Apple Watch Sales Drop, Smartwatch Market Plummets for First Time
Mclub World – Apple Watch Sales Drop, Smartwatch Market Plummets for First Time
The global smartwatch market experienced a downturn in 2024. According to Counterpoint Research, this marks the first time smartwatch shipments have declined worldwide. The data reveals a 7% year-on-year (YoY) decrease in global smartwatch shipments compared to 2023. A major factor behind this decline is the drop in Apple Watch sales, despite the launch of the Watch Series 10.
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Apple Watch, a leader in the premium smartwatch segment, struggled in 2024. Even with the release of Watch Series 10, sales did not meet expectations. The most significant decline was in North America. The absence of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and minimal feature upgrades in Series 10 led many consumers to delay purchasing.
Anshika Jain, a Senior Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research, confirmed this trend. “Apple Watch sales dropped despite the launch of Series 10. The biggest decline came from North America due to the lack of major updates and missing Ultra 3 model,” Jain stated.
Apple faced additional hurdles, including patent disputes and a lack of new Apple Watch SE models. These factors contributed to its weakening market position. Despite this decline, Apple remained the market leader with a 22% share in 2024. However, this figure dropped from 25% in 2023.
Meanwhile, competitors like Huawei and Samsung capitalized on Apple’s slowdown. Huawei held a 13% market share, while Samsung followed with 9%. Samsung recorded a 3% YoY growth, thanks to the release of the Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Watch FE Series.
Xiaomi made significant strides in the smartwatch industry in 2024. It secured the fourth position with an 8% market share, a sharp increase from 3% in 2023. This 135% growth helped Xiaomi rank among the top five smartwatch brands worldwide for the first time.
Counterpoint attributes Xiaomi’s success to its expanding smartwatch portfolio. The impressive performance of Watch S1 and Redmi Watch played a crucial role in boosting Xiaomi’s presence in the global smartwatch market.
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Counterpoint’s report also analyzed smartwatch shipments by region. China emerged as the world’s largest smartwatch market in 2024, capturing 25% of the global share. This marked a historic shift, as China surpassed North America and India for the first time.
Jain highlighted this development: “For the first time, China became the region with the highest smartwatch shipments, surpassing North America and India in 2024.”
Several brands contributed to China’s dominance in the smartwatch sector. Companies like Huawei, Imoo, and Xiaomi performed well across different segments, ranging from basic models to feature-rich smartwatches and children’s wearables.
In contrast, India saw a decline in smartwatch shipments. Previously, India held a 30% market share in 2023, making it the largest smartwatch market at the time. However, in 2024, this figure dropped to 23%, allowing China to claim the top spot.
Despite Apple’s decline, the smartwatch market remains highly competitive. Brands like Huawei, Samsung, and Xiaomi continue to innovate and expand their offerings. As the industry evolves, companies must introduce new features and enhancements to attract consumers.
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