The global smartwatch market has recently experienced its first decline in over a year, with quarterly shipments falling by 4% year-over-year in Q2 2026. Nonetheless, Huawei has managed to thrive during this downturn, securing the top position in the global smartwatch landscape.
Insights from Counterpoint Research reveal two prominent consumer trends driving this overall market shrinkage. On one side, the demand for basic, entry-level wearables is diminishing, as consumers increasingly seek devices with advanced biometric features. On the other hand, current premium smartwatch owners are opting to extend their replacement cycles, largely awaiting significant technological innovations such as non-invasive blood glucose monitoring and automated blood pressure tracking.
Huawei holds top spot while Apple closes the gap
Despite the industry challenges, Huawei has successfully claimed the number one global market position. The company achieved a record 22% market share, up from 20.8% the previous year, with a modest 1% increase in shipments. A significant factor in this success has been robust domestic demand in mainland China, which comprises roughly 80% of Huawei’s total shipment volume. The popularity of the Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro (review), local electronics subsidy programs, and an increased focus on preventive health tracking have all contributed to this upward trend.
China emerged as the strongest market worldwide, boasting a remarkable 38% share in shipments along with a 7% annual growth rate, closely followed by North America, which experienced an 8% regional expansion.
Apple, meanwhile, claimed the second position with a 20.1% market share, a notable increase from 17.0%. The tech giant recorded the fastest yearly growth among the top five vendors, witnessing a 14% surge. Apple’s latest hardware portfolio has proven successful across major regions, with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3 collectively accounting for over 80% of Apple’s global shipments during the quarter.
Mixed results across competing wearable brands
Performance among other major brands in the smartwatch market showed stark contrasts during the quarter. Imoo managed to hold onto third place, slightly enhancing its market presence from 7.7% to 7.8% owing to strong support from regional channels.
On the contrary, Xiaomi faced a dramatic downturn of 38% in sales, causing its market share to plummet from 9.5% to 6.1%. This decline can be attributed to the shrinking segment of budget-focused wearables. Garmin, on the other hand, finished in fifth place, capturing 5.6% of the market share, bolstered by an 11% increase in shipments driven by the growing demand for high-end outdoor sports navigation devices.
Counterpoint analysts Mohit Agrawal and Anshika Jain have projected that the full-year 2026 shipment growth will remain flat at around 1%. However, they foresee a compound annual growth rate of 3% leading up to 2030, as advancing AI capabilities and sophisticated medical sensors provide consumers with fresh incentives to consider upgrades.
The post Global Smartwatch Shipments Slip 4% While Huawei and Apple Gain Ground appeared first on Android Headlines.
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