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Samsung’s announcement of the Galaxy Fit3 has left fitness tracker enthusiasts in the US disappointed, as the company confirmed to Android Central that it won’t be launching the device in the United States. “Samsung looks holistically across our product portfolio and bundling optimal devices together that align with the market trends and needs for each region,” a Samsung rep stated.
Samsung revealed that the fitness tracker would be available in select regions across Europe, Asia, and South America starting February 23, with a later release in Korea. The decision not to bring the Galaxy Fit3 to the U.S. market stems from Samsung’s strategic evaluation of the fitness tracker landscape and market trends.
In the case of the United States, Samsung determined that the fitness tracker market is not substantial enough to justify the costs associated with marketing, distribution, and software support for the Galaxy Fit3. While an official list of supported nations has not been provided yet, it is believed that Canada and the United Kingdom will also miss out on the Fit 3.
Fitness band sales are declining globally signaling a shift in the user preference
The rationale behind Samsung’s decision becomes clearer when considering the declining sales of fitness bands globally. Canalys’ analysis indicates a steady decrease in fitness band sales over the past few years, contrasting with the growth in smartwatch sales. With consumers increasingly opting for the advanced features of smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch 6 (Review) or the Google Pixel Watch 2 (Reivew) over traditional fitness trackers, Samsung faces challenges in maintaining competitiveness in the fitness band market.
Furthermore, the competitive landscape of wearable devices, particularly in the United States, presents additional hurdles for Samsung. Samsung aims to position its wearables as premium products, as noted by Anshel Sag, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy prioritizing higher average selling prices and software support, which may not align with the lower-priced fitness tracker segment. Although the absence of the Galaxy Fit3 in the United States may disappoint fans, it reflects broader trends in the wearables market.