Apparently Samsung’s Galaxy Gear Smartwatch has only sold 50,000 units, despite a huge marketing campaign.

But why the surprise? It was only compatible at launch with the Samsung Note 3 and no other phones. This is changing with compatibility with some other Samsung smartphones. But it won’t work with other brands. Therefore initial sales would always be constricted. And then there was the price. £299. Total ripoff. And the battery life was poor. Charging daily or every other day.

Compare this with Pebble smartwatch. This works on most android phones and iPhones. The battery lasts a week. And it costs $150. Less than half the price of the Samsung Galaxy Gear.

And then there is the bigger issue. Who wears a watch anymore. If you want to know the time or see your missed notifications you look at your phone. It’s instinctive.

Update – Reuters has gone on record saying Samsung sold 800,000. The press were way off the mark. 800,000 is a staggering and amazing achievement.