According to the usual quarterly relationship of Counterpoint Research, the global market of smartwatches is not going through a good period. In the first quarter of 2025 the shipments are in fact drop by 2% compared to the same period last year. To further worry the producers is the decay that continues from Ben Five consecutive quarterswith some signs of recovery which, however, affect only certain markets.
Among the main factors at the base of the drop there would be a weakening of the question in India and a decline in shipments by Applehistorically leader in the sector. In the case of India, the boom of interest that had affected the smartwatch sector has faded over time, leaving room for a general slowdown that has affected most of the active producers in the country. However, if the general trend is downwards, there are some markets in which the question continues to grow.
Evil for Apple and Samsung, undernnight for China
With regard to Applethe first quarter of 2025 recorded a 9% decrease in shipments Compared to the same period of 2024, leading to six consecutive quarters in the negative. Despite the flexion, the giant of Cupertino maintains the first position in the global market of smartwatches with a share that stands on 20%, even if the pressure of the competition begins to be felt.
In the case of Samsungwhich in the past few hours has officially presented the new series Samsung Galaxy Watch8the situation is not the best: the Korean giant has in fact recorded a drop by 18% In the first quarter of 2025, bringing its global market share from 9% to 7%. The hope is that the new generation of smartwatch presented on the occasion of the Galaxy UNPACKED can slightly raise the manufacturer’s fate in the next quarter.
However, the China market thought of a shock to the sector, which saw a 37% surge in shipments on an annual basis. It is the Best result recorded by the fourth quarter of 2020, thanks above all to the contribution of producers such as Huawei And Xiaomi. In fact, both brands have seen a 53% growth, pushing Huawei from 10% to 16% of the global market share and Xiaomi from 6% to 10%.
Even the segment of children’s devices has been able to maintain a certain relevance in the quarter: the Chinese brand Imoo has seen its shipments increase by 23% compared to last year, bringing its market share to 7%. Finally, as regards the category of minor producers, an overall drop in shipments of 17%has been recorded, going to confirm the negative trend that affects more or less the whole industry.
Counterpoint Research has also drawn up a relationship that lists consumers’ preferences: according to analysts, users prefer Middle-range smartwatchwith prices between $ 100 and 200 dollars, which saw a growth of 21% compared to the first quarter of 2024. On the contrary, low -end smartwatches, with a price of less than 100 dollars, have undergone an important flexion, confirming how the interest of consumers is increasingly moving towards more performing and complete devices.
Despite the first quarter of 2025 he confirmed a negative trend Which has been going on for several months, analysts provide for a turnaround in the second half of the year, with a scheduled recovery of about 3% in global shipments.
