Huawei Holds Global Smartwatch Crown in Q1 2026 as Samsung Slips to Fourth
Huawei Technologies retained its position as the world's top smartwatch vendor in the first quarter of 2026, even as its shipments declined year-over-year, according to data released by IDC. The results underscore a shifting competitive landscape in which budget-tier devices and China's domestic demand are increasingly driving global growth.
Huawei shipped 9.5 million smartwatch units in Q1 2026, capturing a 20.2% market share. While the company held onto the top spot, the figure represents a 4.6% decline from the 10 million units it shipped in Q1 2025, when its market share stood at 21.7%. IDC attributed the pullback partly to intensifying competition across the segment.
Apple Inc. ranked second with 8 million shipments and a 17% market share, posting 13.2% year-over-year growth — one of the stronger performances among top-five vendors. Xiaomi came in third with a 16.9% market share, though it recorded a year-over-year decline.
Samsung Electronics fell to fourth place with 2.7 million units sold globally, a sharp 20.7% year-over-year drop that left it with a 5.8% market share. Garmin Ltd. rounded out the top five with 2.4 million units.
IDC identified three structural forces shaping the market in the quarter. First, the broader wearables category showed divergence: smartwatches held up relatively well, while fitness trackers lost momentum amid demand depletion from the prior year, rising storage costs, and pressure from lower-priced alternatives. Second, entry-level devices priced below $100 maintained stable sales, while premium smartwatches with advanced features also saw notable growth — suggesting the market is bifurcating rather than consolidating around a single price tier. Third, China emerged as the primary engine of global smartwatch growth, with the country's market expanding 3.5% year-over-year to reach 18.14 million units in the quarter. The United States and Latin America were also cited as markets gaining traction, albeit more gradually.
The data points to a market in which Huawei's dominance remains intact but is no longer expanding, Apple is gaining ground on the strength of premium demand, and Samsung faces meaningful headwinds at a time when the competitive field is broadening.
Related Coverage:
Huawei Overtakes Apple to Claim Global Smartwatch Crown for First Time