In a surprising comeback, Huawei has marked a significant resurgence in the global smartwatch market, stealing the spotlight from its competitors. The latest data from Counterpoint Research reveals a remarkable 9% increase in the sales of “HLOS” smartwatches, featuring High-Level Operating Systems supporting third-party apps, during the third quarter of 2023.
Despite Apple’s consistent stronghold with a 45% market share, Huawei’s ascent to the third position with a 14% market share is making waves. The report indicates that Huawei’s HLOS smartwatch shipments surged by an impressive 122% in Q3 2023 compared to the same period last year, driven by the popularity of models such as the Huawei Watch 4, Watch 4 Pro, and Watch GT 4.
Apple’s dominance remains unshaken, even with minimal upgrades to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Apple Watch SE 2 played a significant role in contributing to Apple’s best smartwatch quarter to date. In contrast, Samsung faced a setback with a 19% decline in Galaxy Watch sales, leading to a drop in market share from 24% to 18%. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, however, emerged as a silver lining, boosting the average selling price of the Galaxy Watch.
Huawei’s success, although notable, is primarily concentrated in its home market of China. Meanwhile, three prominent Indian players—Fire-Boltt, boAt, and Noise—experienced substantial growth. Despite their solid performance, their lack of international presence prevents them from breaking into the ranks of global market leaders.
As the smartwatch landscape undergoes a dynamic shift, Huawei’s resurgence signals a formidable challenge to Apple’s supremacy, setting the stage for an exciting competition in the coming quarters.
