April 24, 2025, marks 10 years since the Apple Watch first went on sale. It was actually announced during a special event on September 9, 2014, but only became available – barely, supplies were highly constrained for months – to purchase over seven months later, on April 24, 2015.
When it debuted, the first Apple Watch was glitchy and expensive. Battery life sucked. Many publications, including mine, spent significant time and space wondering why anyone even wanted a smartwatch. Today, it is an Apple success story. “Since 2015 til the end of 2024, we estimate that 281.2 million Apple watches have been shipped,” Jitesh Ubrani, a device research manager at IDC, tells WIRED. That’s at an estimated value of $127 billion.
Wearing one signifies that you’re a serious person who cares about fitness and getting work done. It’s the only watch that has ever outsold the entire Swiss watch industry, and actually, Tim Barber, WIRED’s watch expert, notes, in part, reinvigorated the luxury watch industry.
Prior to the Apple Watch, smartwatches were conceived as a kind of wrist-based mini smartphone, to ping you with notifications or to take calls off your wrist. David Naranjo, associate director of Counterpoint Research, noted in a phone call with WIRED that Apple’s success in this category was largely due to completely changing the watch’s use case—from being a smartwatch to being a smartwatch with a dedicated health and fitness aspect.
“Fitbit and others had [an ecosystem and apps], but there were other things they were not able to do,” Naranjo said. “Apple built out the ecosystem and made the health care story very strong. Not only did the company focus on fitness and heart rate, it went beyond fitness and looked at a much deeper level of health care. That’s where Apple excelled.”
MacDailyNews Take: Some people knew immediately that millions upon millions of people would want, buy, and wear Apple Watch:
Apple Watch, starting at just $349, will be a massive hit. Already in its nascent, first generation form Apple Watch is an object of lust, a compelling design that screams, “Wear me! Everyday and everywhere!”
Initially, with six Apple watch straps, two sizes of Apple Watch cases, and three distinct collections – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition – there will be a desirable combination and fashion statement for everyone. And, wow, are they gorgeous! And useful; more useful than most people yet realize.
Apple Watch is going to change everything…
Along with many millions of people, you are going to want an Apple Watch. All you have to do it touch it and see even a glimpse of what it can do and you’ll be sold.
The Apple Watch is going to be a massive hit that sells millions upon millions of units.
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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