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According to the latest report from CCS Insight, approximately 10 million wearable devices will be operational in the UK by the end of 2016, with five million sales and the overall figure tripling to almost 33 million units in the next four years.

Fitness trackers will lead the way in terms of volume with sales of 1.7 million expected in 2017, according to the researchers. However, in terms of value, smartphone companions such as the Apple Watch will be the leading category, worth almost £300 million in 2016. By 2020, shipments of smartphone companions will rise from 1.5 million in 2016 to 3.6 million in 2020, comprising 34% of the value of the wearables market.

George Jijiashvili, analyst for wearables at CCS Insight, said: “Advances in design and affordability mean that this year wearables have become devices that ordinary people actually want to wear. Consumers in the UK have adopted wearable technology enthusiastically, particularly fitness trackers, which are becoming an increasingly commonplace accessory on people's wrists." However, Jijiashvili cautions that “the real challenge now lies in making sure people who have a wearable device keep on using it rather than abandoning it after a few months.”

Other wearable categories featured in the report include augmented and virtual reality as well as wearable cameras. On these categories, Jijiashvili said: “All eyes are on virtual reality given it's one of the hottest new technology areas to emerge this year. There's going to be a deluge of exciting 360-degree content widely available on Facebook and YouTube, and we're confident consumers will be keen to try it. The arrival of several 360-degree cameras during 2016 will further fuel the explosion of what we're calling surroundies.”

 

 

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