5 reasons why Android Wear has not been a success

5 reasons why Android Wear has not been a success

When Google announced Android Wear, it was highly expected that Google will be able to replicate Android's mobile success and take it forward with the wearables. But it seems like the plans have not gone according to their expectations.                                                                            

Recent report on wearable market via Canalys has deemed Motorola Moto 360 as the best-selling Android Wear (AW) in the market. Which hardly comes as surprise, considering Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sony and Asus are the only brands to announce their respective wearable watch last year?                                                                                                                                                                          
Overall, wearable business has done well with 4.6 million units sold but the fact that only 720,000 of those were running on AW is a sight of concern for Google and its wearable team. So, when AW has the most competent product in the form of Moto 360, why hasn't the supporting wearable platform been accepted by consumers across the globe? The fact that 4.6 million wearables sold is an exciting reading to gauge but how many of those actually constitute under the smartwatch segment? And that is exactly the reason behind AW holding less than one-fifth of total wearables sold last year.                                                                                                                               

Too early into the space                                                                             

                                                                         

Last year was seen as the birth of a new form factor and how technology was getting closer to us, day-by-day. Android Wear was supposed to enable wearables to become unified under one platform (like how mobile has become) but that hasn't proven to be the case. Taking Google's heed, Apple smartly decided to weather the initial storm and bring out Apple Watch for the public, after reading the market's traction.                                                                                                                                      

Wearables need to evolve 

As you can see with the numbers, fitness band seems to have been the primary benefactors of this segment. The likes of FitBit, Jawbone etc. have rallied as they are more affordable than smartwatch (running AW). Watches right now are, not functionally worthy of its value, or too similar to fitness bands in lot of aspects. 

It's not the hardware but software

While Android isn't the reason behind many manufacturer's hardware fall but same cannot be said for its wearable cousin. Lot of issues crept up with the first version of AW and similar pattern has been observed with the newer version as well. Google has to find the right formula between software and hardware to get the platform up and running, otherwise Apple might have a bigger say in 2015 with its much delayed Apple Watch (running on iOS). Brands have gotten tired with AW and they've started (or already made) software for wearables on their own. 

Too much happening

Wearables were introduced purely to ease the use of your phone and offer you convenience of communicating without having to hold your device in your hand. But by adding apps, virtual keyboard, fitness and music among others, Google has somewhat lost the true essence of having a unified wearable platform. AW needs clarity, simplicity and effective functionality, all principles that the search giant preaches wholeheartedly. 

And yes, the battery

Talking about AW doesn't end without referring to its maligned battery life support. Yes, with Lollipop version, things have marginally improved but wearables are meant to last (at least) for couple of days if not more but with AW (as seen on Moto 360), its case of charging once (or twice) in a day. And for its worth, you won't really bother paying anywhere close to Rs 10,000 for such a product, let along Rs 18,000 (price of Moto 360 in India). 

In the end all we'd like to say is, 'dear Google we need the AW to become with wearable, just like how Android teams up with mobile seamlessly'. And before Apple manages to steal your thunder, we fully expect you to find the right balance with Android Wear (hopefully at Google I/O 2015).