Wearables ‘To Reach All-Time High In 2015’

The number of wearable technology devices sold this year will reach its highest number yet as more and more companies start to enter the market, new research has predicted.

Figures from analyst firm IDC estimate that 45.7m wearable devices will be sold this year, up 133.4 percent from last year’s figure, as the release of the Apple Watch and other devices push up sales.

The rise is only set to continue over the next few years, with IDC estimating 126.1m units will be sold in 2019.

Booming

2015 is set to see a number of high-profile wearable devices being launched, with Apple’s Watch (pictured left), due to go on sale on April 24, chief among them.

“Smart wearables are about to take a major step forward with the launch of the Apple Watch this year,” said Ramon Llamas, research manager with IDC’s Wearables team.

“The Apple Watch raises the profile of wearables in general and there are many vendors and devices that are eager to share the spotlight. Basic wearables, meanwhile, will not disappear. In fact, we anticipate continued growth here as many segments of the market seek out simple, single-use wearable devices.”

However Apple’s device will be one of many ‘smart wearables’, capable of running third-party apps and able to connect to smartphones and tablets, which will help push on the market.

IDC sees the total volume of such smart wearables reaching 25.7 million units in 2015, up a whopping 510.9 percent from the 4.2 million units shipped in 2014. Basic wearables, or those devices that do not run third party applications, will grow from 15.4 million units in 2014 to 20.0 million units in 2015, resulting in 30.0 percent year-over-year growth.

Unsurprisingly, wrist-worn devices, such as smartwatches, are set to be the most popular, accounting for around 80 percent of sales, but IDC also sees sales of ‘smart clothing’ soaring over the next few years as companies embed items like shirts, socks, hats, and other products with computing power.

However eyewear, such as Google Glass, is predicted to remain static, as consumer opt for more inconspicuous items, but could possibly see pick-up in select enterprise markets, such as warehousing and retail.

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