Apple Watch’s ‘Hold’ on Smartwatch Market Share ‘Continues to Slip,’ Says ABI

Though the overall smartwatch business is experiencing “steady growth,” Apple Watch’s “hold” on smartwatch market share “continues to slip,” dropping below 45 percent for the last six months of 2018, reported ABI Research Thursday. It forecasts overall smartwatch shipments more than doubling to 99 million in 2023 from 40 million in 2018: “As the number of flagship and budget smartwatches continues to grow, consumers are increasingly opting for devices from companies other than Apple, such as Fitbit, Huawei and Samsung.” Apple warned on quarterly results Wednesday after U.S. markets closed, sending it and tech stocks down Thursday (see 1901030047 and 1901030036).