Global wearable shipments show more resilience than smartphones as people turn to health tracking

Though growth was slower than the first quarter’s 29.7%, the wearable devices market has proven more resilient than the smartphone market. — SCMP

Global shipments of wearable devices grew 14.1% in the second quarter compared to the same period a year ago, bolstered by strong demand for hearables (headphones and ear buds) and continued interest in health tracking during the pandemic, according to a research report by IDC.

Apple, which leads the global wearables market, racked up 29.4 million shipments in the quarter ended June giving it a market share of 34.2%, way ahead of its nearest competitor, according to Monday’s report.