Global smartwatch shipments dropped by 2% in the first quarter of 2025, continuing a streak of quarterly declines. While Apple still held its position at the top, its shipment numbers slid. And India, which had been a strong growth driver in previous years, slowed sharply. Those two factors together helped pull global figures lower.
According to CPR team, not every region struggled, though. In China, things moved the other way as shipments jumped 37% compared to the same time last year. That growth pushed China’s global share higher than it’s been since late 2020. Local brands like Huawei, Imoo, and Xiaomi played a major role. They leaned into strong pricing, wider product ranges, and just good timing.
Huawei and Xiaomi both saw gains as their catalogs hit more price points, and that flexibility helped them. Samsung didn’t fare as well. Older models dragged its numbers down, and the dip was global. In total, Samsung’s shipments were down 18% year-over-year.
Buyers also started shifting their budgets. Watches priced between $100 and $200 saw more demand, with shipments in that range up 21%. The cheaper end of the market, devices under $100, fell by 17%. People seem more willing now to pay for reliability, or better health tracking, or just something that’ll last.
Another trend gaining traction is kids’ smartwatches, particularly in China. Imoo has held its lead by offering feature-rich models at accessible prices. Parents are drawn to the safety aspects, location tracking, basic calling, and the ability to hold off on giving their kids a smartphone. The interest isn’t limited to China either. Regions like North America, Europe, and parts of Asia have also seen a noticeable uptick.
Looking forward, analysts say the market could rebound slightly this year. Maybe 3% growth overall. That depends on a few things, better sensors, maybe more AI features, possibly even medical certifications for certain models. If those show up in mass-market devices, it could shift the game.
But the big shift isn’t just tech. It’s behavior. Users are making different choices. Instead of chasing the newest feature, they’re asking: will this actually fit into my life? That’s pushing demand upward, not in quantity, but in quality. Fewer devices maybe, but better ones. That’s where things appear to be headed.
Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next: Multi-Account Support, Broadcast Credit Trials, and Group Status Tools Are All Coming to WhatsApp on iOS
According to CPR team, not every region struggled, though. In China, things moved the other way as shipments jumped 37% compared to the same time last year. That growth pushed China’s global share higher than it’s been since late 2020. Local brands like Huawei, Imoo, and Xiaomi played a major role. They leaned into strong pricing, wider product ranges, and just good timing.
Huawei and Xiaomi both saw gains as their catalogs hit more price points, and that flexibility helped them. Samsung didn’t fare as well. Older models dragged its numbers down, and the dip was global. In total, Samsung’s shipments were down 18% year-over-year.
Buyers also started shifting their budgets. Watches priced between $100 and $200 saw more demand, with shipments in that range up 21%. The cheaper end of the market, devices under $100, fell by 17%. People seem more willing now to pay for reliability, or better health tracking, or just something that’ll last.
Another trend gaining traction is kids’ smartwatches, particularly in China. Imoo has held its lead by offering feature-rich models at accessible prices. Parents are drawn to the safety aspects, location tracking, basic calling, and the ability to hold off on giving their kids a smartphone. The interest isn’t limited to China either. Regions like North America, Europe, and parts of Asia have also seen a noticeable uptick.
Looking forward, analysts say the market could rebound slightly this year. Maybe 3% growth overall. That depends on a few things, better sensors, maybe more AI features, possibly even medical certifications for certain models. If those show up in mass-market devices, it could shift the game.
But the big shift isn’t just tech. It’s behavior. Users are making different choices. Instead of chasing the newest feature, they’re asking: will this actually fit into my life? That’s pushing demand upward, not in quantity, but in quality. Fewer devices maybe, but better ones. That’s where things appear to be headed.
Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next: Multi-Account Support, Broadcast Credit Trials, and Group Status Tools Are All Coming to WhatsApp on iOS
