How many people own a smartwatch not made by Apple or Samsung?
For the big boys, namely Apple and Samsung, the download figures for smartwatch companion apps understandably match the millions of units sold since their launches. Meanwhile, the rest of the pack vies for relevance.
So we decided to take a look at the Google Play installs for the companies who are coy around sales figures. Who is selling more – Tag or Hugo Boss? Is Fossil really as dominant as it appears? And how do the tech companies compare to designers and watchmakers?
Read this: How many wearable tech and VR devices have actually sold?
The figures below are bracketed into pretty broad ranges. They are also all relative to when each device was released and how much of a push each company is giving connected watches. But the downloads still give us an indication of who is managing to gain traction within wearable tech – in the traditional watch world, there’s a big difference between 5,000 and 50,000 sales.
Most of the watches featured below work with both iOS and Android. It’s also worth noting how the figures below are all Android downloads, since Apple maintains the whole secretive routine even through its App Store.
Hugo Boss Smart Classic
500 – 1,000
Hugo Boss brought a classic edge to the smart analogue game with a tiny OLED screen for alerts. That doesn’t mean everyone is on board in quite the same way, mind, with the Smart Classic companion app receiving some paltry download figures so far. The Smart Classic watch was only released in September and Hugo Boss hasn’t exactly made a big deal out of the launch, so there’s time to grow. But these initial numbers are anything but mind-blowing considering we described it as a “stylish performer” on test.
Read this: Hugo Boss Smart Classic review
Casio Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10
5,000 – 10,000
Casio dropped the mundanely named Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10 in the US and Japan last March, becoming one of the first Android Wear watches to stray from convention and get hardcore elements like fishing tracking (seriously) involved. Considering this pricey option has only seen the light of two countries and is targeted at adventure-y types, hitting 5,000 – 10,000 downloads in a companion app isn’t a complete disaster. We’re sure Casio is hoping the Pro Trek Smart WSD-F20 – which this time comes with built-in GPS – will make more of a splash, though.
Nixon The Mission
5,000 – 10,000
Nixon targeted a similar sporty base of surfing and skiing enthusiasts with its The Mission smartwatch which launched in October 2016. That’s six months after Casio but a cheaper price, super water resistance and GPS no doubt helped it to catch up. Nixon’s mission will no doubt be to increase this number in what feels like a shoot-out between several outdoorsy wearables.
Skagen Hagen Connected
5,000 – 10,000
Part of the Fossil-backed hype, Skagen released its first hybrid smartwatch at the end of 2016. The Connected app only offers the tracking, alerts and settings fixtures as well as some so-so goal options but we’d be surprised if the exact features are behind the modest sales so far. Much more likely is that Skagen is pulling its loyal fans looking for something new.
Guess Connect
5,000 – 10,000
Guess partnered with Martian for its introduction into the hybrid smartwatch business back at CES 2015. With the watches themselves focusing primarily on notifications, Connect offers the ability to customise vibrations patterns and intensity. A nice touch, but not one that has garnered much attention in just over two years, with under 10,000 downloads by Android users.
Michael Kors Access
10,000 – 50,000
Despite Michael Kors bringing heaps of style to the smartwatch and activity tracker scene, it isn’t yet in the same ballpark as Fossil (below) when it comes to pure download figures. With a September release and an expensive designer pricetag, the Access Dylan, Bradshaw and Crosby watches and accessories are solid, fashionable spin-offs. Straight-up Kors disciples will no doubt make up a big proportion of that 10,000 – 50,000.
Vector Watch
10,000 – 50,000
With Fitbit recently snapping up Vector’s software and design teams, the fitness giant is seemingly working towards delivering a show-stopping smartwatch (with that 30-day Vector battery life, please). For now, though, nothing changes for the owners of Vector’s Luna and Meridian smartwatches or its dedicated app, which sits in the healthy bracket between 10,000 and 50,000 Android downloads.
Tag Heuer Connected
50,000 – 100,000
With two new Tag Heuer Connected watches for 2017 dropping in May with Android Wear 2.0, it’s clear Tag sees its first luxury smartwatch as a success. That’s illustrated in the numbers with over 50,000 downloads of its dedicated app since launching the Connected range in November 2015.
CEO Jean-Claude Biver also recently noted in an interview with Neue Zürcher Zeitung that 56,000 Tag Heuer Connected smartwatches have been sold, more than doubling its initial projection.
Fossil Q
100,000 – 500,000
While most of the companies in this list are offering companion apps to pair with a lone smartwatch, Fossil now offers a myriad of both hybrid and touchscreen watches for users to wrap around their wrist. That includes the most recent Q Wander and Q Marshal and coming up next is the next-gen Fossil Q Accomplice.
With a much broader spectrum to choose from and pair with Fossil Q, which allows you to go through the usual app customisation, daily tracking and settings, sitting in the 100,000 – 500,000 download bracket isn’t unexpected.
Asus ZenWatch
100,000 – 500,000
Despite only being compatible with Asus’ three ZenWatch generations (most recently the Asus ZenWatch 3), the Manager app has managed to accrue a credible amount of downloads. Next to Samsung Gear’s 50 million+ downloads, Asus looks to be small fry but the price, battery life and ease of use for beginners has helped it to carve out a space in smartwatches.
Huawei Watch
1,000,000 – 5,000,000
Considering Huawei’s standing in the market and the fact this companion app supports the smartwatch, Talkband and Colorband series, it’s not a surprise to see it break the 1 million mark and provide the most competitive download numbers to Apple and Samsung. Perhaps if data synced up with the app more consistently and Huawei released a device that scores well on our reviews, the gap in competition would grow smaller.
