Driven by health innovation, rising demand, and government support, global wrist-worn device shipments saw a strong Q1 growth. China tops among the regions.
The global wrist-worn device market kicked off 2025 on a strong note, shipping 45.6 million units in the first quarter; an increase of 10.5% compared to the same period last year, according to new data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).
The growth was fuelled by surging demand in China, where favourable government policy and national health campaigns have spurred a wearable tech boom.
Wrist-worn devices comprise both smartwatches and wristbands. In 1Q25, global smartwatch shipments reached 34.8 million units, marking a 4.8% increase compared to the same period last year. Wristbands experienced steeper gains, with global shipments rising 34.0% to 10.8 million units.
The report also highlighted a solid rebound in major regions including Western Europe, the United States, Latin America, and the Asia/Pacific region (excluding India).
China accounted for 17.6 million of the total global shipments, marking a 37.6% year-over-year increase. Wristband shipments in the country jumped 67.9%, while smartwatches rose 25.3%. This domestic surge had global ripple effects, boosting the fortunes of major players such as Huawei and Xiaomi.
The brand Huawei emerged as the global market leader as well, shipping 10 million wrist-worn units; a 42.4% increase over Q1 2024. The company also retained its dominant position in China with 7.4 million units shipped. Huawei’s success was anchored by its growing HarmonyOS ecosystem and a refreshed product lineup, including the newly released Band 10.
Xiaomi followed closely with 8.7 million global shipments, propelled by its affordable wristbands and mid-range smartwatches. In China, its 91.2% growth rate was the highest among all major brands.
Meanwhile, Apple shipped 7 million units globally, posting its best growth in two years amid strong demand in China and inventory build-up in the US.
Garmin also re-entered the global top five, growing 29.5% year-on-year through a broadened product portfolio aimed at outdoor and fitness users. However, Samsung saw a 5.7% decline, squeezed by aggressive pricing from Chinese rivals.
“Wearable brands are responding by expanding their product portfolios around health and fitness use cases, with wider coverage across price points, usage scenarios, and target audiences to meet evolving consumer needs,” said Sophie Pan, Research Director at IDC China.
With health awareness on the rise and innovation driving demand, IDC forecasts sustained momentum in the wrist-worn market, particularly in China, where 2025 shipments are projected to hit 58.5 million units.
