Smartwatch Shipment Forecast by Brand and Region, May 2026 Update
Overview
Global smartwatch shipments rose 4% YoY in Q1 2026, sustaining the market’s growth trend. HLOS smartwatches grew 3% YoY, with Apple leading growth in this segment. After experiencing a shipment decline in Q4 2025, Huawei returned to growth in Q1 2026 following the Chinese government’s extension of the electronic subsidy scheme. Basic smartwatches increased 6% YoY, driven by Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 series. Meanwhile, kids' smartwatches grew 1% YoY, marking a slight recovery after the previous quarter’s decline.
Regionally, India's local brands continued to weaken with a 16% YoY shipment drop in Q1 2026, amid competition and margin pressures, with fewer new entrants expected. OEMs are shifting toward premium segments featuring advanced sensors. China and North America led shipments with 15% and 14% YoY growth, respectively, in Q1 2026, mainly driven by Apple's refreshed portfolio. EU shipments also grew by 10% YoY, owing to rising adoption of Apple smartwatches.
This Excel report provides the smartwatch shipment forecast by key brand and region until 2030 including its ASP.
Table of Contents
- Definition of Smartwatch
- Key Assumptions
- Global Shipments and Value by Brand
- Regional Shipments and Value
Published Date: May 2026
Category
Industry
N/A
Service
Smartwatch
Report Type
Report
Time Period
Quarterly
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Author
Balbir Singh
Balbir Singh is a Global Smartwatch analyst and consultant, specialized in the evaluation and assessment of leading market players, performance, market trends, and strategies. Leveraging his extensive expertise in trend analysis, he delivers in-depth insights, strategic analysis and industry forecasts. Before joining Counterpoint, Balbir served as a Knowledge Management Associate in ZS Associates.
Anshika Jain
Anshika is a Principal Analyst at Counterpoint Research with over 13 years of experience in market research and business intelligence. She currently leads the Global Consumer IoT domain, focusing on wearables, hearables, smart home, and emerging technologies. Previously, she managed various research and consulting projects across sectors such as BFSI and Telecom. Additionally, she has significant client-handling experience with major multinational companies. Anshika holds an MBA in Finance from IMT Ghaziabad and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hansraj College, Delhi University.