Fitbit Overtakes Samsung In Global Smartwatch Market; Apple Still On Top

Samsung may have secured its spot as the top player in the smartphone market, but it failed to grab on to its top 2 spot in the global smartwatch market. Latest data revealed that Fitbit has overtaken Samsung in the market for the previous three-month period.

The latest data compiled by Strategy Analytics revealed Wednesday that Samsung has slipped to no. 3 in the global smartwatch market in the second quarter. Samsung shipped 900,000 units of smartwatches from April to June, and the figure only accounts for 10.5 percent of the total market, according to Yonhap.

Compared to its performance during last year’s second quarter, Samsung experienced a slight drop from its 12.7 market share before. Fitbit dethroned Samsung from the top two by securing 15.2 percent market share in the period ending on June 30.

On the other hand, Apple still emerged as the top player in the global smartwatch market after securing 44.4 percent of the market in the second quarter. It’s important to note that Apple’s share also dropped sharply. A year earlier, its Apple Watch smartwatches accounted for 50.9 percent of the global market.

Samsung is now hoping to bounce back and win back its top two spot in the next quarter. The tech giant is said to be preparing to launch its new Galaxy Watch smartwatch line alongside its Galaxy Note 9 phablet this Thursday, Aug. 9. As per previous reports, Samsung has decided to move forward with Galaxy Watch after ditching the Gear S nomenclature for its smartwatches.

Meanwhile, Apple is also working on its next-generation Apple Watch smartwatch models that are expected to launch alongside the highly anticipated trio of iPhones in September. Sources said the new Apple Watch will sport a larger display, slimmer bezels, a redesigned clickable side button and a spinning clickable digital crown, CNET has learned.

As for Fitbit, there are rumors claiming it is developing the Fitbit Charge 3 as it looks forward to securing its new spot in the global smartwatch scene. The company is believed to be introducing the updated tracker at IFA 2018, which runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5. This would come months after the Fitbit Versa was launched in March 2018, as pointed out by Pocket-lint.