The global market for wrist devices continued to grow in the first quarter of 2026; according to IDC, 47.05 million units were sold worldwide , representing a 2.2% increase year-over-year . Huawei, Apple, and Xiaomi remained the top three manufacturers, demonstrating that the wearables segment remains highly competitive despite lower demand for basic fitness trackers. Xiaomi sold 8.0 million units , securing a 16.9% global market share , just behind Apple’s 17.0% and ahead of Samsung and Garmin.
Market overview: Smartwatches drive recovery
According to data from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Devices Tracker, shared by IT Home, the wrist-worn device category includes both smartwatches and fitness trackers . Smartwatches continued to perform well, reaching 37.03 million units in the first quarter of 2026, a 4.8% increase year-over-year . Fitness trackers, however, declined to 10.02 million units , a 6.1% decrease year-over-year .
This shows a clear shift in the market. Users are increasingly choosing smartwatches because they offer more advanced health tracking, larger screens, app compatibility, AI features, and better integration with phone ecosystems.
The top 5 wrist device brands in the first quarter of 2026
Xiaomi’s shipment volume was almost equal to Apple’s, with only a 0.1 percentage point difference in market share . This keeps Xiaomi in a very strong competitive position, especially considering its wide range of wearables, which includes the Xiaomi Band and Xiaomi Watch models.
Xiaomi’s position remains solid despite the year-on-year decline
Although Xiaomi’s shipments declined 6.9% year-over-year , the company remained the world’s third-largest supplier of wrist devices. This result suggests that Xiaomi continues to benefit from its broad product range, aggressive pricing, and robust ecosystem strategy.
Xiaomi’s main advantage remains its ability to cover multiple price segments. The entry-level Xiaomi Band models continue to appeal to users seeking an affordable health tracker, while the high-end Xiaomi Watch products compete in the smartwatch segment with improved displays, longer battery life, health monitoring capabilities, and integration with the Xiaomi HyperOS ecosystem.
Market impact: High-end models and China lead the growth
The IDC report highlights three main trends in the market for the first quarter of 2026:
In China, sales of wrist devices reached 18.14 million units , a 3.5% increase year-over-year . Sales of adult smartwatches grew by 15.3% , while sales of children’s smartwatches increased by 22.4% , whereas sales of fitness trackers declined by 22.2%. This confirms that the market is moving away from simple wristbands and toward more sophisticated smartwatch products.
