Smartwatch Sales Drop 2% in Early 2025, Brands Swap Places
In the first three months of 2025, the world saw a slight 2% dip in smartwatch sales, says a fresh study from Counterpoint. This drop results from more Chinese brands growing fast while the Apple Watch sales sunk lower.
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| Chart with global smartwatch shares by brand for early 2025 |
Brand Moves in First Part of the Year
The study points to big turns among the top five smartwatch names, with weak results in the Indian scene causing big share falls, a third less than last year.
- Apple: Still at the top with 20% of the market, but it sold 9% less than last year.
- HUAWEI: Now second with a 16% share, thanks to a huge 53% boost in sales.
- Xiaomi: Takes third place with a 10% share, also up by 53% from last year.
- Samsung: Saw an 18% drop in sales, now has 7% of the world market.
- Imoo: Stays in the fifth slot, strong in the kid's smartwatch area.
Key Moves Pushing the Industry
Many trends are shaping these brand moves and how folks buy.
- China's Demand Goes Up: China wants more smartwatches than before, with local buys up by 37%. Strong sales from HUAWEI and Xiaomi help this rise.
- More Pricy Models: People now buy less of the very cheap watches. Sales of watches from $100 to $200 went up by 21%, and those under $100 fell by 17%.
- Kids' Smartwatches Grow: There's a wider market for these now, led by Imoo. Parents like the tracking tools and the delay of a first smartphone for kids.
Looking Ahead in the Smartwatch Scene
Even with the small drop early in 2025, experts think the market will rise slowly by about 3% by year’s end. This may come from tech updates by makers, like:
- Adding AI tools.
- Better health and body checks.
- Creating top-notch health sensors (needs OK from the law).
They aim to boost the health-help role of smartwatches, making them key health gadgets.