You won’t believe the turnaround Wear OS has made in recent years! Once on the brink of obscurity, it’s now staging an impressive comeback, all thanks to Google’s renewed dedication and a strategic partnership with Samsung. While it’s still playing catch-up to the Apple Watch, a fresh report from Counterpoint Research reveals Wear OS currently holds a 21 percent market share, with projections soaring to 27 percent by 2024.
Counterpoint’s report focuses on “smartwatches with an app store,” excluding simpler devices like fitness bands. In this segment, Apple currently reigns with a commanding 53 percent share, expected to dip slightly to 49 percent in 2024. The remaining 26 percent is a mix of Garmin, Fitbit, and Amazfit devices. Interestingly, the report predicts significant growth in non-Apple watches, with Samsung leading the charge, supported by players like OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, and of course, Google.
Over in China, it’s a different story altogether, with Huawei’s HarmonyOS dominating the smartwatch scene with a staggering 48 percent share, set to rise to 61 percent this year. Notably, HarmonyOS is actually an Android fork tailored for smartwatches, with Huawei poised to introduce an Apple Watch competitor soon. Apple lags behind in China with only 28 percent market share, while Wear OS finds itself in the “Other” category due to the absence of the Play Store. Nonetheless, brands like Xiaomi and Oppo are still rolling out Wear OS devices.
When it comes to chipsets, Apple and Samsung currently rule the roost, commanding two-thirds of the market. Qualcomm, once a dominant force in Wear OS, is clawing back its market share with recent releases like the W5 chipset. However, with Samsung and Google opting for their own chips, Qualcomm’s presence is primarily felt in Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus, where alternatives are limited.
It’s an exciting time for Wear OS as it stakes its claim in the wearable tech arena, backed by strong partnerships and a growing ecosystem.
