Apple has started to lose its dominance in the smartwatch market, and the new leader of the industry is Huawei
Apple’s years-long dominance in the global smartwatch market has come to an end. According to Counterpoint Research’s report for the second quarter of 2025, Huawei has surpassed Apple for the first time, taking the top spot in the industry. The report notes that global smartwatch shipments increased by 8% year-over-year, following five consecutive quarters of decline.
Apple is losing its dominance in the smartwatch industry
During this period, Huawei achieved the most significant growth in the market by increasing its shipments by an impressive 52%. The company’s success is largely attributed to its wide product range priced between $100 and $400 and its strong integrations with smartphones and the IoT ecosystem
Although more than 75% of Huawei’s shipments come from China, growth in the European, Middle Eastern, African, and Asia-Pacific markets also contributed to this rise.
Local market influence, product diversity, and ecosystem compatibility played a decisive role in Huawei’s takeover of the leadership. Apple, on the other hand, experienced a decline this quarter. The company’s shipments dropped by 3%, marking its seventh consecutive quarter of decline. Nevertheless, Apple continues to maintain its leadership in the premium segment, thanks to its accuracy in health-tracking features and its loyal iOS user base.
Looking at other brands in the market, Xiaomi grew by 38% with its affordable models, while imoo, known for its kids’ smartwatches, sustained its leadership in its segment with a 21% increase.
Samsung, on the other hand, experienced a 3% decline due to the new Galaxy Watch 7 failing to achieve the expected momentum. Counterpoint predicts that the global smartwatch market will grow by around 3% overall in 2025.
