Australians bought 205,000 smartwatches this year, but 1 in 10 has already ditched the technology

AUSSIES were quick to snap up smartwatches, but new figures reveal a staggering number of buyers are already abandoning the technology.

In this Aug. 21, 2015, a number of new Android Wear smartwatches compatible with the Apple iPhone are posed for a photo at Google's offices in San Francisco. Google is introducing an application that will connect Android smartwatches with Apple's iPhone, escalating the rivals' battle to strap their technology on people's wrists. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

ONE in every 10 Australian smartwatch users has already abandoned their wearable technology even though Australians invested in more than 200,000 smartwatches in the first half of this year.

Research firm Telsyte released the findings today, also revealing almost three quarters of Australians now use smartphones, and Google handsets have made a comeback to outsell the Apple iPhone in Australia this year.

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But Telsyte’s research was most damning of wearable technology, with managing director Foad Fadaghi saying the “initial buzz” around smartwatches had “softened” and consumers were not yet willing to pay big dollars for premium smartwatches.

Smartwatches take off ... Australians bought more than 200,000 smartwatches in the first half of 2015, with 64 per cent of them Apple Watches. Picture: AP

“It is difficult to see mass-market consumers paying as much as premium tablets or smartphones for wearable technology that does not have significant new or unique features,” Mr Fadaghi said.

He said smartwatches so far lacked killer apps, and needed to come down in price to take off in a big way, much like tablet computers had done in the past.

Despite their slow adoption, Australians had invested in 205,000 smartwatches in the first six months of 2014, Mr Fadaghi said, with Apple responsible for 64 per cent of all sales, beating Samsung and LG.

The South Korean companies could make a comeback later this year, however, with LG’s premium G Watch Urbane released this month for $449, and Samsung’s Gear S2 unveiled at the IFA technology show in Berlin and due in Australia in the next month.

New smartwatches will also arrive from Motorola, Huawei and Sony.

New models coming ... Motorola showed off its next generation of Moto 360 smarwatches at IFA. Picture: AP

Telsyte also revealed 17.2 million Australians, or 72 per cent of the population, owned smartphones, with 3.7 million smartphones sold in the first half of the year.

Google Android-based phones edged out rival Apple to become the biggest sellers, with a 54 per cent share versus 41 per cent, while Windows Phones won five per cent of the market.

Telsyte expects Australians to buy more than 4.5 million smartphones in the second half of the year, however.

Originally published as Australians bought 205,000 smartwatches this year, but 1 in 10 has already ditched the technology