Why we get bored with fitness trackers and smartwatches
Almost a third of them get abandoned after purchase.
So Fitbit, the dominant brand in fitness trackers, has just acquired Pebble, one of the pioneers in smartwatches. Consolidation is no surprise in this sector, because it turns out for most people, using a fitness tracker is a fad and a smartwatch is an irrelevance.
Research by Gartner highlights our levels of disinterest. In a survey of 9,592 people, just 10% had bought a smartwatch, and just 19% had a fitness tracker. In Australia, the numbers were even lower for smartwatches, with just a 7% take-up.
What was even more striking was that in the group of people who had acquired one, 29% of smartwatch owners and 30% of fitness tracker users ended up abandoning them. What were their reasons for abandoning them?
Here's the breakdown for fitness trackers:
| Why did you stop using a fitness tracker? | |
|---|---|
| I got bored with using it | 19% |
| It got lost or broken | 15% |
| I realised it wasn't useful to me | 15% |
| Data tracking wasn't accurate | 9% |
| I replaced it with another device | 9% |
| It was uncomfortable to wear | 8% |
| Constant quantification freaked me out | 6% |
| It didn't help me achieve health goals | 5% |
| Constantly having to charge was annoying | 5% |
| I didn't like the design | 2% |
| Other reason | 6% |
And here are the issues for smartwatches:
| Why did you stop using a smartwatch? | |
|---|---|
| I realised it wasn't useful to me | 19% |
| I got bored with using it | 16% |
| It got lost or broken | 13% |
| Constantly having to charge was annoying | 10% |
| It was uncomfortable to wear | 10% |
| I replaced it with another device | 9% |
| I didn't like the design | 5% |
| Constant quantification freaked me out | 4% |
| It didn't help me achieve health goals | 4% |
| Data tracking wasn't accurate | 4% |
| Other reason | 6% |
Some of those issues (like inaccurate tracking or rubbish battery life) could potentially be solved if the technology improves. However, the fact that so many people simply decide that the devices aren't useful or necessary suggests that there's a more fundamental issue at play. Good luck, Fitbit.
Angus Kidman's Findings column looks at new developments and research that help you save money, make wise decisions and enjoy your life more. It appears Monday through Friday on finder.com.au.
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