Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may sell around 10 million units of its rumored iWatch in the first year, according to Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. After surveying around 800 United States customers, Munster concluded that the iWatch may not enhance revenue to a great deal but may capture as many as 10 million customers.
iWatch to have a penetration rate of 2-4 percent
Munster concluded that the iWatch may command a penetration rate of between 2 and 4 percent among iPhone owners, which will result in around 5 million to 10 million iWatches during the first year of its launch. In the survey, customers were questioned if they would go for the $350 iWatch, which can connect to iPhones.
Among those surveyed, 12 percent of iPhone owners were interested in buying an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iWatch while 88 percent were not interested. Worldwide, the percentage will decline further. According to Munster, consumers in the United States are richer than the average international iPhone owner.
iWatch may not be a big revenue source for Apple
Munster suggested that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s bottom line will be least affected by iWatch sales numbers. After taking 7.5 million as the estimated sales number for iWatch, Munster calculated that Apple’s revenue and gross profit would each increase by one percent. However, the company may derive other benefits from iWatch sales.
Munster said that iWatch will not be huge for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in terms of revenue in fiscal 2014, but it can be categorized with television where it can showcase Apple’s ability to innovate, and most probably lead to a more meaningful new product category in wearable tech.
Other estimates
Wang Wanil of CIMB Securities Limited predicted much higher numbers than that of Munster’s. In August, Wanil estimated that Apple will ship around 65 million “iWatch” units priced at $199 for the first year. This predicted number is considerably more than 14.8 million iPads Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) sold in the first month of the launch, which were tagged at $499.
The speculations are that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) might launch a new wearable gadget next year with screen display of 1.5 or 2 inch touchscreen panel. The new gadget will probably focus on biometrics, advising users on health and activity by acting as a pedometer, heart rate monitor and maybe even more.
