Huawei Topples Apple as King of Global Wearables in 2025 Market Shakeup

The tech world''s David just slingshotted past Goliath—again.

Huawei''s wearables division just pulled off what seemed impossible two years ago: overtaking Apple''s market dominance. No ''revolutionary new features'' press release needed—just relentless execution while Cupertino obsessed over VR headsets.

Smartwatches, fitness bands, even those questionable ''health monitoring'' rings—Huawei''s eating Apple''s lunch across the board. Meanwhile, Wall Street analysts still can''t decide if wearables are ''the next iPhone'' or just glorified pedometers with subscription revenue.

One thing''s clear: in the wearables arms race, Huawei''s playing chess while others are stuck on Candy Crush. And for Apple shareholders? Maybe time to ask why a $3T company keeps getting outmaneuvered by the ''Chinese copycat'' they used to mock.

TLDR;

• Huawei leverages Chinese market dominance and affordability to surpass Apple in global wearables.
• Apple’s focus on high-end devices no longer shields it from shifting consumer demand.
• Xiaomi and Samsung grow rapidly, highlighting a market favoring affordability over luxury.
• China’s subsidy-driven boom and Huawei’s global expansion power the industry’s evolution.

Huawei has officially claimed the top spot in the global wearables market, dethroning Apple after a years-long dominance. The shift marks a significant moment for the Chinese tech giant, which has steadily grown its market presence through aggressive regional expansion, innovation in health tracking, and competitive pricing.

Huawei Overtakes Apple in Global Rankings

According to recent industry reports, Huawei shipped over 26 million wearable devices in 2024, surpassing Apple’s 22.5 million shipments and securing a larger share of the global market.

This milestone follows a year of strong momentum for Huawei. In the first three quarters of 2024 alone, the company recorded a 44 percent increase in wearable shipments compared to the same period in the previous year. By the end of the year, Huawei held a 13.7 percent share of the global market, while Apple’s share slipped to 13 percent. Analysts attribute Huawei’s rise to the popularity of its Watch GT 5 series, Watch D2, and Watch Ultimate, which feature its proprietary TruSense health system.

Chinese Global Strategy Fuel Growth

Huawei’s rise is closely tied to its dominance in the Chinese market, where it commands more than a third of all wearable sales. In Q1 2025 alone, Huawei shipped 10 million devices globally, nearly 40 percent of which came from China. Government-backed subsidies and growing interest in health and fitness devices have helped boost domestic sales. The country’s smartwatch and smart band markets have both expanded rapidly, with IDC projecting a 36.9 percent year-on-year growth by the end of 2025.

Outside China, Huawei is finding success by expanding into emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Its strategy combines affordability with robust health tracking features, allowing it to appeal to a broader demographic than premium-only competitors like Apple. These moves are reshaping the wearables landscape, shifting attention from high-end tech toward practical, accessible devices.

Apple’s Position Slips Despite Premium Appeal

Although Apple continues to lead in the premium smartwatch category, its overall shipment volume has declined. Despite launching the Apple Watch Series 10 and Watch Ultra 2, the company recorded a nearly 13 percent drop in shipments year-over-year. Its global market share also fell from 18.4 percent to 16.2 percent in the first three quarters of 2024, reflecting changing consumer preferences, especially in price-sensitive regions.

Apple’s strategy remains focused on the high-end segment, where it still enjoys brand loyalty and strong margins. However, the broader shift in the market indicates that consumers are now placing greater value on affordability and practical health tools rather than luxury design and ecosystem integration alone.

Xiaomi and Samsung Also See Shifts

While Huawei leads in global value share, Xiaomi took second place in total unit shipments for 2024 with over 29 million devices sold. The company’s emphasis on affordable fitness bands and smartwatches resonated especially well with younger and cost-conscious consumers. Xiaomi’s shipment volume grew by more than 42 percent, reflecting the same consumer shift that has helped Huawei rise.

Samsung also made notable progress, regaining some market share with a 35 percent year-over-year growth. The launch of the Galaxy Watch FE helped the brand remain competitive, though it still trails behind Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple in global rankings.