The Apple Watch will ship over 15 million units worldwide in 2015, according to Strategy Analytics. Apple will quickly become the world's number one smartwatch vendor and capture 55% global market share in the year, said the research firm.

Global smartwatch shipments are forecast to reach 28.1 million units in 2015, up 511% from the 4.6 million units shipped in 2014, Strategy Analytics director Cliff Raskind indicated. Most of the smartwatch growth will come from the new Apple Watch, which the firm forecasts to ship 15.4 million units worldwide in 2015, Raskind said.

"The Apple Watch is the catalyst to ignite the global smartwatch market. Apple's famous brand, loyal fan base, deep retail presence and extensive apps ecosystem will ensure healthy uptake for its Watch. However, Apple's first-generation Watch is not yet perfect," noted Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics. "For example, Apple's Watch hardware design is arguably less attractive than some rival models such as the Huawei Watch, battery life may not be as long as many traditional wristwatch owners are used to, and Apple's premium pricing may be challenging for mass-market consumers."

Apple will need to upgrade tangibly its second-generation Watch to stay ahead of competitors later in 2015, Mawston said.