Wearable technologies have really taken off over the course of the past three years or so. At first they seemed to be just a fad or were viewed as products that provided no real benefit. However that has since changed and the wearable technology industry is one of the fastest growing technology industries today. Nearly all major technology company has released some sort of wearable tech, in addition to the multitude of startups that have popped up. So which companies are doing things right? Who will lead the charge in 2016? We are going to take a look at ten of the best wearable technology companies who will most likely go on to have a great year in 2016.
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10. Jawbone
Based out of San Francisco, Jawbone is a promising wearable technology company that was one of the first on the scene when they launched their UP in 2011. While Jawbone makes a range of different electronic devices, their specialty is the activity tracker. They have a range of different activity trackers that are perfect for seeing how many miles you completed on a run or tracking how you sleep, for example. Jawbone’s UP line has been very popular, and they are one of the most affordable forms of wearable technology that money can buy (they start at $49). Since they are so affordable we’d imagine that the will become even more popular in 2016.
Photo from Jawbone
9. Garmin
Garmin seemed like an unlikely candidate to be a successful wearable tech company, but that is far from the case. The GPS giant now produces a range of different devices for consumers. They make everything from entry-level activity trackers to premium, $599 dollar smartwatches. Many of their watches incorporate their GPS technologies, for example ,they have a watch that allows you to view the fairway of a golf course. Garmin has a solid range of devices and will only continue to improve their offerings over the course of the next year.
Photo from Garmin
8. LG
LG broke into the wearable technology scene with their G Watch and have since followed up with two more smartwatches, the G Watch R and the G Watch Urbane. They are one of the few companies on the market that offer a wider selection of smartwatch styles. The G Watch R is a more sporty watch in nature, similar to a G Shock, while the G Watch Urbane is more “business”-like. LG’s offerings are consistently rated as some of the best smartwatches on the market, and they are expected to released more models in 2016. LG also created the G Watch Urbane Luxe, a version made with real gold, as they also are looking to tackle the high-end of things.
Photo from LG
7. FitBit
From San Francisco (where else), FitBit was one of the more successful wearable startups and have since become a major player in the industry. They specialize in fitness and activity trackers, and have a range of different models that are fairly affordable. The FitBit’s are easily some of the most popular activity trackers out there today, and they’ve proven time and time again that they can release solid products. As is the case with nearly all technology companies, they are expected to launch even more new products over the course of the coming year.
Photo from FitBit
6. Motorola
Motorola entered the wearable tech scene in 2014 when they launched the Moto 360. It was touted as one of the most beautiful smartwatches around, and was easily the best selling Android Wear smartwatch that year. They have since updated the device and now offer the Moto 360 2 and the Moto 360 sport. Additionally they are one of the few companies that let consumers personalize their watches, as they offer a range of different customizations for their Moto 360 2. They also have one of the nicest bluetooth headsets, the Moto Hint. Motorola’s wearables consistently sell extremely well and we can only expect great things from them in 2016.
Photo from Motorola
5. Pebble
Many will point to the Pebble as one of the first modern smartwatches, and you can easily consider them a major industry influencer. The company originally got their funding via a Kickstarter campaign and have now grown into a large company. Pebble sells a range of different smartwatches that are compatible with both iOS and Android, and they all incorporate a unique e-ink screen. While other smartwatches have traditional LCD displays for example, Pebble’s choice of e-ink proved to be a good move. Most modern smartwatches need to be charged on a daily basis, however the screens on the Pebbles consume low amounts of energy and can last for multiple days. In 2014 they shipped over 1 million units, and will continue moving forward within the industry in 2016.
Photo from Pebble
4. Apple
Apple was definitely late to the wearable tech game when they launched the Apple Watch in 2015, however it is still an influential piece of technology. They still are the one company that offers the largest range of different styles, and have forced other manufacturers to up their game. As is the case with most Apple products, the hardware on the Apple Watch is some of the best out there. Many people made jokes about the really expensive and “luxury” Apple Watches, yet we are now seeing many other companies offer more premium smartwatches. Additionally Apple is one of the largest, most profitable, and most popular technology company, so their Apple Watch has helped take wearables from being a niche product into the mainstream. We expect Apple to release a second edition model this year, and it will likely be a major improvement over the current watch.
Photo from Apple
3. Google
It’s safe to say that we can always expect ambitious things from Google, and they are doing a lot in the realm of wearable technology. The Google Glass prototype, unveiled in 2013, made the world rethink what wearable technology could be like. Additionally they are the company behind Android Wear, the operating system used on the watches made by Motorola, LG, Huawei, and others. While they don’t directly sell wearable products, they are doing a lot in terms of innovation within the industry.
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2. Oculus VR
Another leading company in the world of wearable technology is Oculus VR. This American company specializes in virtual reality goggles, and they were one of the first companies to really lead the charge in that market. They are working on a range of different virtual reality devices, and have worked with other companies like Samsung to produce products. I have personally used an Oculus Rift with a racing video game, and it was a truly impactful experience that made me reevaluate what is possible with technology. We can certainly expect big things from Oculus VR in 2016.
Photo from Oculus
1. Samsung
Samsung continues to be one of the most innovative technology companies out there, and that is certainly true for the world of wearables. We can always expect Samsung to release a wide range of different products as they always have ambitious goals. They have smartwatches, activity trackers, and a virtual reality headset. They are one of the few companies that’s making waves in the industry today, and we will surely seem some interesting wearables from Samsung in 2016.
Photo from Samsung
