Global demand for wearable bands is back on the rise, with Q1 2025 shipments climbing 13% year-over-year to 46.6 million units, marking a strong rebound from last year’s slump. The recovery was fueled by growing interest in health-focused tech, aggressive pricing strategies, and rising demand in emerging markets, according to new data from Canalys (now part of Omdia).

Xiaomi reclaimed its position as the world’s top wearable band vendor for the first time since 2021, shipping 8.7 million units — up 44% compared to the same quarter last year. The company’s success was powered by the popularity of the Redmi Band 5 and its expanding HyperOS ecosystem, which connects smartphones, wearables, and smart home devices under one interface.

Apple followed closely behind, shipping 7.6 million Apple Watches — a modest 5% increase. With the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch approaching, analysts expect the company to launch a refreshed portfolio later this year, capitalizing on its deeply integrated health ecosystem.

Huawei secured third place with 7.1 million units shipped — a 36% jump. Its GT and Fit series, combined with the global rollout of the Huawei Health app, are helping the brand gain traction outside China, especially among fitness-conscious consumers.

Samsung saw the fastest growth among the top players, with a 74% year-over-year increase. The brand shipped 4.9 million units by targeting both the budget and premium segments, extending its reach into price-sensitive regions while maintaining its foothold in developed markets.

Garmin rounded out the top five with 1.8 million units, leveraging its dedicated user base and launching the new Connect+ platform to boost service-based revenue.

As hardware margins tighten, vendors are increasingly betting on ecosystems and services to drive growth. Subscription models, personalized health insights, and cross-device compatibility are becoming the new battleground, as vendors look beyond hardware specs to secure long-term customer loyalty.

The Canalys report emphasizes that success in this space now depends less on specs and more on seamless integration, service depth, and user engagement. With consumer priorities shifting to price, battery life, and accurate health tracking, vendors are challenged to find the right balance between innovation and practicality.

Read the full Canalys report here.