).

And yet Home Depot still doesn't accept Apple Pay. So freaking annoying.

 

[ChefJeff789]

I had an Apple Watch and consistently forgot to even charge or wear it after the novelty of the first few months wore off. I finally just gave up and bought a cheap-o Casio so I can at least get time looking at my wrist instead of pulling my phone out.

Right there with you. There are DOZENS of us!

 

[Heavens]

Low Power Mode changed the way I use my Apple Watch Ultra | Digital Trends

Low Power Mode is said to make the Apple Watch Ultra's battery last for 60 hours on a single charge. We found out it doesn't. It can last much longer.

www.digitaltrends.com

At 9 p.m. Thursday, when the 60-hour period was up, the Apple Watch Ultra still had 56% battery remaining. Used minimally in Low Power Mode like this, it’s realistic the Apple Watch Ultra could continue on and reach 120 hours of use on a single charge, even with another hour’s worth of workouts. That’s five days.

The secret is evidently doing nothing. In other words, the more your watch does, the lower the battery life. If you get an Ultra and use low power mode you can at least approach a week.

Battery life is the reason I went with Suunto a couple years back.
Suunto 9 Peak, with 24/7 heart rate monitoring and notifications (WhatsApp, Outlook at work and 3CX company phone) for 6 days now sitting at 65%.

I can squeeze out up to 14 days if I don't do any GPS things.

High accuracy mode for navigation lasts longer than I do on a mountain bike and you get up to 72h in low accuracy GPS tracking.

Even has a titanium case and sapphire glass for around 500$ (newer models are a bit more expensive).

Edit: a little offtopic as it's not WearOS if I remember correctly.

 

[TimeWinder]

And yet Home Depot still doesn't accept Apple Pay. So freaking annoying.

I think "How does Home Depot manage to be so incredibly successful despite so many ways of showing they hate their customers?" could be a thread in itself. Comcast and used car dealers could take notes.

It really has been a sea change. In 2019, maybe one store in twenty would support Apple Pay, and about the same number would support "Android Pay" but not Apple Pay. Android Pay wasn't really a thing (Google and Samsung each had their own clumsy QR-code-based systems), but the owners never knew which actual manufacturer's system they provided, not that it worked anyway. Whoever had sold them the system told them that Android users outnumbered Apple users, and they didn't need to support Apple Pay. And even those who had Apple Pay couldn't get it to work much of the time.

Five years later? Even the little mom-and-pop stores all support it. Food trucks all support it. Many of the contractors that work on my house take it. Web sites seem to be the last holdouts, but even half of them seem to allow it now. Apple Pay makes up something like 5% of all global card transactions (probably more, that number is from 2021).

 

[Epimetheus_Secundus]

Sounds like you oughta just buy a regular old wristwatch and call it a day. Maybe pick up a used mechanical watch if you're serious about "annual depreciation".

My Tag Heuer is great, had it for years and who cares what it's worth. Like I'd sell it.

 

[ERIFNOMI]

I think "How does Home Depot manage to be so incredibly successful despite so many ways of showing they hate their customers?" could be a thread in itself. Comcast and used car dealers could take notes.

It really has been a sea change. In 2019, maybe one store in twenty would support Apple Pay, and about the same number would support "Android Pay" but not Apple Pay. Android Pay wasn't really a thing (Google and Samsung each had their own clumsy QR-code-based systems), but the owners never knew which actual manufacturer's system they provided, not that it worked anyway. Whoever had sold them the system told them that Android users outnumbered Apple users, and they didn't need to support Apple Pay. And even those who had Apple Pay couldn't get it to work much of the time.

Five years later? Even the little mom-and-pop stores all support it. Food trucks all support it. Many of the contractors that work on my house take it. Web sites seem to be the last holdouts, but even half of them seem to allow it now. Apple Pay makes up something like 5% of all global card transactions (probably more, that number is from 2021).

Are you saying Google Wallet in 2019 used QR codes? Or is this a weird Home Depot thing? Because Google Wallet in 2019 absolutely did NFC, as did Android Pay before that.

 

[Granadico]

Low Power Mode changed the way I use my Apple Watch Ultra | Digital Trends

Low Power Mode is said to make the Apple Watch Ultra's battery last for 60 hours on a single charge. We found out it doesn't. It can last much longer.

www.digitaltrends.com

At 9 p.m. Thursday, when the 60-hour period was up, the Apple Watch Ultra still had 56% battery remaining. Used minimally in Low Power Mode like this, it’s realistic the Apple Watch Ultra could continue on and reach 120 hours of use on a single charge, even with another hour’s worth of workouts. That’s five days.

The secret is evidently doing nothing. In other words, the more your watch does, the lower the battery life. If you get an Ultra and use low power mode you can at least approach a week.

People complain about Fitbits not lasting a long time but i got a years old model and only sync it to my phone for workouts and just treat it as a watch/pedometer and it lasts like a week and a half. It's sounds stupid but it's good advice if you don't care about all the features.

