Smartwatches in 2019: trends and usage

The smartwatch is gaining more and more ground. The Apple Watch 4 was recently released and showed a considerable improvement compared to other smart watches and, not least, the Apple Watch 3.

The device is no longer purely intended for fitness enthusiasts. It is now a handy computer for the wrist. In this article you can read about the trends we will encounter in 2019 and how the market for smart watches is developing.

More people use a smartwatch

More and more people use a smartwatch. It is even expected that in 2022 twice as many people will use a smartwatch than this year. This is evident from the Worldwide Wearables report from Futuresource Consulting.

We owe the growth of the smartwatch mainly to Fitbit, Samsung and Apple, among others. These companies came with premium wearables on the market, including the Fitbit Ionic and Versa and the Apple Watch.

The smartwatch is especially popular among sports enthusiasts, because there are many functions for fitness in the devices. This has boosted sales, but consumers are now mainly going to benefit from connectivity. 4G will play a greater role in smartwatches before the end of 2018 and later in 2019. Experts even dare to predict a 539 percent growth in 2018 and 2019.

Apple Watch continues to perform well in the smartwatch market.

The Apple Watch 4 and the Fitbit

Apple has been growing steadily on the market for two years, says American expert James Manning Smith. This is partly because the competition is not very fast with updating their models. Apple continues the renewal.

The integration with the telephones is of added value. According to the expert, an entire ecosystem is unfolding in which consumers can almost leave their phones at home because they have access to the same functions on the smartwatch. This makes it possible to stream music, make wireless payments and use voice controls. For example, think of Siri on the Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch is the best-selling smart watch, with a market share of 34 percent. 3.5 million units were sold in the second quarter of this year. That is expected to rise, now that the Apple Watch 4 is out. The Watch 4 is even thinner, faster and more useful than the predecessor. For example, there is a new chip in it, which makes the device twice as fast as the Apple Watch 3. In addition, the screen is larger and it is possible to make an ECG (heart film).

The Fitbit Versa was used earlier this year and can be a prelude to what else is in the tube. The watch is cheaper than other smart watches and comes with the Apple Watch in terms of sporting functions. Yet it is not a complete alternative. It is therefore primarily a fitness tracker, but it is a fitness tracker that is becoming increasingly intelligent and well-arranged.

A feature that is highly appreciated by users is, for example, the Fitbit Coach, which encourages the user to do shorter workouts of a few minutes. The screen of the Versa shows exactly how the workout works.

Even BMW jumps in

Now that others see the success of Apple and Fitbit, they too want to take the plunge and release their own smartwatch. Even the car manufacturer BMW jumps in. BMW has already signed a contract to have smart watches produced until 2023.

This smart watch is probably equipped with Wear OS, is connected to Google Assistant, keeps track of the user's heart rate and can work with GPS and Google Pay. Of course the design is luxurious, with a completely round AMOLED screen. It has the look that is so typical of BMW. Probably there is also a price tag that fits with BMW.

The smartwatch is for everyone

The coming year will be an interesting year for the smartwatch. It is no longer only intended for fitness enthusiasts and users interested in technology. The device is increasingly becoming a device for everyone. The Apple Watch 4, for example, can be arranged completely to your heart's content, now that users can put together their own dials.

Whether you are a man, a woman, or give a watch to your child as a gift: it is a useful device. By 2022, the smartwatch could even capture half of the wearable market. Where women ignored the smart watch in 2015, more and more watches are now coming onto the market that are completely tailored to women: beautiful, stylish and full of smart possibilities.

Of course a full-fledged smartwatch is a huge release. For children it can't really matter. That is why you can orientate yourself on smartwatches for children. A good example of this is the Q50 Kids or the Connected Kids K01. These have a child-friendly price and will keep the children sweet for a while.

The new generation of smart watches

What we see as a trend for 2019 is that style and high-tech functionalities come together. A smartwatch does not necessarily have to look like a mini screen. For example, manufacturers Tag Heuer, De Grisogono and Kronaby have opted for a classic, luxurious look and feel. This will be a clear trend for 2019.

Kronaby deserves a special note, since everything looks like a classic watch. It has two buttons: the first sets the watch in a somewhat classic way: it has a timer, an activity tracker and you can add a separate time zone. The other button offers real features: the ability to choose music, control your camera remotely, find your phone and to walk to a specific place with on-screen instructions.

The great thing about these smartwatches is that they are not specifically tied to an operating system. They work with apps, so you can use them on both iOS and Android.