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Global wearable band shipments dropped 2% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, according to new data from Omdia.
Despite the overall decline, the market is experiencing a distinct split in consumer demand, with minimalist devices and high-end performance models being favoured over traditional mid-tier options.
While the broader basic band category fell 9% and basic watches slipped 3%, impacted by slowing momentum in India, screenless basic bands emerged as a bright spot.
Driven by new entries like Google’s Fitbit Air and Garmin’s Cirqa, screenless trackers accounted for more than 15% of basic band shipments during the quarter.
“Consumers want either minimalist, screenless trackers they can wear 24/7 or feature-rich sports watches with superior accuracy and multi-day battery life,” said Jason Low, Research Director at Omdia.
In the smartwatch segment, shipments grew 6% overall. Apple maintained a commanding lead with a 46% global market share. Meanwhile, Garmin posted the largest share gain among non-Apple vendors, climbing to 15% to tie with Samsung, fuelled by strong demand for advanced running, cycling, and outdoor tracking features.
Huawei led the total wearable band market with an 18% share, bolstered by broad cross-platform smartphone compatibility and health features such as its new Diabetes Risk Study.
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, rising memory and storage costs are driving up average selling prices across the industry. To justify higher costs, Omdia expects leading brands to lean heavily into device integration, advanced personal AI features, and exceptional battery life to maintain consumer interest.
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