tech
The Apple Watch is 11 years old and losing momentum. Screenless rivals are winning the next phase.
Apple Watch innovation has stalled as Whoop, Oura, and Fitbit Air redefine wearables. Key health execs are leaving. Oura has filed for IPO.
TL;DR
- Apple Watch has generated an estimated $100 billion in lifetime sales but is now facing slowing innovation and market momentum.
- Consumer preferences are shifting towards screenless wearables (bands and rings) focused on recovery, sleep, and passive health monitoring, from companies like Whoop, Oura, and Fitbit.
- Apple's Health app is criticized for being cluttered, clinical, and lacking actionable insights compared to competitors.
- Significant leadership turnover is occurring within Apple's health and wearables divisions, including the retirement of key executives and departures of talent to rivals.
- Apple's upcoming watchOS 27 update will focus on stability and incremental refinements, not major new capabilities.
- Apple is increasingly relying on promotions and discounts to drive Apple Watch sales, a departure from its usual strategy.
- A potential breakthrough lies in the glucose monitoring project, which is reportedly progressing but faces delays due to internal challenges.
- The wearables market is expanding beyond the wrist, with competitors like Meta and Google developing smart glasses.
- Oura, a direct competitor, has confidentially filed for an initial public offering, highlighting the growing strength of screenless wearables.