Omdia: Xiaomi Reclaims Wearable Band Crown for the First Time Since 2020

Rhea-AI Impact

(Neutral)

Rhea-AI Sentiment

(Positive)

Key Terms

5g technical

5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology that provides faster internet connections, lower latency, and greater capacity than previous networks. It enables quicker downloads, smoother streaming, and more reliable connections for devices. For investors, 5G represents a significant upgrade in technology infrastructure that can drive growth in related industries such as smartphones, smart cities, and the Internet of Things.

hypertension monitoring medical

The ongoing measurement and tracking of a person’s blood pressure using devices, wearable sensors, home monitors or clinic tests to detect and manage high blood pressure (hypertension). For investors, it signals demand for medical devices, software, telehealth services and data solutions that help prevent expensive complications; like a car’s dashboard for health, better monitoring can reduce costly surprises and drive sales, reimbursement and regulatory attention in healthcare markets.

ai technical

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables machines to mimic human thinking and learning, allowing them to analyze information, recognize patterns, and make decisions. For investors, AI matters because it can improve how businesses operate, create new products, or identify opportunities faster and more accurately than humans alone, potentially impacting company success and market trends.

subscription services financial

Subscription services are business models where customers pay regularly—weekly, monthly, or annually—for ongoing access to a product or service, like streaming, software, or membership-based offerings. For investors they matter because this model creates predictable, recurring revenue and clearer growth and retention trends — similar to a gym membership that provides steady monthly fees rather than one-time purchases — which can make a company’s future cash flow and valuation easier to forecast.

ai-powered coaching technical

AI-powered coaching uses computer algorithms to provide personalized training, feedback and guidance to employees, customers or patients—like a smart digital coach that studies your actions and adapts its advice over time. For investors it matters because it can lower training costs, scale expertise quickly, improve measurable outcomes, and create recurring revenue, while also carrying considerations around data privacy, accuracy and regulatory oversight.

blood glucose medical

Blood glucose is the amount of sugar circulating in the bloodstream that the body uses for energy; it rises after eating and falls between meals or with exercise. For investors, blood glucose is a key clinical metric that drives demand, regulatory decisions, and pricing for drugs, devices and tests related to diabetes and metabolic health—think of it as a fuel gauge that signals market need and product effectiveness.

on-device ai technical

On-device AI is artificial intelligence that runs directly on a gadget—like a smartphone, camera, or sensor—rather than on remote servers. For investors it matters because it can reduce operating costs, speed up responses, and improve privacy by keeping data local; those advantages can create product differentiation, shift demand toward certain chips and suppliers, and affect regulatory and recurring-revenue risks for companies.

02/27/2026 - 09:27 AM

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global wearable device shipments climbed past 200 million units in 2025, growing 6% year on year according to Omdia. Xiaomi has reclaimed the top spot for the first time since 2020, capturing an 18% market share to become the world’s largest wearable vendor by annual shipments. Apple followed closely in second place with 17%, while Huawei secured third with 16%. The market is also seeing increased consolidation, with the top five vendors, including Samsung (9%) and Garmin (5%), with the top three in a tight race.

Global wearable band market share, by category, 2024-2025

“Wearables are moving from a hardware-driven race to an ecosystem-led competition,” said Omdia Research Manager Cynthia Chen. “With less than one percentage point separating the top three vendors, competitive advantage now depends on seamless cross-device integration and the ability to deliver monetizable, value-added data services.” Xiaomi’s rise reflects a structured multi-category strategy rather than reliance on a single flagship product. Its bands continue to anchor volume in the mass market, while its basic watches, supported by in-house chip development and deeper ecosystem integration, are enabling the brand to move up the value chain. Apple retains a strong premium position, leveraging 5G connectivity and advanced health features, including hypertension monitoring, to sustain high loyalty among its high-value users. Huawei has consolidated its mainstream presence through a broad portfolio, while intensifying its focus on professional sports and medical-grade health applications.

AI and subscription services are reshaping competition, transforming from nice-to-have features into essential revenue drivers of growth and profitability. Wearable bands are increasingly optimized for continuous health monitoring, with some vendors exploring screenless or reduced-screen designs to improve comfort and data continuity. “The wearables profit model is undergoing structural change,” said Omdia Research Director Jason Low. “Algorithms and services are becoming standalone profit centers, with advanced health insights, professional training plans, and AI-powered coaching generating recurring subscription revenue.” For vendors with a higher-priced portfolio, subscription services represent more than just additional revenue. They are becoming essential to maintaining profitability as hardware margins compress due to rising component costs. This recurring revenue model provides a critical buffer against the volatility of hardware pricing. Meanwhile, improved insights into health and sport tracking are designed to increase usage and stickiness, which, in turn, provides more data points for more tailored services.

Looking ahead, Omdia expects the global wearables market to deliver modest single-digit growth in 2026, reflecting not only continued expansion in shipment volume but also a gradual shift in industry value dynamics. Growth will increasingly be driven by on-device AI advancements and the rising demand for more professional-grade sports and health management. Meaningful upgrade cycles will rely on real breakthroughs in substantive health monitoring capabilities. For leading smartwatch vendors, such as Apple, Samsung, and Huawei, progress in key physiological metrics, particularly blood glucose and blood pressure monitoring, will become the primary catalyst for renewed growth. Among the three major categories, smartwatches are expected to show the strongest momentum, combining advanced sensing, AI analytics, and deeper ecosystem connectivity to serve as the most scalable platform for AI agent integration. At the same time, improving subscription and service monetization is strengthening profitability and enabling reinvestment in technology and ecosystem development. Over time, competitive advantage will depend less on shipment scale alone and more on the depth of AI capability and the strength of cross-device ecosystem integration.

Worldwide wearable band market share split Omdia Preliminary Wearable Band Market Pulse: 2025

Vendor	2025 market share	2024 market share
Xiaomi	18%	15%
Apple	17%	18%
Huawei	16%	14%
Samsung	9%	8%
Garmin	5%	4%
Others	35%	41%


Note: Preliminary estimates are subject to change on final release Xiaomi includes Redmi and POCO, vivo includes iQOO, OPPO includes OnePlus Source: Omdia Wearable Tech Service (sell-in shipments), Feb 2026

ABOUT OMDIA

Omdia, part of TechTarget, Inc. d/b/a Informa TechTarget (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets grounded in real conversations with industry leaders and hundreds of thousands of data points, makes our market intelligence our clients’ strategic advantage. From R&D to ROI, we identify the greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.