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Xiaomi Tops Wearables Market in Q1 2025 with 19% Share, Surpassing Apple: Canalys Report

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Xiaomi reclaimed its position as the leading vendor in the wearable band market during the first quarter of 2025, following the launch of refreshed Mi Band and Redmi Watch models earlier this year. According to a Canalys report, the Beijing-based tech giant surpassed Apple, driven by a remarkable 44 percent year-over-year growth in shipments. Other notable players in the market included Huawei, Samsung, and Garmin, who secured third, fourth, and fifth places respectively. The surge in Xiaomi’s sales highlights its growing appeal among consumers seeking affordable and feature-rich wearable devices.

The Canalys Wearable Band Analysis report further revealed that global shipments of wearable bands reached 46.6 million units in Q1 2025, marking a 13 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Basic wearables, known for their simplicity and affordability, led the growth, with Xiaomi shipping the highest volume thanks to its new releases: the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 and Redmi Band 5. The Redmi Band 5, in particular, emerged as Xiaomi’s best-selling device, helping to secure its top spot in the market. Apple and Huawei followed closely behind, holding the second and third positions.

Apple’s market share in the wearable band segment stood at 16 percent during Q1, and Canalys predicts that this figure will rise in the latter half of 2025. This optimism is fueled by the upcoming launch of Apple’s 10th-anniversary smartwatch, which is expected to attract significant consumer interest. Meanwhile, Huawei experienced a solid 36 percent growth in shipments year-on-year, reaching 7.1 million units. This growth was largely driven by the strong performance of Huawei’s Fit and GT wearable series.

The Canalys study also shed light on consumer preferences in the smartwatch market, highlighting affordability, long battery life, and robust health tracking features as the top priorities for buyers. These factors are shaping the competitive landscape as manufacturers race to deliver devices that balance cost, functionality, and user experience. Xiaomi’s recent success demonstrates how aligning product offerings with these consumer demands can lead to substantial market gains.

Apple Leads Global Smartphone Shipments in Q4 2024, According to Canalys Report

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Global smartphone shipments saw a 3 percent year-on-year increase for the October-December (Q4) period in 2024, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of growth. According to Canalys, the growth was driven by strong demand for the newly launched iPhone 16 series, helping Apple secure the top spot in the global smartphone market with a 23 percent market share. Samsung followed closely in second place, while Chinese brands Xiaomi, Transsion Group, and Vivo rounded out the top five. Notably, Xiaomi stood out as the only brand among the top three to experience year-on-year growth.

The Canalys report revealed that total smartphone shipments reached 330 million units in Q4 2024, contributing to a global shipment total of 1.22 billion units for the entire year. This represents a 7 percent increase compared to the previous year, indicating a recovery in the global smartphone market. While the overall growth is encouraging, it is also indicative of a competitive landscape where brands are vying for dominance in an ever-changing market.

Apple’s performance in Q4 2024 solidified its position as the leader in smartphone shipments, with the iPhone 16 series continuing to capture consumer interest, particularly in emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia. Despite a slight dip from its 24 percent market share in Q3 2023, Apple’s strong sales performance in these regions allowed it to maintain its edge over Samsung for the second consecutive year.

Samsung’s position in second place was challenged by the increasing strength of Chinese brands, with Xiaomi and Transsion Group showing significant activity in global markets. However, Xiaomi was the only one of the top three brands to report year-on-year growth in Q4 2024, highlighting its continued success in regions like Europe and India. As the smartphone industry continues to grow, the competition between these major players remains fierce, with each brand seeking to expand its footprint in key markets around the world.

Apple Loses Smartphone Sales Crown in China, Drops to Third in 2024

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Apple has lost its position as China’s top smartphone seller in 2024, with local competitors Vivo and Huawei surpassing the tech giant. According to data from research firm Canalys, Apple’s annual smartphone shipments in China declined by 17%, marking its largest drop since 2016.

Vivo, the budget smartphone maker, secured 17% of the market share, while Huawei, with its premium offerings, held 16%, and Apple dropped to third with 15%. This marks a significant shift in market dynamics, as domestic manufacturers gain strength in one of Apple’s largest global markets.

Apple’s decline is attributed to various factors, including the lack of artificial intelligence capabilities in its latest iPhones, which has hurt its competitiveness in China, where services like ChatGPT are unavailable. Canalys analyst Toby Zhu commented that Apple’s premium market position faces multiple challenges, such as Huawei’s resurgence in the flagship segment, the rise of domestic foldable phones in high-price segments, and Android brands like Xiaomi and Vivo building consumer loyalty through technological innovations.

Despite previously experiencing four years of growth following U.S. sanctions on Huawei in 2019, which restricted the company’s access to American technology, Apple now faces a strong challenge from Huawei. The Chinese company has seen a resurgence, with a 24% rise in shipments during the fourth quarter of 2024 after launching new phones with locally-made chipsets.

To combat the decline, Apple resorted to offering discounts. In early January, Apple launched a four-day promotion in China, offering price cuts of up to 500 yuan ($68.50) on iPhone 16 models through official channels. Major Chinese e-commerce platforms followed suit, with Alibaba’s Tmall marketplace offering discounts up to 1,000 yuan ($137) on the latest iPhone 16 series devices.

Among the top five smartphone vendors, Xiaomi posted the strongest growth, with a 29% increase in shipments in the fourth quarter, while Oppo and Vivo saw increases of 18% and 14%, respectively. Overall, smartphone shipments in China rose by 4% year-on-year to 285 million units in 2024.