Global Smartwatch Shipments Drop 4% In Q2 2026 As Huawei Takes Lead
Huawei took the top global smartwatch spot with a 22% share as shipments fell 4%, according to Counterpoint Research.
- Global smartwatch shipments declined 4% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, marking the first market contraction in a year as consumers held existing devices longer and basic models lost appeal.
- Market analysts attribute the downturn to waning interest in entry-level smartwatches with limited biometric sensors and lengthening replacement cycles among users awaiting major technological advancements.
- Huawei secured the number one global position with a record 22% market share, while Apple claimed second place with a 20.1% share and posted the fastest growth among top five vendors at 14% year-over-year.
- Xiaomi experienced a sharp 38% decline in sales, dropping to fourth place as its market share contracted to 6.1%, while Garmin finished fifth with an 11% shipment increase reaching 5.6% market share.
- Counterpoint Research projects total 2026 shipment growth of just 1%, though the sector is expected to maintain a 3% CAGR through 2030 driven by edge AI processing and non-invasive blood glucose monitoring.
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13 Articles
Report: Apple Watch shipments rise 14% in Q2 as overall market drops
A new Counterpoint Research report shows Apple, Garmin, and Huawei bucking a market-wide decline in smartwatch shipments in Q2 2026, with Huawei reaching a record share of global shipments. Here are the details. more…
Global Smartwatch Shipments Drop 4% In Q2 2026 As Huawei Takes Lead
Global smartwatch shipments fell 4% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, according to market intelligence from Counterpoint Research. The contraction marks the industry’s first quarterly downturn following twelve months of flat performance. Market analysts attribute the decline to waning consumer interest in entry-level smartwatches with limited biometric sensors, alongside lengthening replacement cycles among users awaiting major techn…
The growth momentum of the global smartwatch market has stalled after just one year. This is due to sluggish performance in entry-level products and the lengthening replacement cycle of premium models. According to Counterpoint Research on the 8th, global smartwatch shipments in the second quarter of this year decreased by 4% compared to the same period last year. By brand, Huawei maintained its position as the top seller, while Apple recorded t…
Smartwatch Market Slumps as Huawei Hits Record 22% Share – channelnews
Global smartwatch shipments fell 4% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, marking the market’s first decline in a year as consumers held onto existing devices and basic smartwatch demand weakened. According to Counterpoint Research’s Global Smartwatch Shipments Tracker, the decline reflects an increasingly mature market as longer replacement cycles emerge, creating a major challenge for manufacturers. Huawei was the standout performer, increasing its global shipment share to a record 22% during the quarter and taking the number one position in the global market. China was the key driver of Huawei’s performance, accounting for approximately 80% of the company’s worldwide shipments. Counterpoint Principal Analyst Anshika Jain said Apple recorded the fastest year-on-year growth among the market’s five largest brands. Apple increased shipments across all regions, helped by continued demand for its refreshed product range launched in late 2025. Source: Counterpoint Research Global Smartwatch Shipments Tracker by Model, Q2 2026 The Apple Watch Series 11 and Watch SE 3 accounted for more than 80% of Apple’s global smartwatch shipments during the quarter, according to Counterpoint. China is the world’s largest smartwatch market with a record 38% share of global shipments in Q2. Shipments in the country increased 7% year-on-year, with strong demand for domestic brands including Huawei and Imoo. China’s government consumer electronics subsidy program also contributed to sales growth, giving a boost to the local smartwatch market. While North America recorded slightly stronger growth than China, the Chinese market’s increasing share shows the growing influence of domestic brands in the global wearable technology sector. Counterpoint expects global smartwatch shipments to increase by just 1% for the full year in 2026. However, the research firm says it predicts the market will regain some momentum over the longer term, forecasting a 3% compound annual growth rate through 2030. Counterpoint Research Director Mohit Agrawal said emerging technologies could incentivise customers to replace their existing watches. These technologies include artificial intelligence, blood pressure monitoring and the ongoing development of non-invasive blood glucose monitoring. The findings show a smartwatch market that is divided between low-cost devices that struggle to compel users to upgrade and premium models competing through more advanced health and AI capabilities.
A new report from the consultancy Counterpoint, it gives us fresh data related to the global smartwatch market, corresponding to the second quarter of 2026, where Huawei is driving growth. The company has reached first place with a record sales share, thanks to its innovative portable devices focused on the [...] The post Huawei displaces Apple in global smartwatches market and worries Xiaomi's fall in the business first appeared on TransMedia.
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