Apple's next biggest market could be the world's most populous nation, analysts forecast. (Photo : www.flickr.com)
With Apple’s move to adapt its product to local tastes, analysts say that the U.S. technology giant’s smartwatch could be the next big thing in China.
Apple's smartwatch is available in gold, an appealing hue to the country's appetite for luxurious items.
Chris Jones, a Canalys analyst, remarked that "for an international brand, plus add gold into the equation . . . I think that combination is going to appeal in China."
This is apart from the firm's showcasing of the Tencent-rendered instant messaging service, WeChat, which is used by around half a billion people.
According to Shaun Rein, the managing director of the Shanghai-based China Market Research, the Apple Watch is "going to be a massive hit" in the country, citing that it is "a brand that's aspirational, but it's not so over the top in price."
The watch starts at 2,588 yuan ($413).
Industry experts furthermore projected that with this device, the tech giant could boost its sales beyond the $182 billion revenue from iPhones, iPads and Macs in 2014.
For last year's fourth quarter, Apple's China sales increased by 70 percent. The rise is attributed to the launch of its latest smarpthones, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus.
Greater China comprised a total of 21 percent in the firm's last-quarter global revenue. The share amounted to $16 billion.
For 2015, Apple could sell up to 15 million smartwatch units internationally, Oppenheimer analyst Andrew Uerkwitz forecast.
Zhang Xiaohong, a Beijing-based college student, shared: "I'd be very interested in the Apple Watch because I love Apple products."
"I've got an iPhone 5 and a MacBook computer. The design and quality is so good," the 21-year-old added.
