Apple Watch Sales Tank over the Summer Amid Overall Decline in Smartwatch Market

Sales of the Apple Watch declined sharply over the summer, according to a new report.

Shipments of the Apple Watch reached a total of 1.1 million over the three-month period between July and September — which is typically referred to as the third fiscal quarter of a year. That’s a 71.6 percent decline when compared to the 3.9 million shipments of last year’s third quarter, according to a report released today by market research firm IDC.

One of the reasons for the sharp drop in sales could be the fact that the Apple Watch Series 2 did not rollout until the last two weeks of the fiscal quarter, MacRumors reported. That means that the refresh will likely have a more significant impact on this year’s fourth quarter numbers. It’s not too much of a stretch to assume that many prospective Watch owners were simply waiting for the refresh to come out.

It’s worth noting, however, that smartwatch sales are down across the board. IDC recorded an estimated 51.6 decline in the general smartwatch market. Despite the drop in numbers, Apple still retained its position as the market leader, with an overall 41.3 percent of the market share. Apple’s closest competitor, Garmin, came in second place, controlling an estimated 20.5 percent of the market. Samsung rounded out the top three with an estimated 14.4 percent.

Of course, the larger decline in the smartwatch market could be partially attributed to the fact that Apple commands so much of the market share. When Apple’s smartwatch sales are down, they have a significant impact on the total numbers.

Still, it’s difficult to predict Apple Watch’s sales performance because the company does not disclose Watch sales in quarterly earning reports. Instead, the Watch’s sales are grouped under “Other Products,” alongside devices such as iPods, Apple TVs, and accessories.

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