Bloomberg uses Slice Intelligence data to show that Fitbit is actually still doing well as Apple Watch orders begin to level off from launch day highs. In fact, the data from Slice, however accurate that is, shows that Fitbits are actually outselling Apple Watches.
But it is hard to compare the two: Apple’s costs $350-$400 to start, where Fitbits start at around $55 and only go up to $250.
But the same could even be said for $99 Pebble watches really. Or Android Watches which often start below $99 for certain models.
The flip side however is that people who have an Apple Watch aren’t in the market for a Fitbit, but Fitbit users are prime market for the Apple Watch.
According to Slice, less than 5 percent of people who bought a Fitbit since the end of 2013 have also purchased an Apple Watch. About 11 percent of people who bought an Apple Watch had purchased a Fitbit product over that period.
Also, Apple’s distribution of the Apple Watch hasn’t really even started yet. There’s no Apple Watch at Target, Walmart, Best Buy or any of the big retail chains. In fact, Apple can barely keep up with demand within its own stores.
Apple Watches will also drop in price as new models come out, bringing the price of base models more in line with the competition. It is certainly hard to imagine how Fitbit will keep up as more and more of its market is subsumed by the Apple Watch and its ecosystem, and Fitbit doesn’t appear to want to play nice with Apple. With the fitness tracker maker entering the true smartwatch territory with its $250 Surge, Apple last year returned the favor by removing Fitbit products from its stores.
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Always skeptical of ‘research firms’ that are tied to Wall Street.. They are, more often than not, simply laser focused on reporting what their ‘masters’ want to help boost stock sales. Blind to all; except whats good for themselves anyway.
Add to the fact that Fitbit just went public, their is STRONG motivation out there to make Fitbit look good to new investors.
Why is everyone suddenly infatuated with Slice Intelligence data? why should we trust it any more than IDC or Gartner?
Walk outside for a few minutes and youll see everyone wearin a fitbit and no one but yourself with an Apple Watch on. Slice is correct, Fitbits are popular as hell right now
Walk outside for a few minutes and you’ll see everyone wearing an Apple Watch and no one but yourself with a fit-bit. You had that backwards so I fixed it. HEHE. Personally they are not in the same category so I would never compare the two.
Massive price differences, and fitbits can be used with any phones, as opposed to just iPhones. You can’t compare them based on raw numbers given these facts. Just like you can’t compare iOS vs Andriod usage, unless you are a complete moron that should walk off the face of the earth for being so stupid.
When I walk outside I see no one with either of them. There’s my anecdote.
Whatever Smoothies you more than anyone are someone who comes to 9to5 and spews the Apple will outsell the competition nonsense day in and day out. Now its justification and excuses.
I think the key is: Fitbit WAS popular. Like the Flip Camera, they sold like hotcakes and made a small mint, thanks to investors and shareholders.
But now the party is over. Not only does the Apple Watch have a ton more functionality (at admittedly a higher price), but even the iPhone 5S and 6 have the ability to perform just about all of the functions of the standard Fitbit.
And consumers have figured that out – why spend $100+ on a Fitbit when you already have an iPhone that does all that stuff?
Party is over…..did you look at the graph? Fitbit is CLIMBING and Apple Watch is FALLING like a stone in water!
@chris I try to be realistic. I’m sure Apple Watches aren’t selling great, and there are numerous reasons for that. I think Apple shouldn’t have even released it yet. I think it’s an okay product but not at all game changing. I also think they are beyond stupid if the rumor about them adding a FaceTime camera to the next one is true.
The watch should do 4 things:
Biometrics
Notifications
Home automation
Act as a virtual key
Currently it only really does notifications, and to me, that makes its existence not necessary. If they get the other things I mentioned in the coming generations, then it will be insanely great. I don’t think they should have released it until they had numerous biometric sensors in it though. The number one reason, most important, and world-changing thing the watch should do is numerous biometric sensors attached to tens of millions of people, tracking their biological, physiological, and kinesiological metrics constantly, and giving feedback in regards to the information attained. 100% on device, unless given to a doctor, and 100% private. That changes the world. Until then, do research and make it happen, don’t release an okay product, release a great, world-changing product. Apple is the one company that has the clout to wait and make a product right before releasing it. I think they’re learning that, as seen by the Apple TV.
Nonsense when Apple releases a product all competition cease to exist. Just like Spotify will disappear in 48 hours!
Hilarious dude like walking on water.
“Just like Spotify will disappear in 48 hours!”
I don’t think it will happen THAT quickly ;-)
But give it 2 to 3 years. Spotify will be either out of business or close to it by then. Don’t believe me? When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, no one would have believed that Blackberry (which was MOST of the smartphones in use at the time) would be reduced to a minor player in smartphones in just a few years. The CEO of Blackberry laughed at the iPhone in 2007… Not so much now.
