Smartwatch shipments in India dipped yearly for the primary time in 2024, as customers moved away from low-cost, unknown manufacturers. Apple bucked the broader pattern, nonetheless, with a reported 2.4x development for the yr.
According to knowledge from analyst agency Counterpoint, India’s smartwatch shipments dropped 30% year-on-year in 2024. Signs of slowing gross sales emerged final yr, because the market was flooded with unknown manufacturers. The pattern aversely impacted established home gamers, slowing the tempo of innovation because of this.
As the broader market faltered, Apple Watch noticed a 141% enhance in its shipments final yr. That development bucked a 57% decline for the corporate in 2023, in keeping with Counterpoint.
Counterpoint senior analyst Anshika Jain advised TechCrunch that the Apple Watch noticed an uptick final yr as, “some skilled customers steadily moved to superior smartwatches” for higher well being insights, smartphone integration, and different options absent on cheaper gadgets.
“We count on this rising pattern to proceed in 2025,” she added.
The development in Apple Watch shipments aligns with the the iPhone’s increasing marketshare within the nation. Apple emerged as one of many top-five smartphone distributors in India final yr, with a roughly 10% share in in This autumn.
However, Apple Watch’s sizable development in the end had little influence on its total share of the 35 million smartwatches shipped in India final yr, in keeping with IDC. Counterpoint, which doesn’t share absolute cargo figures, advised TechCrunch that the Apple Watch comprised roughly 2% of India’s complete smartwatch market in 2024.
Apple Watch’s success boosted total premium smartwatch (priced above $230) shipments in India, with 147% development. The Series 10 was the highest mannequin, adopted by the Series 9. The Apple Watch cumulatively captured 50% of the overall premium smartwatch phase within the nation, per Counterpoint.
Samsung and OnePlus had been the opposite prime gamers within the premium phase final yr, with a 4% and 1% market share, respectively.
