Samsung sold only half as many smartwatches as Apple this year

Samsung might be the world's biggest smartphone brand, but it isn't anywhere close to the number one spot in the smartwatch segment. The South Korean firm, which launched three new Galaxy Watches this year, managed to sell slightly more smartwatches compared to last year. However, compared to Apple, it sold only half as many smartwatches this year.

According to market research firm IDC (via CNMO), Huawei ranked first in global fitness tracker and smartwatch sales. The Chinese firm sold 28.6 million fitness trackers and smartwatches in the first three quarters of this year. That is a 21.6% improvement compared to the first three quarters of 2024. Xiaomi sold 27.9 million fitness trackers and smartwatches during the same period, and it is a 36.1% improvement compared to the first three quarters of last year.

Apple ranked third in the list with 27.9 million Apple Watch sales, a 23.9% rise compared to last year. Samsung sold 11.8 million Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Watch series devices in the first three quarters of 2025. It is a 1.5% improvement compared to the first three quarters of 2024.

The report says that Samsung's smartwatch sales were lagging in the first two quarters compared to the same period last year. However, after it launched the Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) in mid-2025, its sales improved, and the company managed to post slightly higher numbers than last year.

You can read our Galaxy Watch 8 review here and our Galaxy Watch 8 Classic review here. Next year, the company will likely launch the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in mid-2026. They are expected to be powered by solid state batteries.