Global smartwatch shipments grew 4% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Smartwatch Shipments Tracker, Q1 2026.
The market growth was primarily driven by continued global adoption of Apple’s newest portfolio and growing demand for premium devices with advanced health tracking capabilities. Additionally, the growth of the China market encouraged consumer upgrades and strengthened overall demand.
“Apple has captured the highest shipment share of 23% and emerged as the strongest performer in quarter one of 2026, driven by the continued success of its refreshed lineup,” Counterpoint Research’s Principal Analyst Anshika Jain says. “While North America contributed over half of the total shipments of Apple, China and Europe recorded the fastest growth for the brand. The addition of meaningful health upgrades and the affordable SE 3 attracted new buyers.”
Apple’s 23% of the smartwatch market compares to 20% in the first quarter of 2025. That’s annual growth of 21%.
Counterpoint says the smartwatch market regained momentum in 2025 after a slowdown in 2024. This recovery was driven by brands introducing a variety of new features, such as satellite connectivity, 5G RedCap, AI capabilities, and more advanced health tracking for conditions like sleep apnea and hypertension. This has helped build strong growth momentum in the market. However, recent memory shortages and macro-economic factors are expected to slightly impact the overall growth rate for 2026. Even so, Counterpoint says the effect is likely to be less severe than in other consumer electronics segments, supported by comparatively higher margins in premium smartwatches. As a result, the smartwatch market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3% through 2030, adds the research group.
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