Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
- According to the latest IDC data, global shipments of wrist-worn devices dipped slightly compared to last year.
- HUAWEI has overtaken Apple to become the top brand in overall wrist-worn shipments.
- While smartwatch shipments have slowed overall, the fitness band market shows strong growth.
Shipments of wrist-worn devices — including fitness bands and smartwatches — totaled 139.0 million units worldwide in the first three quarters of 2024, according to fresh numbers from the International Data Corporation (IDC). That’s a slight dip of about 1% from last year’s 140.5 million, signaling that this once-explosive category might be hitting a snooze button, at least temporarily.
The big headline this year is that HUAWEI has overtaken Apple in total wrist-worn shipments, securing the top spot with 23.6 million units moved — an impressive 44.3% boost from the same period last year.