<p>Within months of its smartwatch launch, tech giant Apple is already at a "striking distance" with global leader in the wearable market, Fitbit, with shipments of 3.6 million units in the April-June quarter, research firm IDC said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to data by IDC, Apple is just 0.8 million units behind Fitbit's 4.4 million units shipment (24.3 per cent market share) in the second quarter of 2015.<br /><br />The Cupertino-based firm had a market share of 19.9 per cent in its debut quarter.<br /><br />The global wearable shipment for April-June 2015 quarter grew a whopping 223.2 per cent to 18.1 million units from 5.6 million units shipped in the year-ago period, IDC said.<br /><br />Apple, which sells the cult range of iPhones, iPads and Macbooks, started selling its smartwatch in select markets like the US, China, Hong Kong, Australia and France in April.<br /><br />"Anytime Apple enters a new market, not only does it draw attention to itself, but to the market as a whole. Its participation benefits multiple players and platforms within the wearables ecosystem, and ultimately drives total volumes higher," IDC Research Manager (Wearables) Ramon Llamas said.<br /><br />He added that Apple also forces other vendors, especially those that have been part of this market for multiple quarters, to "re-evaluate" their products and experiences.<br />"Fairly or not, Apple will become the stick against which other wearables are measured, and competing vendors need to stay current or ahead of Apple," he said.<br /><br />Jitesh Ubrani, Senior Research Analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers, said about two of every three smart wearables shipped this quarter was an Apple Watch.<br /><br />"Its (Apple) dominance is expected to continue. Although Fitbit outshipped Apple, it's worth noting that Fitbit only sells basic wearables, a category that is expected to lose share over the next few years, leaving Apple poised to become the next market leader for all wearables," he added.<br /><br />Xiaomi and Garmin ranked third and fourth in the tally with 17.1 per cent share (3.1 million units) and 3.9 per cent share (0.7 million units), respectively.<br /><br />Samsung saw its shipment declining to 0.6 million units in April-June 2015 quarter from 0.8 million units in the year-ago period. Its market share stood at 3.3 per cent in the quarter under review.</p>
<p>Within months of its smartwatch launch, tech giant Apple is already at a "striking distance" with global leader in the wearable market, Fitbit, with shipments of 3.6 million units in the April-June quarter, research firm IDC said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to data by IDC, Apple is just 0.8 million units behind Fitbit's 4.4 million units shipment (24.3 per cent market share) in the second quarter of 2015.<br /><br />The Cupertino-based firm had a market share of 19.9 per cent in its debut quarter.<br /><br />The global wearable shipment for April-June 2015 quarter grew a whopping 223.2 per cent to 18.1 million units from 5.6 million units shipped in the year-ago period, IDC said.<br /><br />Apple, which sells the cult range of iPhones, iPads and Macbooks, started selling its smartwatch in select markets like the US, China, Hong Kong, Australia and France in April.<br /><br />"Anytime Apple enters a new market, not only does it draw attention to itself, but to the market as a whole. Its participation benefits multiple players and platforms within the wearables ecosystem, and ultimately drives total volumes higher," IDC Research Manager (Wearables) Ramon Llamas said.<br /><br />He added that Apple also forces other vendors, especially those that have been part of this market for multiple quarters, to "re-evaluate" their products and experiences.<br />"Fairly or not, Apple will become the stick against which other wearables are measured, and competing vendors need to stay current or ahead of Apple," he said.<br /><br />Jitesh Ubrani, Senior Research Analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers, said about two of every three smart wearables shipped this quarter was an Apple Watch.<br /><br />"Its (Apple) dominance is expected to continue. Although Fitbit outshipped Apple, it's worth noting that Fitbit only sells basic wearables, a category that is expected to lose share over the next few years, leaving Apple poised to become the next market leader for all wearables," he added.<br /><br />Xiaomi and Garmin ranked third and fourth in the tally with 17.1 per cent share (3.1 million units) and 3.9 per cent share (0.7 million units), respectively.<br /><br />Samsung saw its shipment declining to 0.6 million units in April-June 2015 quarter from 0.8 million units in the year-ago period. Its market share stood at 3.3 per cent in the quarter under review.</p>