Apple Watch is no longer the most popular smartwatch, as another company has taken the lead.

The global smartwatch market is showing renewed growth, primarily driven by demand from China for health features, AI capabilities, and versatile devices. Companies like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Imoo are transforming smartwatches into central devices for fitness, payments, calls, and navigation.

Huawei experienced a shipment increase of 52% year-over-year, surpassing all other top 10 brands globally. This growth allowed Huawei to overtake Apple in global shipments for the first time, attributed to its diverse product range, strong domestic sales, and competitive pricing on mid-range to premium products. The majority of Huawei's shipments are within China, with prices ranging from $100 to $400. The company is also expanding into Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. Huawei's robust smartphone user base in China and its integrated ecosystem have been key factors in this expansion.

According to Anshika Jain, Senior Research Analyst, in August 2025, Apple's smartwatch shipments have declined for the seventh consecutive quarter, causing the company to lose its top global ranking. Despite this, Apple still leads the advanced smartwatch sector due to its iOS ecosystem and loyal customer base.

While Apple and Samsung are experiencing declines, Chinese brands are thriving. Xiaomi has seen substantial shipment growth in the basic smartwatch market through affordable products, while Imoo dominates the children's smartwatch market.

Samsung's shipments also decreased, falling 3% year-over-year. Consumer anticipation for new devices expected in the third quarter of 2025 has contributed to the declines of both Apple and Samsung. The Galaxy Watch 8 was released early in the third quarter, and Apple's next smartwatches are scheduled to launch on September 9.

Apple is expected to release the Apple Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3, and Watch SE 3 soon, potentially boosting its sales in the coming quarter.

China has become the largest contributor to advanced smartwatch shipments in the second quarter of 2025, driven by local preference, strong domestic brands, government support, and seamless integration of smartwatches into Chinese apps for payments and health tracking. In contrast, sales in North America have decreased, highlighting China's growing dominance.

The global smartwatch market is forecast to grow by about 7% in 2025, fueled by AI integration, enhanced health sensors, and more precise tracking. Brands are focusing on both entry-level and advanced users through varied pricing and features.

Ecosystems like HarmonyOS, Wear OS, and WatchOS are predicted to expand to meet this increased demand. Smartwatches are becoming central to daily digital life with AI-driven insights, personalized health advice, and advanced sensors.