Samsung Galaxy Watch Shipments Fall 28% as Apple Gains Ground

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch lineup is facing its toughest start in years, with smartwatch shipments plummeting 28% in the first quarter of 2026. This data comes from Counterpoint Research, as Apple tightens its grip on the wearables market.

What the Numbers Actually Show

Counterpoint Research, a firm that tracks global device shipments, shared Q1 2026 figures revealing Samsung’s smartwatch shipments dropped sharply compared to last year. That 28% decline isn’t just a minor blip — it means more than one in four watches Samsung would have shipped simply didn’t go out.

To illustrate: imagine a store sold 100 watches last January. This January, it only sold 72. That’s the kind of shortfall Samsung is dealing with.

On the flip side, Apple is doing quite well. The iPhone maker has reported gains during the same period, solidifying its position as the leading smartwatch brand worldwide. The Apple Watch commands a significant share of the market, and these numbers indicate that lead isn’t shrinking anytime soon.

Why Is Samsung Struggling?

Samsung makes solid watches. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has received positive reviews for its health tracking features and rotating bezel. But great reviews don’t always lead to strong sales.

Several factors are hindering Samsung right now. First, the Android smartwatch market is more fragmented than Apple’s ecosystem. The Apple Watch works only with iPhones, while Galaxy Watches perform best with Samsung Galaxy phones. However, Android users have alternatives like Google’s Pixel Watch and Garmin devices, which divides potential buyers.

Second, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch lineup is priced at a premium in a market where consumers are questioning whether upgrading is worth it. With longer smartphone upgrade cycles, convincing someone to replace a perfectly functional watch is tougher.

Third, Galaxy AI, Samsung’s suite of built-in features, hasn’t yet created the kind of “must-have” moment that might prompt users to upgrade their watches. Apple has steadily introduced health features like sleep apnea detection and crash detection, generating real excitement and motivation to purchase.

Apple’s Growing Advantage

Apple’s success isn’t by chance. The company has spent years transforming the Apple Watch into more of a health device than just a notification tool. Features approved by the FDA carry considerable weight with consumers focused on health.

Apple also enjoys a locked ecosystem advantage. If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the only smartwatch that delivers the full experience. Samsung lacks that kind of loyal audience, even among its phone users.

Reporting from Android Authority indicates that Samsung’s struggles in the smartwatch segment have been developing over several quarters. Q1 2026 is less of a surprise and more of a continuation of a troubling trend. As 9to5Google notes, Samsung still holds a significant portion of the smartwatch market, but the trajectory isn’t favorable.

What This Means

If you own a Galaxy Watch, this news doesn’t change its performance right now. However, it does have longer-term implications to consider.

When a product line sees a sharp decline in sales, companies must decide: invest more to turn things around or quietly deprioritize it. So far, Samsung hasn’t shown signs of abandoning the Galaxy Watch, and a new generation of hardware is expected later in 2026. But continued drops in shipments will pressure Samsung’s investment in features, software updates, and health partnerships moving forward.

For shoppers weighing the Galaxy Watch against the Apple Watch, this data doesn’t make Samsung’s device any less appealing. But it serves as a reminder that the smartwatch market is increasingly a two-speed race, with Apple pulling ahead while others scramble to catch up.

What To Watch

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 / Galaxy Watch Ultra refresh: Samsung usually announces new Galaxy Watch hardware at its Unpacked event in late July or early August. A strong showing there could change the narrative heading into Q3.
• Q2 2026 shipment data: Counterpoint and other research firms will release second-quarter figures later this summer. Two consecutive quarters of sharp declines would make this a much bigger story.
• Apple Watch Series 11: Apple’s next Apple Watch is expected at its fall iPhone event, likely in September. Any new health features announced there could widen the gap with Samsung in consumer perception.
• Samsung’s Galaxy AI integration in wearables: Watch for whether Samsung uses its upcoming Unpacked event to make a stronger AI pitch for the Galaxy Watch specifically, not just its phones.