# Garmin has pulled level with Samsung in smartwatches

Source: https://idevice.com/garmin-pulled-level-with-samsung-on-smartwatch-share
Published: 2026-08-17

> Both sit at 15% of global shipments, and Q2 ended before Samsung put two new watches on sale.

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](https://www.sammobile.com/news/garmin-challenges-samsung-smartwatch-market-share-q2-2026/). 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](https://sammyguru.com/garmin-catches-samsung-smartwatch-market-q2-2026/), small bands with no display at all. Samsung launched the [Galaxy Watch 9](https://idevice.com/smart-watches/samsung-galaxy-watch/roadmap) and the [Galaxy Watch Ultra 2](https://idevice.com/smart-watches/samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra/roadmap) in July. The quarter these numbers cover ended in June.

## Sources

- [SamMobile](https://www.sammobile.com/news/garmin-challenges-samsung-smartwatch-market-share-q2-2026/) (SamMobile)
- [SammyGuru](https://sammyguru.com/garmin-catches-samsung-smartwatch-market-q2-2026/) (SammyGuru)