"Why the Apple Watch Isn’t a Huge Threat to Fitbit"
Fitbit is targeting mainstream users who want to have greater access to their health and fitness data and hope that a small, wearable device will help get them motivated. It’s true that Apple is also appealing to users with the Apple Watch, but with one important distinction: The Apple Watch requires an iPhone. For that reason, Fitbit’s broad cross-platform support is a good defense, since the company plays nicely with Android, Windows Phone, desktop platforms, and iOS. The Apple Watch may appeal more to iPhone users, but the majority of the world’s smartphones now run Android. That’s allowed the company to grow its active user base to over 9.5 million as of the first quarter.
Does Niu not realize realize that Apple wants to change the Watches dependance on iPhone? This is a problem that will likely be solved within the next year or so with Apple Watch 2. What happens to his argument then?
Niu is right that the majority of the world uses Android, but I’d argue that an iPhone owner is more likely to purchase a Fitbit than an Android user is. Why? For the same reason that most apps generate more revenue on iOS than they do on Android. It’s basically a matter of demographics.
Niu does make one interesting point that really does set Fitbit apart: Price. It’ll be interesting to see of Apple treats the Watch like the iPod and creates various models that do less for less money (think iPod Shuffle). That, or maybe Apple uses the iPhone strategy and sells the older generatation for less (think iPhone 5S today). Regardless of what strategy they choose, I don’t see a very bright future for Fitbit honestly.