Posted 1/29/2024, 2:10:00 PM
Fossil, once leader of Wear OS watches, shutters smartwatch business after tiny market share
- Fossil was the biggest name in Wear OS for years, but only managed to capture 2.2% of the smartwatch market from 2015-2023. Its peak was 6.7% in 2017.
- Fossil sold about 19 million Wear OS watches over 8 years, while Apple sold 248 million Apple Watches in the same timeframe.
- Fossil struggled due to its fashion brand focus, Google's neglect of Wear OS, and underpowered Qualcomm chips in its watches.
- Fossil kept Wear OS alive for years when other big brands abandoned Android smartwatches.
- Fossil is stopping smartwatch production, understandable given its tiny market share despite being the lead Wear OS brand.