Strategy Analytics Wearables Service brings you daily coverage of the year’s largest consumer electronics convention: CES 2018. Each day’s post will focus on a different wearable device type, with day 3 tackling Feature Watches –connected wristwatches with a watch-like bulge that are not capable of running 3rd party apps.
See our Day 1 blog on smartwatches here, and our Day 2 blogs on wearable enabling technologies here and head mounted displays here.
Major Feature Watch announcements from the show floor this year include:
- Suunto has announced the Fitness 3, with a primary focus on customized training plans that adapt to your fitness level and work-out history. It also sports an optional heart rate sensor to deliver real-time heart zone training.
- MyKronoz has announced the LeTime Petit – a smaller version of the LeTime aimed primarily at the female market. The Swiss company has garnered attention for producing the only color touch screen feature watches that also use physical hands running on a mechanical movement.
- Nokia, which now owns Withings, is updating their Health Mate app to include Amazon Alexa smart assistant integration. Separately, The Steel HR model is also being offered in four different styles of rose gold starting February.
- Heartguide – a smartwatch in the works from Omron uses an inflatable wristband to take blood pressure readings from the wrist. They are seeking FDA approval this year.
- Omate has announced the Omate O5LW, a 4G enabled timepiece with a focus on health tracking being distributed via health insurance providers and uniquely being offered under a wearables as a service model.
With many traditional wristwatch makers and fashion brands beginning to embrace connected wristwear this year, as well as entrants from the healthcare arena, the feature watch is poised for a major expansion in 2017 to the tune of 58% growth, versus expected smartwatch growth of 41% in 2017. Due largely to early popularity of child tracker watches, Asia Pacific will lead the market throughout the forecast period.
Exhibit 1: Suunto Fitness 3