 

[sbradford26]

I think "How does Home Depot manage to be so incredibly successful despite so many ways of showing they hate their customers?" could be a thread in itself. Comcast and used car dealers could take notes.

It really has been a sea change. In 2019, maybe one store in twenty would support Apple Pay, and about the same number would support "Android Pay" but not Apple Pay. Android Pay wasn't really a thing (Google and Samsung each had their own clumsy QR-code-based systems), but the owners never knew which actual manufacturer's system they provided, not that it worked anyway. Whoever had sold them the system told them that Android users outnumbered Apple users, and they didn't need to support Apple Pay. And even those who had Apple Pay couldn't get it to work much of the time.

Five years later? Even the little mom-and-pop stores all support it. Food trucks all support it. Many of the contractors that work on my house take it. Web sites seem to be the last holdouts, but even half of them seem to allow it now. Apple Pay makes up something like 5% of all global card transactions (probably more, that number is from 2021).

The big 3 retailers who I am blown away that don't support apple pay/google pay (At least around me) are Home Depot, Lowes, and the biggest surprise Walmart.

 

[Coriolanus]

I'm an iPhone user who wants the following feature combination in a smartwatch:
1. Watch OS (and supporting apps) that respect that my data only belongs to me. This tends to rule out WearOS and chinese brands/mfgs.
2. Watch battery that lasts a week or longer per charge. This rules out most/all Apple watches.
3. Watch has annual depreciation of $50 or less. This rules out most Garmin watches.

I am pretty sure the only watches that meets your criteria are luxury analog watches.

They have no data (except for the time, I guess), their batteries last for a long time, and they don't depreciate that fast (on the account that they are generally luxury goods with limited runs).

 

[rmohns]

I'm suspicious of this report. When iPod/iPhone/iPad were new, there were plenty reports describing how Apple was going to fail, supported by imaginary future market share figures which usually included a large segment of "Other".

Also, the funding of this report is opaque. Counterpoint Research is an agency for hire. They are paid by industry players to write press releases disguised as market research.

This. The lead analyst for smart watches at Counterpoint is based out of South Korea, and Samsung and LG are subjects of glowing reports by CP:

South Korean Tech Players Boost XR Development to Welcome Spatial Computing Era

This blog summarizes noteworthy developments and strategies adopted by Samsung and LG, along with their impacts on the global XR landscape.

www.counterpointresearch.com

I wouldn’t claim CP’s research and data are false, but consider the source. Like Gartner and Forrester -- they can be sincere, honest, and have genuinely valuable research, but still be biased in favor of their clients.

 

[Hemlocke]

I left the Apple Watch behind for a Garmin, and I couldn't be happier. WearOS devices just never looked like good value for the cost. I had to practically give my Pixel Watch 2 away (half price) BNIB with my first Pixel 8 Pro to sell it.

 

[Toastr]

And yet Home Depot still doesn't accept Apple Pay. So freaking annoying.

I'm always surprised by how behind Home Depot has been at adopting more secure payment methods--as I recall they were one of the last big stores near me to finally get around to installing chip readers too. You'd think they'd be all over it, given that they had a massive payment data breach a decade ago that they reckon cost them $198 million.

 

[rmohns]

The big 3 retailers who I am blown away that don't support apple pay/google pay (At least around me) are Home Depot, Lowes, and the biggest surprise Walmart.

Walmart has been trying to build a CurrentC-like competitor called Walmart Pay. I imagine they don’t see any reason to enable a competitor and pay the extra fraction of a percent.

Walmart still doesn't accept Apple Pay - here's why

Big-box behemoth has its own Apple Pay rival for checkout payments

www.techradar.com

Lowes reportedly accepts ApplePay now, but I haven’t tried. Home Depot probably doesn’t feel much pressure, since it pushes its small business revolving credit accounts hard in store, and HD branded consumer cards.

 

[OrangeCream]

I can squeeze out up to 14 days if I don't do any GPS things.

I’m sure turning off the GPS, microphone, fall detection, WiFi, and raise to activate will stretch the 5 days even further too.

My point is unchanged. With the best GPS mode the Suunto 9 Peak only lasts 25 hours, not any different than an Apple Watch.

 

[OrangeCream]

Walmart has been trying to build a CurrentC-like competitor called Walmart Pay. I imagine they don’t see any reason to enable a competitor and pay the extra fraction of a percent.

That died years ago:

That Was Fast: Apple Pay Rival CurrentC Is Dead

In an email obtained by The Consumerist, MCX says its CurrentC beta program will shut down on June 28.

www.pcmag.com

Not that they’ve given up, they have Walmart Pay instead:

Does Walmart take Apple Pay in 2024? | Digital Trends

Walmart does not accept Apple Pay, but there are still ways for you to use your phone at the store.

www.digitaltrends.com

 

[ghostwalrus]

My biggest problem is that it’s “a new commitment from Google” for now. The only things I would buy from them anymore is disposable paper products (ironically). Certainly nothing I would hope to last.