The global market for wrist-worn smart devices continued to grow in the first three quarters of the year, driven by rising demand for both smartwatches and basic fitness trackers. New data from IDC shows solid shipment growth, with Chinese brands strengthening their positions worldwide.

Huawei Leads Global Market

Huawei ranked as the leading global vendor during the period, shipping 28.6 million wrist-worn devices. The Huawei Watch GT 6 and Watch GT 6 Pro were key contributors to this performance.

IDC noted that 20.8 million of Huawei’s shipments were delivered in China, highlighting the company’s strong domestic position. The research firm said Huawei is working to expand its presence in overseas markets.

Global Shipments Rise

IDC reported that more than 150 million wrist-worn smart devices were shipped globally during the first nine months of the year, marking a 10% increase compared with the same period last year.

Smartwatches accounted for nearly 120 million of those shipments, representing a year-over-year growth of 7.3%. Demand for simpler and more affordable fitness trackers grew at a faster pace, rising 21.3% year over year to 32.86 million units.

Xiaomi Posts Fastest Growth

Xiaomi secured the second spot globally and recorded the fastest growth among the top five manufacturers. The company shipped 27.9 million units, supported by strong demand for lower-priced devices such as the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 and several Redmi Watch models.

While China remained a major market for Xiaomi, IDC said the company also performed well in Southeast Asia and South America.

Apple Ranked Third

Apple ranked third globally and fourth in China during the first three quarters. Unlike its rivals, Apple continues to focus on mid-range and high-end devices.

IDC said Apple’s strategy this year centered on improving connectivity features, including 5G support and satellite messaging, rather than competing in the lower-priced segments.

Samsung Makes Recovery

Samsung placed fourth globally. IDC said the company struggled in the first half of the year, but shipments improved in the third quarter following the launch of the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic. These releases helped Samsung post year-over-year growth across the first three quarters.

IDC said future growth across the wrist-worn device market will be driven by advances in connectivity, deeper integration of AI applications, and increasingly sophisticated health tracking features. These trends are expected to influence all major brands, not just premium-focused players.