Huawei retains global wearables lead in first quarter 2026
Huawei retained its position as the global wearables market leader in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest report from International Data Corporation.
The company led global wearable shipments with a 20.2% market share and 9.5 million units shipped.
The global wearables market reached 47 million units shipped during the first quarter of 2026, representing year-over-year growth of 2%, according to the latest report from International Data Corporation. In that market, IDC ranked Huawei as the global wearables market leader for the second consecutive year.
The IDC report found that Huawei captured a 20.2% market share with a total of 9.5 million units during the first quarter of 2026, shipping 1.5 million more units than Apple and Xiaomi, which ranked second and third, respectively.
IDC data also show that smartwatches accounted for 78% of global wearable shipments, with 37 million units shipped and year-over-year growth of 4.8%. In practice, these figures indicate that smartwatches continue to drive the expansion of the wearables market.
Market evolution.
IDC also reports that Huawei has led global wearable shipments since the first quarter of 2025. During the second quarter of that year, the company shipped 9.9 million units, representing year-over-year growth of 11.7%. By the end of the first three quarters, cumulative smartwatch shipments reached 28.6 million units, reflecting global growth of 21.6%.
According to information provided by the company, one factor contributing to these results is the development of proprietary health and sports technologies.
Among them is the TruSense sensor system, integrated into the company’s wearables to measure heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, stress and other health indicators from the wrist.
In the sports segment, the company has also developed sports-focused technologies and collaborated with marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge on the development of devices designed for this segment.
Product portfolio and trends.
The company’s portfolio spans multiple market segments. Its premium lineup includes models such as the Watch Ultimate 2, while the Watch Fit series offers health and sports features in a more affordable segment.
The IDC report also identifies one of the market’s key trends: the continued growth of smartwatches alongside the decline of basic smartbands, driven by the integration of advanced sensors even in lower-priced devices.
Regional outlook.
China continues to be the primary driver of global wearables market growth, supported in part by the launch of new products. At the same time, Latin America is experiencing expansion driven by the introduction of new device categories and growing consumer interest in health and wellness technologies.
According to IDC, growth in the wearables market continues to be driven by the expansion of smartwatches and an increasingly broad range of devices across different price segments.
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