Samsung’s Galaxy Watch is off to a rough start for 2026 with a 28% drop
9to5 Google 2026-06-18 15:00:00
Context: Samsung's Galaxy Watch series is facing a challenging start to 2026, marked by a significant decline in shipments. According to a report from Counterpoint Research, the global smartwatch market grew by 4% year-over-year in Q1 2026, but Samsung's Galaxy Watch series shipments dropped by 28% during the same period. This downturn has resulted in Samsung's market share decreasing from 7% in Q1 2025 to 5% in Q1 2026.
Key Facts
- Samsung's Galaxy Watch series shipments dropped by 28% year-over-year in Q1 2026, pushing the company's market share down from 7% in Q1 2025 to 5% in Q1 2026.
- The overall global smartwatch market grew by 4% year-over-year in Q1 2026, with major brands such as Apple Watch, Huawei, Xiaomi, and imoo experiencing growth in shipments.
- Apple Watch shipments grew by 21% in Q1 2026, attributed to growth in China and Europe and the Watch SE 3, while Huawei's shipments increased by 12%, Xiaomi's by 9%, and imoo's by 2%.
- The "Others" category, which includes brands such as Google's Pixel Watch, dropped by 3% in Q1 2026, contrasting with the growth experienced by other major brands.
- Samsung is set to launch its next Galaxy Watch series, the Galaxy Watch 9, in July 2026, alongside its new foldables, in an effort to regain market share in the competitive smartwatch market.