Lets all remember Blackberry but forget countless Windows machines, all the Android devices, Fitbit and Traditional watches, but yes just look at blackberry!
Blackberry was replaced by a new type of device interaction by the way. Apple Music is more or less a carbon copy of Spotify. Nothing changes
@chris does Spotify let you watch all of the HD music videos? Ad free?
Not sure if serious. Is that what you want, a world where one company provides all of your needs? Sounds great… sounds exactly like what Apple was trying to prevent in the 80’s (and made fun of with their 1984 ad).
Fitbits are great; they’re affordable, the battery lasts for more than 24 hours (about 4 – 5 days), they have great software on the iPhone or Android, and an entire ecosystem. My wife has one, it’s pretty neat.
I have a Garmin that tracks steps and heart rate, and has a built in GPS (I’m a fairly serious runner) and other companies have decent offerings as well. With the Apple Watch, Apple are actually breaking their own design philosophy, which is that each device should be true to itself and be really good at ONE thing. Everything else is gravy. The Apple Watch isn’t very good at ANYTHING. It’s the netbook of watches,
The Apple Watch what?
Dude, the Apple Watch made every fitbit and garmin obsolete…
Why would I want those, if I can have my AW fill all my needs, from a watch that I use everyday, down to the gym or outdoor running?
It can track distance outdoors? Yes, Fitbit ecosystem is big you say? HealthKit is much bigger! My runs or my indoor exercise get auto-uploaded to HealthKit and then my diet app can see that and automatically just my diet with that.
It can make calls, NFC, etc… and doesn’t need to lose sports functionality.
GPS? Why? Do those devices show a map, with my point in GPS? No! They don’t. The Apple Watch does that, and can already measure ran distance with 1% accuracy, which no “sports watch” can do.
In Canada, the Apple Watch is $100 more than in the US, which is more than double the actual currency difference. So, if Apple is overpricing in other countries, it’s no wonder the watch is not exactly flying off the shelves.
How does the price difference for Watch compare to Macs? Just curious…
The Apple Watch, when you include taxes, is insanely priced in Canada.
I’m a huge Apple fan, but watch pricing in this country is a massive deterrent. There may come a time when I do get one, but unless it comes as a gift it won’t be until its 4th or 5th iteration, once everything’s been ironed out and it’s running about as smooth as it ever will.
Which model are you referring to? In the U.S., I paid $399 plus tax for my 42mm Space Gray Sport with Black fluoroelastomer band. Given the rate of exchange, the same model should go for about $480 in Canada before tax. What does it cost there out of curiosity?
It’s about $519 plus tax if I remember correctly
They’d better be outselling the Apple Watch. Fitbit makes inexpensive products that have been in the market for years and are available EVERYWHERE. Apple released the Watch an hour ago, and hasn’t even come close to completing the global rollout in the company’s own stores. Even without taking into account the obvious price difference, the comparison is stacked in Fitbit’s favor. Let’s talk again in 18 months though…
I’ve had the FitBit Surge (smartwatch) since their first round of beta users and the reason I got it even after the Apple Watch announcement is it is for fitness. The big thing that was/is stopping me from switching to the Apple Watch is the lack of GPS. When I go for run or bike ride it is 2 button presses on my smart watch and I am being tracked rather than having to start an app on my phone and strap it to my arm or to my bike. Though if the Apple Watch were to gain GPS I’d drop the FitBit immediately.
I might be wrong, but I think fitbits were removed from the store when they openly stated they will not support integrating into the Apple Health app. Which is extremely short sited on their end. I don’t understand when companies choose not to support as many tools as possible. In this case, Apple users, no less.
Think about it, the top selling brand of fitness wearable chooses not to support Apple Health integration on their products. I would argue that most people using Apple Health are loyal Apple customers who look for technologies that compliment their Apple products. Refusing to support it is akin to shooting yourself in the foot. Someone else will fill that void. And when that fitbit breaks, that user will look to replace it. They will look for ones that support their chosen technology. They will see other options. Why take that risk?
Fitbits is OS agnostic, and sells for a fraction of the price of an Apple Watch. It requires nothing else, other than an arm, in order to work.
This is like saying that the Apple Watch is being outsold by pedometers. You can get a Pedometer for $10 at your corner drug store.
I think it’s because of the battery life. That’s the reason why I’ve kep my Fitbit charge hr
McDonald’s Hamburgers are outselling Peter Luger steaks. News at 11!
Anyone who buys an iPhone instantly no longer needs the Fitbit. Fitbit will take up the lower end of the market. There is always room at the bottom.