Samsung and Garmin each hold 15% of the global smartwatch market, per second-quarter figures from the research firm Omdia. Samsung was on 17% a year ago and still ranks second, marginally ahead on overall shipments. Apple leads on 46%, down from 48%. Huawei sits on 7% and still barely sells outside China. Garmin got here with runners, cyclists and triathletes who want accurate data and multi-day battery life, and who will pay a premium for both.
The wider wearable market shrank 2% last quarter while smartwatches grew 6%, and basic fitness bands fell 9%. More than 15% of those band shipments were screenless trackers, small bands with no display at all. Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in July. The quarter these numbers cover ended in June.