Xiaomi has retaken the digital crown in the global wearable band market, surpassing Apple to become the top vendor in Q1 2025, according to new data from Canalys. The research firm says Xiaomi pulled it with a more mature ecosystem strategy than the one it had back in mid-2021 (the last time it led the pack), while Apple’s wearable strategy has grown stale. According to the Q1 2025 report, the wearable band market showed signs of strong recovery. Shipments rose 13% year-over-year to 46.6 million units, driven largely by demand for basic wearables, which are more appealing to emerging markets. And that’s where Xiaomi really pulled ahead. As Canalys analyst Jack Leathem said: Xiaomi has upgraded its Mi Band and Redmi Watch series with refreshed designs and advanced data capabilities, bringing comprehensive features down the price segments, boosting its value proposition. Its growth has also been supported by effective multi-category coordination and competitive pricing, particularly in emerging economies. (…) Samsung has also increased its focus on its basic bands to grow its presence in emerging economies. Xiaomi shipped 8.7 million units this past quarter, up 44% from a year ago. The Redmi Band 5 played a key role, but Canalys says Xiaomi’s broader momentum comes from its HyperOS push, connecting phones, wearables, and home gear. The Apple Watch, meanwhile, had a relatively quiet quarter. Shipments rose 5% to 7.6 million units, inching to 16% total unit share against Xiaomi’s 19%. These numbers echo a recent Counterpoint report, which highlighted the Apple Watch’s ongoing two-year global decline in 2024. The report reads: With 2025 marking the Apple Watch’s tenth anniversary, Apple is expected to regain momentum in the second half of the year with a big portfolio update, leaning on its mature and tightly integrated health-focused ecosystem. As for the rest of the market, Huawei held onto third place with 7.1 million units, thanks to strong performance from its GT and Fit lines and the growing global footprint of the Huawei Health app. Samsung, in fourth, saw the biggest jump among the top vendors, a whopping 74%, to 4.9 million units. The Korean company split its focus between basic bands for emerging markets, and higher-end smartwatches elsewhere. Garmin rounded out the top five with 1.8 million units and a 10% year-over-year increase. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel