Highlights

• Apple Watch records a 7% year-on-year increase in Q3 shipments.

• 2nd-gen Apple Watch SE significantly boosts Apple’s smartwatch market share.

• Huawei makes a strong comeback with a 56% increase in smartwatch shipments.

• Samsung sees a 19% decline in smartwatch shipments, despite success of Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

Apple Watch continues to dominate the premium smartwatch market, achieving its best-ever Q3 performance with a 7% year-on-year increase in shipments.

The Apple Watch SE is main reason for this extreme dominance, according to new market intelligence data.

Apple Watch Market Share

Despite the overall smartwatch market growing by 9% in the same period, Apple Watch’s market share remains strong.

Apple’s inane ability to maintain leadership in the face of intense competition has always been noteworthy but especially this time around considering the later release of its latest model compared to the previous year.

As mentioned, the 2nd-generation SE model, in particular, has been a substantial contributor to Apple’s sustained market presence.

Huawei’s Impressive Performance

Huawei has emerged as a significant contender, making a remarkable comeback in the premium smartwatch segment.

Despite previous setbacks due to US chip sanctions, Huawei has seen a 56% year-on-year increase in overall shipments, with its HLOS smartwatches experiencing a 122% surge. 

Samsung’s Mixed Results

For Samsung, another key player in the market, the results have been mixed.

While its Galaxy Watch 6 Classic has been performing well, older models have experienced a noticeable drop in demand.

Samsung’s overall smartwatch shipments declined by 19% year-on-year, with new products released in August showing only a 3% drop compared to their predecessors.

FAQs

1. What contributed to Apple Watch’s impressive Q3 performance?

The Apple Watch’s exceptional Q3 performance, with a 7% increase in year-on-year shipments, was largely driven by the popularity of the 2nd-generation Apple Watch SE. This model played a key role in maintaining Apple’s dominance in the smartwatch market, even with the overall market growing by 9%.

2. How did Huawei manage to rebound in the smartwatch market?

Despite facing challenges due to US chip sanctions, Huawei showed remarkable resilience with a 56% year-on-year increase in overall smartwatch shipments. The surge in its HLOS smartwatch sales by 122% indicates Huawei’s successful adaptation and innovation in the premium smartwatch segment.

3. What factors led to Samsung’s mixed performance in the smartwatch market?

Samsung experienced a mixed performance with a 19% year-on-year decline in overall smartwatch shipments. While the new Galaxy Watch 6 Classic saw positive reception, the demand for older models significantly dropped, contributing to the overall decrease in Samsung’s smartwatch shipments.