Apple, Xiaomi Lead Q3 as TWS Segment Becomes Top Driver of Wearable Growth in 2020: Counterpoint

Combined, earwear, and smartwatches accounted for 93 percent of the overall market in Q3 2020, according to the report.

Advertisement
By Tasneem Akolawala | Updated: 16 January 2021 17:25 IST
Highlights
  • Earwear had 52 percent of wearable shipment share in Q3 2020
  • Xiaomi enjoyed 13 percent TWS market share in the third quarter
  • Counterpoint sees big potential in budget TWS offerings

Apple was responsible for 29 percent shipments of TWS products in Q3 2020

Smartwatches and true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds are reported to have spearheaded the growth of the wearable segment in 2020, new Counterpoint Research report suggests. In Q3 2020, the report suggests that Apple was responsible for 29 percent shipments of TWS products and 28 percent of smartwatch shipments. The total earwear segment raked in 52 percent of wearable shipment share in Q3 2020, whereas 41 percent was held by smartwatches. Combined, they accounted for 93 percent of the overall market in Q3 2020.

The new research report from Counterpoint Research offers details on wearable shipments in Q3 2020. The report says that the TWS segment was the largest driver of growth in 2020, and Apple accounted for the most sales in Q3 2020. As mentioned, it raked in 29 percent of TWS shipments share in Q3 2020, followed by Xiaomi that enjoyed 13 percent market share in the quarter.

Samsung and JBL both were responsible for five percent TWS shipments in Q3 2020, and Realme was also a part of the top 10 TWS list alongside Sony with 2 percent market share. “Building on strong hearables momentum, recent entry into smartwatches and strength in online, Realme could repeat its smartphone success to become 2021's dark horse in wearables,” commented Counterpoint Research senior analyst Liz Lee. Other manufacturers in the top 10 TWS shipment list in Q3 2020 include Jabra, JLab, QCY, and Edifier.

Advertisement

The report predicts that the annual TWS shipments are expected to grow 83 percent to 238 million units, while smartwatches will weather subdued category spending to increase two percent to tip the 100-million mark. Counterpoint sees big potential in budget offerings and notes that half of the top 10 TWS manufacturers in Q3 2020 were budget brands with sub-$50 and even sub-$20 offerings. Xiaomi seems to have seen the most success with this strategy and took the number two spot in Q3 2020.


What will be the most exciting tech launch of 2021? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
 

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. OTT Releases of the Week (Jan 12 - Jan 18): Taskaree, 120 Bahadur, and More
  2. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale: Top Deals on Smartwatches Under Rs. 10,000
  3. Redmi Note 15 Pro, Note 15 Pro+ 5G Could Launch in India on This Date
  4. Here's How Much the Vivo X200T Could Cost in India: See Expected Specs
  5. OnePlus 15T Launch Timeline, Chipset Details Leaked
  6. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale: Top Laptop Deals Under Rs. 40,000
  7. Top Deals on OnePlus Smartphones During the Amazon Great Republic Day Sale
  8. Lava Blaze Duo 3 to Launch in India on This Date
  9. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale Is Live: Best Offers Today
  10. Redmi Buds 8 Lite Launched With ANC, Up to 36 Hours Total Battery Life
  1. Honor Magic 8 Pro Air Key Features Confirmed; Company Teases External Lens for Honor Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design
  2. Lava Blaze Duo 3 India Launch Date Announced; Colour Options Teased Ahead of Debut
  3. Resident Evil Requiem Gets New Leon Gameplay at Resident Evil Showcase
  4. After ChatGPT Translate, Google Releases Multiple Open-Source Translation Models
  5. Realme Buds Clip India Launch Timeline Confirmed: Expected Specifications, Features
  6. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Might Have Spotted Hidden Supermassive Black Holes
  7. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale: Top Laptop Deals Under Rs. 40,000
  8. OnePlus 15T Launch Timeline, Chipset Details Leaked: Expected Specifications, Features
  9. Vivo X200T Price in India, Design, Key Specifications Tipped Ahead of Launch
  10. India Becomes World’s Second Largest 5G Base with 400M+ Users, Says Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.