The market researchers at IDC are predicting that sales of wearables will experience an 18.4 percent compound annual growth rate for the next three years. In 2018, device makers will likely ship 113.2 million units; that number will probably increase to 222.3 million units by 2021.
The important news for the mobile development industry is that basic fitness trackers, which don’t have third-party apps, will see sales decline, while full-featured smartwatches, which do accept third-party apps, will see strong growth. Smart clothing will also see strong sales gains, although it will remain a small part of the overall wearables market.
