World demand for good watches is climbing quick, however a quiet quarter for the Apple Watch let Xiaomi reclaim the highest spot.
The worldwide wearable band market grew 13% 12 months over 12 months within the first quarter of 2025, reaching 46.6 million shipments, in line with new information from Canalys. The rebound was pushed by broad demand throughout classes, particularly in rising markets, and a low comparability base from the primary quarter of 2024.
Xiaomi surged again into the lead with 8.7 million models shipped, up 44% from 2024. The corporate credited robust Redmi Band 5 gross sales and deeper integration via HyperOS, its customized working system.
A newly self-developed smartphone chip and a tightly coordinated product portfolio helped Xiaomi enhance its worth proposition, significantly in price-sensitive areas.
Apple, Huawei & Samsung develop ecosystems
Apple got here in second with 7.6 million Apple Watch shipments, a modest 5% improve from 2024. That is consistent with seasonal expectations, as the primary quarter tends to be the furthest level from Apple’s typical September refresh cycle.
As an alternative of chasing {hardware} overhauls, Apple is specializing in enhancing the stickiness of its ecosystem.
Prime wearable band distributors. Picture credit score: Canalys
Its well being and health integrations, privateness protections, and seamless iPhone pairing proceed to set the Watch aside in premium segments. However with its set up base largely saturated, sustained development will doubtless come from providers like Health+ and well being monitoring options.
Huawei held third place with 7.1 million models shipped, a 36% year-over-year achieve. Its GT and Match collection discovered traction outdoors China, supported by a wider rollout of the Huawei Well being app. Samsung adopted with 4.9 million shipments, a pointy 74% improve pushed by a dual-market technique.
Garmin rounded out the highest 5 with 1.8 million models shipped, up 10%. The launch of Garmin Join+, a subscription platform for deeper well being insights and coaching instruments, alerts the model’s transfer towards recurring income.
Ecosystems take heart stage
As {hardware} margins tighten, distributors are shifting focus from options to ecosystems. Corporations are accelerating service growth to spice up retention and long-term worth.
That shift is very seen in China, the place Xiaomi is utilizing HyperOS to hyperlink telephones, wearables, and good dwelling merchandise right into a unified expertise. Huawei is taking a extra health-centric strategy, constructing a closed-loop system via its Well being app.
Essential components for shoppers. Picture credit score: Canalys
Globally, manufacturers like Oura and Whoop have leaned into subscription fashions from the beginning, positioning wearables as steady providers reasonably than one-time purchases.
Worth, battery life, and well being monitoring stay the highest shopping for components. However as ecosystems mature and software program capabilities develop, distributors that provide dependable integration and trusted information dealing with may have the sting.
Xiaomi’s rise highlights how inexpensive units, when paired with a rising ecosystem, can take the lead even in opposition to manufacturers with a head begin. In the meantime, Apple’s problem is now not promoting the Apple Watch however making it indispensable.
Success will rely much less on what number of encompasses a machine boasts, and extra on how properly these options are related, supported, and monetized throughout the broader platform.