Smartwatch between CE marking, regulations and growing market

Evolution of the classic wristwatch in an Internet of Things perspective, the smartwatch establishes itself as one of the most successful products in the category "wearable technology". Among the key features that motivate the net increased demand of these devices, there are opportunities to keep tabs on calls, Instant messages and emails; the possibility of taking advantage of widgets and applications of great variety and, Furthermore, that they can also be used as simple fitness trackers, between monitoring sports performance and parameter control.

Smartwatch: types and functionalities

Defining itself as a functional extension of the smartphone, smartwatch technology has different degrees of correlation with the user's phone. You could indicate how smartwatch "employees" those where most functionality takes shape when connected to smartphones; on the contrary, the "stand alone" can work independently of the phone, even hosting SIM cards. Halfway between the two, the smartwatch "hybrids" work autonomously with regard to basic features – for example, connecting to the Internet – and need to be connected to smartphones, instead, for messaging and calling-related features.

To define the various product ranges are not only the functionalities, but also the components. Among the types of display there are for example the Tft, not very bright that benefit from reduced power consumption; the best known LCD, which are brighter than the previous ones, and, finally, the OLED O AMOLED, characterized by an even sharper chromatic contrast.

The Hardware – processor, internal memory and RAM – the integrated sensors – e.g. GPS, cardio and pulse oximeter – and the type of connectivity – Wi-Fi or Bluetooth – help outline various categories of devices, in relation to the performance sought by users.

Marketing smartwatches: CE MARKING

To be marketed legitimately and securely, smartwatches must obtain the CE marking and respect the European standards defined by Directive 2014/30/EU on Electromagnetic Compatibility, from Directive 2014/35/EU (Low Voltage Directive), from regulation 2002/95/EC (RoHS Directive) and Directive 2014/53/EU (RED) on radio equipment.

Theobtaining the CE marking for this type of products is based, just, on the’application of harmonised standards leading to the verification of requirements. A basic element for marketing is the preparation of a technical file related to the product – which collects all the documentation aimed at certifying the conformity of the device – and the EU Declaration of Conformity that indicates the legitimacy of the product with respect to the legal requirements. L’application of the CE mark, visibly, leggibile e indelebile, is to be counted among the duties of the manufacturer, but the entire process of attestation of conformity also involves the figures of importer and distributor.

If the drafting of Declaration of Conformity and Technical File, affixing the CE mark, the preservation of documentation for the next ten years are among the key points related to the figure of the manufacturer, indeed, we find similar tasks among the duties of the importer.

It is up to theimporter, for example, verify the provision of EC Declaration of Conformity and documentation for traceability and it is up to him to ensure that – during the period in which the product is under his responsibility – the conformity of the device is not put at risk. Just like the importer, also the distributor has the obligation to ensure that the conformity of the products persists, reporting to the Authorities the hypothetical inconsistencies detected.

The smartwatch market: overview and projections

The global impact of COVID- 19 has seen the sector be invested by a increased demand during the pandemic. According to data from Counterpoint Research reports in the third quarter 2021 the Shipments of smartwatches are grown of 16% compared to the same period of the previous year, and, in turn, in the second trimester of 2022 I'm grown of 13%, compared to the same period of the 2021.

La global dimension of the smartwatch market in the 2020 it stood on the 18,62 billions of dollars. According to the Smartwatch Market and Forecast 2022–2028 Themed Report by Facts and Factors, it is expected that from 2022 to the 2028 the global smartwatch market will develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21,5%. The global smartwatch market was worth it 22,46 billions of dollars in 2021 and is expected to exceed 97,52 billions of dollars by 2028.