by Chuck Martin , December 15, 2017

The number of wearable devices in China will pass the number in the U.S. this year, according to new research from eMarketer.

More than one in five (21%) adult internet users in China will use a wearable device this year, according to the research firm’s first wearables forecast for China.

In the U.S., 20% of internet users will use a wearable this year.

Fitbit fitness trackers were not initially a hit in China, but the subsequent arrival of less expensive trackers, such as the Mi Band, drove mass adoption by consumers.

The launch of the Apple Watch in 2015 also was popular for a rising middle class.

By 2021, eMarketer estimates that nearly a quarter of adult internet users in China will regularly use a wearable.

“Wearable devices will continue to experience high growth among consumers in China,” stated Shelleen Shum, senior forecasting analyst at eMarketer. “Thanks to the availability of inexpensive devices with constantly improving functionalities, coupled with an enthusiasm for new technology among working adults, the adoption of wearable technology is on the rise.”

MediaPost.com: Search Marketing Daily

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