Huawei heats up global smartwatch market with new GT 5 series to challenge Apple Watch
Huawei Technologies is stepping up its competition with Apple beyond 5G smartphones, with the launch of its latest smartwatch series in China and Europe nearly a decade after the Shenzhen-based firm introduced its first device in that category.
At an event in Shanghai on Tuesday, Huawei introduced on the mainland its new Watch GT 5 series - with prices starting at 1,488 yuan (US$212) - featuring a slimmer design, upgraded antenna and algorithm for improved positioning accuracy, up to two weeks of battery life per full charge, TruSense health-monitoring system for heart rate and blood-oxygen measurements, women's health tracking and monitoring of a user's emotional well-being.
That followed last week's international launch of the series, with prices from €249 (US$279). The emotional well-being feature will not be available in Europe, according to the privately held company.
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Huawei's latest product launch reflects the US-sanctioned firm's efforts to boost revenue amid rising demand for advanced smartwatches in 2024. Research firm Canalys has forecast the global smartwatch sector to rebound this year, with estimated total shipments of 83 million units.
Huawei Technologies' new stainless-steel Watch GT 5 series in brown, blue and black models. Photo: Huawei alt=Huawei Technologies' new stainless-steel Watch GT 5 series in brown, blue and black models. Photo: Huawei>
The global wrist-worn device market, which includes smartwatches and wristbands, was led by Huawei in the second quarter with shipments of 8.9 million units and a 20.3 per cent share, according to a report by research firm IDC. This was the second consecutive quarter that Huawei led this market.
China significantly outpaced the global wrist-worn device market last quarter with 15.5 million units shipped, a 10.9 per cent year-on-year increase. That growth was on the back of the country's smartwatch shipments of 11.1 million units, which rose 18.7 per cent year on year.
Huawei has "made substantial progress in regions such as the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe", the IDC report said. "In addition, Huawei has been leading China's wrist-worn device market since 2021."
After Huawei, the other top-ranked global wrist-worn device vendors last quarter were Xiaomi, Apple and Samsung Electronics, IDC data show. It pointed out that Apple, which does not have wristband devices, still ranked first in the global smartwatch market.
Huawei Technologies' new titanium-body Watch GT 5 Pro in black and white models. Photo: Huawei alt=Huawei Technologies' new titanium-body Watch GT 5 Pro in black and white models. Photo: Huawei>
Apple Watch accounted for 49 per cent of the world's smartwatch shipments in the second quarter, according to a report by Canalys. Samsung ranked second with a 15 per cent share, while Huawei took the fourth spot with 7 per cent.
In terms of basic watches, Huawei held the No 1 position with a 15 per cent share last quarter, according to Canalys. The subcategory of basic watches comprise less-sophisticated watches with limited app support. Xiaomi ranked second in this subcategory, with a 13 per cent share.
Xiaomi ranked first in the global wearable band category with a 40 per cent share last quarter, according to Canalys. No 2 Huawei had a 23 per cent share in the same period.
The first-generation Huawei Watch was introduced by the firm in September 2015. Company data showed that it has sold more than 150 million wearable products globally.
Huawei last week released what it touts as the world's first commercial trifold smartphone, the Mate XT, on the same day Apple started sales of its iPhone 16 series.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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