Google unveiled Android Wear almost a year ago but the first devices powered by it only began to reach customer hands in the fall. By the end of the year, market research firm Canalys reports that 720,000 Android Wear devices had shipped out. In comparison, the overall smart wearable bands topped 4.6 million units last year.
Volumes were not only limited by the fact that Android Wear launched late in the year. Only a handful of devices were offered and the Moto 360, the “clear leader” faced supply constraint issues. The original LG G Watch appears not to have fared particularly well but its successor, the round LG G Watch R, reportedly did much better.
Other factors hampered sales further: Poor battery life (often less than a day although further software updates have improved it somewhat) and a lack of useful apps. There is also the looming shadow of the Apple Watch. Many consumers are simply waiting to see what Apple brings to market.
The report adds that other smartwatch makers did not fare too well either. While Pebble sales have not topped a million, it’s been on the market far longer. Meanwhile, Samsung “struggled to keep consumers engaged” despite launching six devices in just 14 months.
Sources : Canalys // The Wall Street Journal