Smartwatch sales dropped for the first time, falling 7% in 2024, marking a major shift in the wearable tech market after nearly a decade of growth.

Global sales of smartwatches have fallen for the first time, new figures indicate, in large part due to a sharp decline in the popularity of market leader, Apple. Market research firm Counterpoint says 7% fewer of the devices were shipped in 2024 compared to the year before.

Global smartwatch sales dropped for the first time since the introduction of the original Apple Watch in 2014. Here's what that means.

However, for the first time ever, the global smartwatch market drops in terms of overall shipments, according to the latest figures by Counterpoint. According to Counterpoint Research’s latest Global Smartwatch Shipments Tracker,