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, nevertheless, with a reported 2.4x progress for the yr.
In accordance with information from analyst agency Counterpoint, India’s smartwatch shipments dropped 30% year-on-year in 2024. Indicators 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 consequently.
Because the broader market faltered, Apple Watch noticed a 141% improve in its shipments final yr. That progress bucked a 57% decline for the corporate in 2023, based on Counterpoint.
Counterpoint senior analyst Anshika Jain instructed TechCrunch that the Apple Watch noticed an uptick final yr as, “some experienced users gradually moved to advanced smartwatches” for higher well being insights, smartphone integration, and different options absent on cheaper gadgets.
“We expect this growing trend to continue in 2025,” she added.
The expansion 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 fall.
Nevertheless, Apple Watch’s sizable progress in the end had little influence on its general share of the 35 million smartwatches shipped in India final yr, based on IDC. Counterpoint, which doesn’t share absolute cargo figures, instructed TechCrunch that the Apple Watch comprised roughly 2% of India’s complete smartwatch market in 2024.
Apple Watch’s success boosted general premium smartwatch (priced above $230) shipments in India, with 147% progress. The Sequence 10 was the highest mannequin, adopted by the Sequence 9. The Apple Watch cumulatively captured 50% of the whole premium smartwatch section within the nation, per Counterpoint.
Samsung and OnePlus had been the opposite prime gamers within the premium section final yr, with a 4% and 1% market share, respectively.
