Apple leads smartwatch market as China smartphone sales decline

Recent market data reveals shifting trends in the global wearable and Chinese smartphone sectors. In the smartwatch market, Apple maintains a dominant 46% global market share. Garmin has seen the largest growth among non-Apple manufacturers, reaching a 15% share and competing closely with Samsung for the second position.

Omdia research indicates a market bifurcation where consumers are gravitating toward either minimalist screenless bands or high-precision, feature-rich sports watches. Mid-range and basic smartwatches are facing a decline as users increasingly prioritize advanced training data and battery life.

In China, the smartphone market experienced an 8.6% year-on-year decline in total sales during the first 30 weeks of 2026, falling short of previous industry recovery expectations. Despite this downturn, Huawei has maintained a leading position with a weekly market share exceeding 20%. This stability is attributed in part to the success of the Changxiang 90 Pro Max, which has sold over 3 million units since its April launch due to its competitive pricing.