Annual wearable device shipments will increase from 85.0 million units in 2015 to 559.6 million units by 2021, representing CAGR of 36.9%, according to a new report from Tractica. Tractica's data model covers a wide number of wearable device types including smart watches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, smart clothing, body sensors, wearable cameras, and other wearables like location trackers, smart jewellery, and gesture control devices.
The market intelligence firm has upgraded its wearable device shipment and revenue forecasts significantly since the last edition of its forecast in early 2015, driven by three key factors:
i. Stronger than anticipated growth of fitness trackers, with lower than expected levels of cannibalization by the emerging smart watch segment.
ii. A proliferation of smart watch offerings, including not just high-end watches such as Apple Watch and Android Wear offerings, but also the incorporation of smart capabilities in more conventional products from traditional watchmakers.
iii. Rapid development of the market for emerging wearable categories including body sensors, smart clothing, wearable cameras, smart glasses, and an increasing diversity of niche devices.
Aditya Kaul, Research Director
2015 was the biggest year for wearables by far, with fitness trackers outperforming industry expectations and smart watches coming out strong. While fitness is the overwhelming driver for wearables today, there are a number of micro-segments emerging, ranging from kids’ watches to smart footwear to new healthcare devices like wearable patches, that will drive this market forward.
