Garmin has pulled stage with Samsung in world smartwatch market share, in keeping with new cargo information from analysis agency Omdia.
Omdia’s Q2 2026 figures put Garmin at 15% of worldwide smartwatch shipments, up from 11% a 12 months earlier, whereas Samsung is on the identical stage, falling from 17%. Apple stays nicely clear on the prime with 46% of the market, additionally down 4 factors.
I’d not beforehand come throughout Omdia, however they use an analogous foundation for shipments as Counterpoint, IDC, and Canalys.
Why that is value taking severely
Market share is a tough proxy for a way lengthy an organization can survive. A model with a shrinking share finally cuts R&D, trims help home windows, or will get acquired because the market matures.
A rising market share is an efficient signal that your funding within the model’s ecosystem will fund the subsequent era of {hardware} and maintain third-party builders and accent makers .
The context that makes this notable
Garmin has featured in smartwatch-specific market share tables for years. Counterpoint put it at 9.4% and briefly forward of Samsung again in 2020, then down at 4.3% by 2022. What’s completely different this time is a much bigger single-year transfer than Garmin has usually made in these tables.
Garmin’s positive aspects had been attributed to demand for its higher-end sports activities watches, notably amongst runners, cyclists, and out of doors customers, plus a broader Forerunner vary that brings extra consumers into the ecosystem, usually at lower cost factors.
One factor this determine doesn’t embody
Garmin’s CIRQA, its screenless health band, launched in late July, after this quarter’s information was collected. Elsewhere within the report, Omdia’s report reveals screenless trackers as a real progress class throughout the wider wearables market. Garmin’s subsequent quarterly numbers will present whether or not CIRQA provides to this share achieve or whether or not the 2 product strains merely compete for a similar consumers.
Fast solutions
What’s Garmin’s present smartwatch market share?
Garmin holds 15% of worldwide smartwatch shipments in Q2 2026, in keeping with Omdia. That determine is up from 11% a 12 months earlier.
Has Garmin overtaken Samsung in smartwatch market share?
Garmin has not overtaken Samsung. Each manufacturers sit at 15% for Q2 2026, and Omdia notes Samsung stays marginally forward in precise unit phrases.
What’s Apple’s smartwatch market share?
Apple holds 46% of worldwide smartwatch shipments in Q2 2026. That share is down from 48% a 12 months earlier, although Apple stays far forward of each different model.
What’s Omdia?
Omdia is a market analysis agency that tracks cargo volumes throughout client electronics. Its estimates are constructed from vendor and channel cargo information, the identical technique utilized by Counterpoint, IDC, and Canalys.
What interval does this Garmin and Samsung information cowl?
The figures cowl the second quarter of 2026 (April via June) and examine shipments with the identical quarter of 2025.
Does the market share information embody Garmin CIRQA gross sales?
No. Garmin’s CIRQA screenless band launched in late July 2026, after the quarter this information covers. Any CIRQA gross sales will seem in Garmin’s Q3 2026 figures as an alternative.
Why did Garmin’s smartwatch share enhance?
Omdia attributes the achieve to demand for Garmin’s higher-end sports activities watches amongst runners, cyclists, and out of doors customers, together with a broader Forerunner vary that brings in consumers at a lower cost level.
Has Garmin been this near Samsung in market share earlier than?
Garmin has appeared in smartwatch-specific market share tables for years, together with a 9.4% share in 2020 and 4.3% in 2022. It has not beforehand closed to inside one level of Samsung whereas each manufacturers held double-digit share.
Why does smartwatch market share matter to consumers?
A model’s market share is a tough information to how lengthy it will probably maintain funding software program updates, sensor improvement, and buyer help. A shrinking model tends to chop funding over time, whereas a rising one can maintain funding new {hardware} and attracting third-party builders.
Are Omdia’s figures based mostly on gross sales or shipments?
The figures are based mostly on shipments, that means items despatched from producers into the retail and distribution channel, not confirmed gross sales to finish shoppers. That is the usual technique throughout the foremost analysis companies.
What’s the distinction between the smartwatch market and the broader wearable band market?
The smartwatch market covers display-equipped watches solely. The broader wearable band market additionally contains screenless trackers and primary health bands, a class the place Garmin’s general share is smaller than its smartwatch-specific share.
Final Up to date on 19 August 2026 by the5krunner
My favorite equipment and vitamin
- Injinji – Runners defend your toes. Keep away from discomfort and minor harm. Run extra. Run quicker. I exploit them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — A small keyring adapter you should use wherever. Important when away. I exploit one.
- Garmin charging puck — the quickest and most dependable solution to prime up your Garmin earlier than a session. I exploit one.
- Ravemen FR300 — Entrance gentle that mounts immediately underneath your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Retains your bars clear and your beam pointed the place it issues. I exploit one.
- Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that every one swimmers and plenty of runners use. I exploit it.
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- Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear gentle that alerts you to automobiles approaching from behind. Pairs along with your Edge or Wahoo. I exploit this mannequin.
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- Garmin Forerunner 970 — A severe alternative for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I exploit this.
- Polar H10 — My each day driver for correct, waking HRV readings.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike pc that has the characteristic Garmin lacks: usability. I exploit mine on most rides.
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tfk is the founder and writer of the5krunner, an unbiased endurance sports activities expertise publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at a global age-group stage, tfk offers in-depth skilled evaluation of health expertise for severe athletes and endurance sport rivals. ID
