Xiaomi Surpasses Apple as the Global Leader for Wearable Shipments in Q1 2025: Canalys Report

Xiaomi has reclaimed its position as the leading vendor in the wearable band market for the first quarter of 2025. According to a Canalys report, Xiaomi's shipments surged by 44 percent year-on-year, surpassing Apple and securing the top spot. The company refreshed its Mi Band and Redmi Watch models earlier this year, which contributed to this growth. Huawei, Samsung, and Garmin followed in third, fourth, and fifth places respectively.

Canalys' Wearable Band Analysis report indicates that global shipments of wearable bands reached 46.6 million units in Q1 2025, marking a 13 percent increase compared to the previous year. Basic wearables experienced the most significant growth during this period. Xiaomi led the market with its new releases, including the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 and Redmi Band 5, with the latter becoming their best-selling device.

Xiaomi's Market Leadership

Apple held second place in the wearable band market during Q1 2025. Canalys anticipates an increase in Apple's market share from its current 16 percent as it plans to launch a special edition smartwatch later this year. Meanwhile, Huawei's shipments rose by 36 percent year-on-year to reach 7.1 million units due to strong performance from its Fit and GT devices.

Samsung experienced substantial growth of 74 percent in Q1 2025, shipping 4.9 million units. The company's strategy focused on offering affordable options like Galaxy Fit in emerging markets while targeting affluent consumers with premium models such as Galaxy Watch.

Consumer Preferences in Wearables

A recent study highlighted key features that consumers prioritise when purchasing smartwatches: affordability, long battery life, and health tracking capabilities. These factors were identified as crucial by respondents in a survey conducted by Canalys involving over 18,000 participants.

Garmin encouraged existing users to upgrade within its diverse product range during Q1 2025. This approach resulted in a shipment increase of 10 percent year-on-year to reach 1.8 million units globally. Garmin secured fifth place in terms of shipment market share according to Canalys data.

Market Dynamics and Future Trends

Cynthia Chen from Omdia-owned Canalys noted that "With hardware profitability under strain, the wearables market is shifting from being hardware-led to ecosystem-driven." Vendors are now focusing on enhancing platforms and services for recurring revenue and user retention.

The evolving landscape of wearables suggests a shift towards integrated ecosystems rather than standalone hardware products. As companies adapt their strategies accordingly, they aim to maintain competitiveness while meeting consumer demands for innovative features at competitive prices.