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Huawei did beat Apple—but only in a specific quarterly shipment ranking. Reports based on Counterpoint data put Huawei at about 21% of global smartwatch shipments in Q2 2025, ahead of Apple at about 17%. That did not prove a permanent takeover, higher revenue, a larger installed base, or more active users. Apple led the full year 2025 and was again the global shipment leader in Q1 2026.
The accurate conclusion is narrower: Huawei’s China-led growth briefly disrupted Apple’s lead, while Apple remains the stronger worldwide leader in the latest available data.
What Huawei actually beat Apple at
The headline needs a metric. The reported Huawei win concerns global quarterly smartwatch shipments—estimated units entering distribution channels—not necessarily watches purchased by consumers.
- Shipments: Units supplied to channels during a period.
- Sell-through: Purchases by consumers, which can differ from shipments when retailers build or reduce inventory.
- Revenue and profit: Higher-priced watches can generate more money without leading unit volume.
- Installed base and active users: The watches already in use, a stock that changes much more slowly than quarterly shipments.
- Premium, basic and children’s watches: Research firms may define the category differently, so shares are not always directly comparable.
Counterpoint’s figures are shipment estimates. They do not establish that Huawei led Apple in revenue, profit, installed base, active users or premium-watch sales. Exact shares can also vary with the research firm’s category definition and methodology.
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The leadership timeline
| Period | What the data showed | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | Apple remained the global shipment leader; worldwide shipments fell 2% year over year. | Huawei was growing, but had not yet overtaken Apple globally. Counterpoint |
| Q2 2025 | Huawei reportedly reached about 21% of global shipments and Apple about 17%. | A one-quarter shipment-share lead, not permanent market domination. Counterpoint |
| Full year 2025 | Apple held approximately 23% of global smartwatch shipments. | Apple retained the annual lead. Counterpoint’s Q4 2025 tracker |
| Q1 2026 | Apple led with a 23% shipment share; Huawei appeared at approximately 5% in the quarterly table. | Apple had regained the latest reported global lead. Counterpoint’s Q1 2026 table |
Counterpoint reported that global smartwatch shipments grew 4% year over year in Q1 2026 and that Apple’s shipments grew faster than the overall market. A secondary account of that result is available from 9to5Mac.
Why Huawei surged
China supplied the biggest lift
China’s smartwatch shipments grew 37% year over year in Q1 2025, with Huawei, Imoo and Xiaomi among the main drivers, according to Counterpoint. Huawei’s domestic distribution, brand recognition and broad lineup made it unusually well placed to capture that growth. A strong China quarter can produce a mathematically global lead even when a brand is less prominent in North America or Europe.
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A portfolio spanning several price points
Huawei sells across lifestyle, fitness and premium segments rather than relying on one watch. The Watch GT family emphasizes traditional styling and long endurance; Watch Fit models target a lower-priced, fitness-oriented audience; flagship Watch models add premium materials and more health functions. Available reports identify the GT and Fit families as important parts of Huawei’s appeal, but do not prove that one specific model caused the Q2 ranking.
Battery life and pricing fit the mass market
Longer advertised endurance and competitive pricing can attract buyers who do not want to charge every night. Battery ratings vary by model and use, so Huawei’s advertised figure should not be compared directly with Apple’s rating without matching settings and usage. Counterpoint also reported that Huawei, Garmin and Xiaomi drove growth in the higher-level operating-system smartwatch segment while Apple and Samsung declined in Q4 2024; see its brand and regional forecast.
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Why Apple’s lead returned
Apple benefits from a large iPhone-installed base, broad retail availability and a mature watch ecosystem. Apple Watch is iPhone-only, which limits its addressable market but creates deep integration for iPhone owners: setup, notifications, health data, safety features, apps and cellular service are designed to work together.
Apple also remained resilient outside China, where Huawei’s availability, payments, apps, eSIM service and health functions can vary by country. A mature installed base can make year-to-year growth harder, but it also gives Apple a substantial replacement market. The later recovery does not prove that one feature or launch alone caused the change; the available market data supports a combination of ecosystem strength, regional reach and lineup demand.
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China strength is not the same as worldwide ecosystem dominance
Huawei’s Q2 2025 lead was technically global because the cited table aggregated worldwide shipments. Its significance is nevertheless heavily shaped by China. Apple has structural advantages in North America, Europe, Japan and other markets with large iPhone populations, while Huawei’s official sales, warranty, cellular certification, payment services and third-party apps differ substantially by country.
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- Whether the source counts only smartwatches or also basic and children’s watches.
- Whether the number represents sell-in shipments, estimated sell-through or another measure.
- Whether Huawei is grouped with any sub-brand.
- Whether the exact model is officially sold and supported in your country.
Huawei Watch versus Apple Watch for buyers
| Criterion | Huawei’s typical position | Apple’s typical position |
|---|---|---|
| Phone compatibility | Many models work with Android and, for some models, iPhone; verify the exact model and region. | Requires an iPhone. Current models require iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 or later. Apple |
| Battery | GT/Fit-style watches generally emphasize multi-day endurance; the rating depends on model and settings. | Series 11 is rated for up to 24 hours, or up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode. Apple |
| Health and fitness | Strong tracking and training features, with regional limits on functions such as ECG, payments and related health services. | Mature health, safety, workout and iPhone integration; feature availability also depends on model and region. |
| Apps | Core watch functions are capable, but third-party app availability can be narrower. | Larger, more established watch-app ecosystem. |
| Cellular | eSIM and carrier support vary substantially by country and model. | Clearer support in the United States, but carrier compatibility still must be checked. |
| U.S. pricing | The official pricing evidence available here is for a Malaysia launch, not a verified U.S. retail price. Huawei terms | Apple lists Watch SE 3 from $249, Series 11 from $399 and Ultra 3 from $799 in U.S. materials; prices vary by configuration and can change. SE 3 · Series 11 · Ultra 3 |
Which watch makes sense for you?
Choose Apple Watch if you use an iPhone
Apple is the safer choice when seamless setup, notifications, Apple Health, safety tools, a broad app catalog and dependable local cellular support matter more than multi-day battery life. The SE 3 is the entry point; Series 11 is the mainstream option; Ultra 3 is aimed at outdoor and endurance users rather than ordinary buyers.
Choose Huawei if you use Android and prioritize endurance
Huawei is worth considering for Android users who want traditional-watch styling, strong fitness tracking and longer battery intervals. Confirm that the exact model works with your phone and that required health, payment, app and eSIM features are supported in your country.
Do not buy on global share alone
In markets where Huawei lacks official distribution, warranty service, carrier certification or payment support, an apparently attractive watch can be a poor practical choice. Health features are not medical diagnoses, and regulatory availability can differ by country.
Bottom line: a quarterly upset, not permanent domination
Huawei’s reported 21% versus Apple’s 17% in Q2 2025 was a real global shipment-share upset, powered largely by China and Huawei’s broad GT, Fit and flagship portfolio. But Apple led the full year 2025 at approximately 23% and again led Q1 2026 with 23%, while Huawei was listed at about 5% in that quarter. “Huawei dominates the smartwatch market worldwide” is therefore too broad. The defensible verdict is that Huawei proved Apple’s lead can be challenged—especially in China and in individual quarters—while Apple remained the latest global leader.
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