Omdia: Global Wearable Band Shipments Up 3%, Setting Stage for Strong Holiday Season

Core Insights - The global wearable band market experienced a 3% growth in shipments, reaching 54.6 million units in Q3 2025, while the market value surged by 12% to $12.3 billion, indicating a shift towards premium devices [1][2] Market Overview - The Average Selling Price (ASP) of wearable bands rose by 9% annually to $225, primarily driven by the top five vendors: Xiaomi, Apple, Huawei, Samsung, and Garmin, which together accounted for 84% of the market's total value and 63% of volume share [2][3] - The basic band category saw a 12% year-on-year resurgence, particularly in the $50-99 price band, which grew by 56% annually, while the below $50 category declined by 2% [3][4] Vendor Performance - Xiaomi led the market with 9.6 million shipments, followed by Apple with 9.0 million and Huawei with 8.1 million. Garmin showed significant growth with a 25% increase in shipments [9] - The total market share for the top five vendors was 62.8%, while other vendors collectively saw a 6% decline in shipments [9] Premium Segment Growth - The premium segments, particularly the $500–700 and $700+ price bands, grew by 29% and 34% annually, respectively, as vendors integrated advanced features like AI and 5G [5][6] - Smartwatches have entered the 5G era, with new models like the Apple Watch Series 11 and enhanced emergency satellite messaging capabilities from Apple and Garmin [7] Future Trends - Analysts suggest that smartwatch vendors need to enhance native software and services while collaborating with third-party providers to improve user experience and connectivity [8] - The future of smartwatches is expected to focus on immersive, cloud-based generative AI health and fitness coaching, integrating non-wrist devices to create a holistic health ecosystem [8]