Global Wearables Shipments to Hit 229 Million in 2026 as Market Value Reaches $57 Billion
Updated
Updated · Twice · May 18
Global Wearables Shipments to Hit 229 Million in 2026 as Market Value Reaches $57 Billion
1 articles · Updated · Twice · May 18
Futuresource projects global wearables shipments will reach 229 million units in 2026, up 5.1% year on year, with retail value rising 6% to $57 billion.
93.2 million smartwatches shipped in 2025, keeping the category dominant, but the firm said growth is broadening beyond watches as competition fragments across more device types.
6.1 million smart glasses and 4.1 million smart rings shipped in 2025, with both categories gaining strategic importance through AI, voice control and low-friction health tracking.
Connected ecosystems are becoming the main battleground, as on-device AI, sensor fusion and newer chips make watches, glasses, rings and smartphones work more closely together.
Activity trackers are the main laggard, with volume forecast to fall at an 8.9% CAGR through 2030 as buyers shift toward devices offering richer features and stronger ecosystem value.
Beyond the smartwatch, will emerging smart rings and glasses fundamentally redefine our relationship with personal technology?
As wearables shift from one-time buys to monthly subscriptions, is the era of owning your health tech already over?
With personal health data now worth billions, can the wearables industry secure user trust before regulators are forced to intervene?