Global cellular smartwatch shipments rose +6% YoY in the second quarter of 2022, outperforming the overall smartwatch industry as cellular penetration continues to lift.

Apple Watch and Samsung lead the way across developed markets, while models from Garmin and Fossil, as well as top brands in Asia such as Huawei, Xiaomi, and OPPO, also fueled growth.

Major carriers, like Vodafone Germany, EE UK, and Verizon US, continue to push hard on this segment. They particularly love 4G (and 5G) watches, because it gives operators a chance to grow a fresh path of sticky ARPU with affluent customers.