Apple denies reports that Watch sales are declining

Apple denies a report from analyst firm IDC that came online on Monday that sales of the Apple Watch have fallen sharply. According to director Tim Cook, the growth in sales of the watch is ‘off the charts’ and the strongest since the introduction of the gadget a year and a half ago.

“Our data shows that the Apple Watch is doing great and appears to be one of the most popular gifts for the holiday season,” Cook told Reuters news agency, which also claims Apple is on track for a record quarter for the watch. The Apple director responds to figures from analyst firm IDC, which came online Monday.

Cook’s response, however, is not a denial of the substance of IDC’s claims. The analyst firm claimed that Apple sold 71 percent fewer watches in the summer months than in the same period last year. IDC identified an “outdated lineup and non-intuitive interface” as the most important factors. According to the analyst firm, Apple has addressed both factors with the Apple Watch Series 2, which came out in late September.

If the numbers from IDC are correct, the Cupertino company is not the only smartwatch maker that is doing less. The entire market is in crisis. Only one new watch came out this fall with Android Wear, while pioneer Pebble, according to the latest rumors, is so deeply in debt that it has to sell itself to Fitbit.

It is remarkable that Apple responds to claims from analysts. The company rarely responds when the media approach them for a rebuttal.