Apple led the UK smartwatch market in Clicked’s dataA study from UK-based Clicked Research has found that wearable ownership in the country has doubled over the last 12 months, with 12% of the UK’s adult population (around 6 million people) now owning a wearable.
The fastest-growing devices are activity trackers and smartwatches; penetration of these products in the UK has doubled over the last 12 months, while growth of GPS sportswatches has stalled.
Ownership and interest is rising amongst women, but falling amongst men. Clicked also found that more than half of UK wearable owners are under 35 – but growth is now mainly coming from the 55+ age group.
There is a seasonal impact on wearable usage, with the peak coming in spring and summer. It was also found that activity trackers are less motivating in encouraging people to exercise than in the past, and that 32% of all wearables are not used past the first month of ownership. Clicked did not find any single reason for this, but it remains a problem that the market must overcome.
