In a remarkable shift in the global smartwatch market, Huawei has outrun Apple for the first time, becoming the world’s number one manufacturer, according to a report by Counterpoint Research. This significant milestone is reflective of changing consumer preferences and evolving brand strategies in the wearable tech landscape.
Apple has been pushed down to second place, as Huawei leads the smartwatch market
The data provided reflects the second quarter of this year, revealing that Huawei captured an impressive 21% of the market share, while Apple holds 17%. Xiaomi, another competitive player, ranked third with a 9% share, followed by imoo at 7%, and Samsung at 6%. This dynamic leaves about 40% of the market share divided among various other manufacturers.
The graph illustrates that Huawei’s shipments surged by a remarkable 52% year-over-year (YoY), highlighting its robust growth compared to Apple, whose shipments experienced a decline of 3%. Xiaomi, although third, also enjoyed significant growth at 38%, though still trailing Apple considerably.
Interestingly, imoo, a brand that specializes in smartwatches designed for children, emerged as the fourth-largest player in the market, achieving a 21% year-over-year growth in shipments. This underlines the expanding segmentation within the smartwatch market and the rising interest in child-focused wearable technology.
Samsung took fifth place, which won’t please the company’s leaders
In a somewhat disappointing turn of events for Samsung, the company secured fifth place, with its shipments also decreasing by 3%—mirroring Apple’s fate. Meanwhile, the combined shipments of all other smartwatch manufacturers have seen an aggregate decline of 8% YoY, indicating potential challenges within the industry.
Counterpoint attributes Huawei’s ascent in the global wearable market to robust growth within China, alongside its strategic efforts to expand into other regions. The competitive landscape has changed significantly within just a year; in Q2 of 2024, Apple reigned supreme, with Huawei in second place.
Looking ahead, it will be fascinating to observe whether this trend of Huawei’s dominance in the smartwatch market can be sustained, or if Apple will bounce back to reclaim its position.
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