Global wearable band shipments fell 2% year over year in Q2 2026, according to Omdia, but the market is increasingly divided between minimalist screenless trackers and advanced sports watches.
Smartwatch shipments grew 6%, driven by demand for premium sports models, while the broader basic band segment declined 9%. Screenless bands gained momentum, accounting for more than 15% of basic band shipments, helped by products such as Google’s Fitbit Air and Garmin’s Cirqa.
Apple remained the leader in smartwatches with a 46% global share. Garmin recorded the biggest share gain among non-Apple brands, reaching 15% and nearly matching Samsung. Huawei led the overall wearable band market with an 18% share.
Omdia expects rising component costs to push prices higher, while battery life, health insights, AI features and cross-platform compatibility will become increasingly important differentiators.
Source: Omdia
