Apple Watch sales nearly doubled year-over-year in Apple’s fiscal 2017 second quarter that ended April 1, 2017. CEO Tim Cook says it’s “the best-selling and most-loved smart watch around the world,” though the company won’t report unit sales.
However, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartwatch shipments grew 1% annually to hit a record 8.2 million units in the fourth quarter of 2016. Apple Watch drove growth and dominated with 63% global smartwatch marketshare, while Samsung maintained second position, adds the research group.
According to Canalys, another research group,Apple set a new quarterly shipment record in in the fourth quarter of 2016, contributing to total smartwatch shipments exceeding nine million units,. This global market figure was largely driven by Apple’s six million shipments, representing year-on-year growth of 12%. Canalys estimates that Apple cumulatively shipped 11.9 million Watches in 2016, holding market share of around 50% globally for the year.
Speaking of wearables, Cook said that demand for AirPods continues to greatly exceed supply. The CEO cited a recent survey with 98% satisfaction for the wireless earbuds. Revenue from the Apple Watch, AirPods and Beats is the size of a Fortune 500 company, he said.
“We consider the Apple Watch a success,” Cook said in a press conference with analysts. “Revenue doubled in six of our top 10 markets, which is particularly impressive in a non-holiday quarter. Combined with revenue for AirPods, which is very much still in the ramping stage, we’re not nearly close to satisfying demand.”
The CEO wouldn’t want to comment on where things are going with the smartwatch. He said Apple has a “really great pipeline here” and “remains committed to the business,” which he predicts will become even larger in time.
