Pixel Watch has helped Google rank second in the smartwatch market

Google launched its first smartwatch, the Pixel Watch, last year, which was not available in many regions, hence it did not make a significant impact. However, the Pixel Watch has sold well, and according to recent data, in Q4 of last year, Google held the second-largest share of the smartwatch/wearable market.

Canalys has reported that Google shipped 4 million units, accounting for an 8% market share, second only to Apple. Of this figure, 880,000 units were Pixel Watches, which is an impressive performance, but Google’s overall shipment volume dropped by 25% compared to Q4 2021, primarily due to Fitbit’s shipment volume.

Of course, the overall smartwatch/wearable market has declined year-on-year, with Apple’s shipments dropping by 17% to 13.8 million units in Q4 2022, accounting for a 27.5% market share, still the undisputed leader. Xiaomi ranked third, shipping 3.6 million units and holding a 7.2% market share, followed by Huawei and Samsung, both shipping around 3 million units, with a more significant decline of 35%.

However, the shipment volumes of the second to fifth place are relatively close, and with a bit more effort in the next quarter, they may surpass each other. Other manufacturers, not belonging to the top five, still hold a 44.9% market share, leaving considerable room for these companies to compete for shipment volumes. Google’s biggest challenge with the Pixel Watch is still its limited sales range, only available in nine countries, while Apple is available in as many as 60 countries. Additionally, the Pixel Watch’s starting price is relatively high, at $350.