Wearable device market declines 4.3% amid maturing demand

The global wearable device market, including smartwatches and smartbands, saw a 4.3% year-on-year decline in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 48.01 million units according to IDC. Smartwatches fell by 4.2%, while smartbands decreased by 4.7%.

Huawei maintained its market leadership with a 20.3% share (9.7 million units), followed by Xiaomi and Apple. Garmin was the only top-five manufacturer to record growth, increasing shipments by 19.8% due to its specialized sports products.

As the market matures, manufacturers are exploring two primary growth strategies: integrating on-device AI to improve responsiveness and privacy, and developing screenless smartbands for users seeking lightweight, long-term health monitoring.