Smartwatch Sales Go Gangbusters In Australia

Smartwatch sales have skyrocketed in the first six months of 2016 while smartphone sales remained flat, according to data from analyst firm Telsyte. Here are the details.

In the first half of 2016, smartwatch sales grew by 89 per cent compared to the same period of time in 2015. More than one million smart wearable devices were sold in the first half of 2016 and smartwatches now make up one-third of that category.

Apple Watch is the number one smartwatch brand with more than 50% market share followed by Samsung Gear and Fitbit Blaze. According to Telsyte, the growth in smartwatches could be attributed to Australians focusing more on health and fitness (many are using brands like Fitbit and Garmin to track their exercise), price reduction coupled with greater availability through telco carriers, a wider variety of options and mobile contactless payment support for smartwatches.

“The killer apps for early adopters of smartwatches seem to be fitness apps and mobile payments,” Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi said.

Meanwhile, Australian smartphone sales only went up by 3.8 per cent compared to last year, but that may be set to change with the impending release of the Apple iPhone 7.

Are you on the smartwatch bandwagon? Were you one of the early adopters? Let us know in the comments.


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