Gartner predicts that global shipments of fitness wearable devices will reach approximately 70 million units in 2014

Gartner recently released a report saying that the shipment of health wearable devices will continue to decline in 2015, because health/fitness wearable devices overlap with smart watches in terms of functions. The report predicts that the global shipment of fitness wearable devices will be about 70 million in 2014, but will drop to about 68.1 million in 2015. However, as the cost of displays decreases and the functional universality of designs increases, health/fitness wearable devices will rebound in 2016.

" Smart watches with a retail price of $149 will also have sports tracking functions, which are very similar to smart wrists, but they can tell the time and have a user interface that facilitates communication. However, many smart wristbands are also developing such interfaces and functions such as sending text messages. The functions of the two will further overlap." said Angela McIntyre, research director of Gartner . Gartner believes that 50% of users will switch from considering buying smart wristbands to choosing smart watches.

Gartner also predicts that between 2018 and 2020, 25% of smartwatches and other health wearables will not be sold through retail channels. During this period, insurance companies, benefit providers, corporate employers, and fitness centers will serve as distribution channels for these device manufacturers. These new channels will help increase consumer acceptance of health wearables and smartwatches, and they will subsidize part of the cost or provide them to consumers for free.

Gartner roughly divides health wearable devices into five categories: smart wristbands, sports watches, chest straps, smart clothes and other fitness monitors. Based on Gartner's forecast data, Artery Network found that the shipment trend of smart clothes is quite optimistic, and it is expected to be 26 million pieces in 2016, which will become the largest shipment among the five categories. Artery Network learned that in 2013 and 2014, the shipment of smart clothes was almost zero, which is a brand new category. However, some big brands have already entered the smart tops on the market, such as Adidas's miCoach and Under Armour tights. Artery Network has also introduced smart thermal underwear FuelWear. Some manufacturers are trying to expand to other clothing categories such as coats and jackets. For example, urban pollution is getting worse. Wearing clothes that can monitor the pollution index, you can always know the quality of the air you are breathing.

In addition, Gartner believes that the concept of gamification will be more integrated into health wearable devices and smart watches, becoming a way to increase user stickiness of smart wearable devices.

via: vcbeat