Counterpoint: Apple Watch shipments jumped 14% in Q2 as the smartwatch market shrank
Counterpoint Research says Apple Watch shipments rose 14% year over year in Q2 2026 while the global smartwatch market fell 4%, with Series 11 and SE 3 driving most of Apple’s volume.
A new Counterpoint Research report, summarized by 9to5Mac, says global smartwatch shipments fell 4% year over year in Q2 2026 — while Apple Watch shipments rose 14% over the same period.
Where Apple landed
According to figures 9to5Mac cites from Counterpoint:
- Apple held about 20.1% of global smartwatch shipments and posted the fastest year-over-year growth among the top five brands.
- Huawei led share at about 21.8%, with shipments up roughly 1% year over year.
- Imoo, Xiaomi, and Garmin followed; Garmin rose about 11%, while Xiaomi’s shipments fell sharply.
Counterpoint principal analyst Anshika Jain said Apple recorded growth across all regions, driven by continued adoption of its refreshed late-2025 lineup. The report attributes more than 80% of Apple’s global Watch shipments in Q2 2026 to Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3 combined. China was cited as a recovery bright spot for Apple after a weaker Q2 2025.
Event-week context
These figures are a reported market snapshot, not an Apple announcement. They still matter for readers watching Wednesday’s Surprise and Shine event, where Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are widely expected, alongside a rumored Readiness app. Separately, SE 3 went “Currently Unavailable” on Apple’s online store Tuesday — storefront timing, not proof of an SE 4.
