When it comes to a smartwatch's functionality, most consumers put the highest emphasis on the ability of this smart wearable to monitor activity and health. Gfk, a global market research company, in the release of a study and related infographics said that 25% of Germans say that the ability of the smartwatch to capture data on sports, health and fitness is the most important criteria determining their evaluation of a smartwatch's functionality. Similar trend is found in UK, US, China and South Korea with the percentage of consumers who choose the smartwatch's monitoring capability as the most important function in a smartwatch being 28%, 29%, 35% and 27% respectively.
In all these countries, buying a smartwatch for traditional watch functions was a priority for only 11% to 20% of consumers. These figures are based on data collected online from 1000 smartphone users in these countries. Other functions buyers in these countries find important in the selection of their smartwatch are the telephone function and use of apps for weather forecasts, notifications and news bulletins, says Gfk.
In these countries, a purchase of a smartwatch is determined primarily by price, followed by functionality except for China, where consumers place the greatest importance on the accuracy of the smartwatch. According to Gfk, well-known technology companies are named as the preferred supplier of smartwatches by respondents in all countries. They are considerably ahead of sports brands in second place, it added.
