Huawei Surpasses Apple in 2024, Claims Top Spot in Global Wearable Market
Huawei has overtaken Apple for the first time in many quarters, to become the global leader in the wrist-worn wearable market, marking another shift in the Apple VS Huawei competitive landscape, according to an IDC report.
According to a new report from the International Data Corporation (IDC) revealed that Huawei is beating Samsung and Apple in the first three quarters of 2024.
Huawei’s Growth Strategy Pays Off
IDC attributes Huawei’s rise in the wearables market to its strong lineup, including the GT5 and GT5 Pro wrist-worn devices and the second-generation blood pressure monitor, the Watch D2.
These models have been essential in the company’s continuing growth, especially in regions like Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, where Huawei has seen high and cons demand.
The Huawei GT5 and GT5 Pro have gained popularity among consumers seeking premium smartwatches, while the Watch D2 targets health-conscious users with its advanced blood pressure monitoring features.
In general, this mix of technology, innovation, and regional focus helped Huawei in comparison to Apple and Samsung.
Growing Competition in the Wrist-Worn Device Market
Despite the Apple and Huawei competition, Apple remains the leading player in the global smartwatch market. To stay competitive in the market, the tactic led to Apple slashes in iPhone prices in China amid fierce Huawei competition.
The company quickly recaptured the number one spot in the wrist-worn device market in the third quarter of 2024, due to its Apple Watch Series 10. But while Series 10 generated significant buzz, Apple’s dominance is being increasingly challenged by competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi.
Xiaomi, unlike the competition of Huawei vs Apple, is a strong player in the wrist-worn wearables market, capturing third position with a 26.5 percent year-over-year growth after its “Xiaomi Band 9 and Xiaomi Watch S series”. These have let Xiaomi carve a niche for itself in the premium wearables segment while continuing its budget-friendly wearables for most consumers.
Xiaomi’s Band 9 and Watch S series have bolstered its position in the wearables market, appealing to price-conscious consumers and challenging Apple and Samsung’s dominance with affordable, high-quality options.
Samsung’s seventh-generation wearables, the Galaxy Fit 3 and Galaxy Watch FE, saw a 24.3% year-over-year (YoY) sales increase, marking success in the competitive wearables market.
BBK Electronics rounds out the top five in the wearables market, focusing primarily on children’s smartwatches while actively expanding its reach beyond China, posing itself in the global wrist-worn device market.
IDC revealed that China was also the largest market for wrist-worn devices with 45.8 million units shipped in 2024, representing 20.1% YoY growth in the country due to the high demand on wearables in Asia, contrary to other regions like US and India.
Apple VS Huawei in Wearables Markets
The ever-changing nature of the wearables market intensifies the rivalry between Apple and Huawei, with competitors like Xiaomi and Samsung gaining prominence. Growth in developing regions highlights shifting consumer dynamics, pressuring Apple and others to innovate continuously to maintain their market edge.
For the future of wrist-worn devices, things will be more dynamic with Apple and Huawei competition and more competitors driving notable technological advancement and new offerings across the board.
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