Huawei has moved past Apple in global smartwatch shipments for the first time, according to new numbers from Counterpoint Research. The shift highlights both the strength of the Chinese market and the pressure facing Apple in wearables.
Counterpoint’s Q2 2025 report shows global smartwatch shipments rose 8% year-on-year, breaking a five-quarter decline. Huawei shipments jumped 52% in the quarter, driven largely by strong demand in China. The company has built momentum with a broad range of watches priced between $100 and $400, along with tighter integration across its smartphone and IoT ecosystem. Over 75% of its shipments came from China, though expansion into EMEA and Asia-Pacific also contributed.
“Domestic traction, portfolio diversity, and ecosystem strength have been the key drivers for Huawei,” analyst Anshika Jain said in the report.
Apple shipments fell 3% in Q2, marking the seventh straight quarter of decline. Despite that, Apple continues to lead the premium end of the market with impressively accurate health tracking a loyal iOS user base.
Other players also saw movement. Xiaomi shipments rose 38% thanks to budget-friendly models, while Kids’s Smartwatch maker imoo grew 21% and kept its lead in the the segment. Just like Apple. Samsung also slipped 3% as its Galaxy Watch 7 failed to match growth seen elsewhere.
Counterpoint expects overall smartwatch shipments to climb around 3% in 2025, with China’s appetite for multifunction devices — combining health, payments, and navigation — a major driver.
The figures show how quickly competition is shifting. Huawei and other Chinese brands are gaining ground by offering wider choice and ecosystem tie-ins, while Apple faces a more crowded market than ever.
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