Apple Dominates Global Wearable Shipments in Q1 2024

According to a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC), the total global shipment volume of wearable devices in Q1 2024 reached 113.1 million units, an 8.8% increase year-on-year (YoY) compared to Q1 2023.

In the first quarter of this year, Apple dominated global wearable shipments with a volume of 20.6 million units. This achievement gave Apple an 18.2% share of the global wearable market.

Despite holding the top position, Apple's wearable shipments plummeted by 18.8% YoY.

IDC attributes this decline to the ban on sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the United States (US). This is because both Apple Watch series infringe on the blood oxygen sensor patents of the health technology company, Masimo.

Furthermore, Apple has also been slow to launch new wearable products. The California-based manufacturer last released the AirPods Max in 2020, the third-generation AirPods in late 2021, and most recently, the second-generation AirPods Pro in late 2022.

Next, Xiaomi ranked second with 11.8 million wearable shipments in Q1 2024. This volume surged by 43.4% YoY from the same period the previous year.

According to IDC, this growth was driven by Xiaomi's sales of affordably priced wearable products. Each product also utilizes Google's WearOS smartwatch operating system.

Huawei followed in third place, shipping 10.9 million wearable units, a 72.4% YoY increase. Samsung came next, shipping 10.6 million units, a decrease of 4.8% YoY.

Imagine Marketing from India, which releases wearable and hearable products under the boAt brand, shipped 6.1 million units, down 4.8% YoY in Q1 2024.

Meanwhile, the combined shipment volume of wearable devices from other brands reached 53.1 million units, growing by 10.1% year-on-year (YoY).