Apple maintained its position as the top wireless earbuds vendor worldwide during the first quarter of 2026, with AirPods and Beats combined capturing nearly one-third of all global shipments. Research firm Smart Analytics Global estimates Apple held 23% of the true wireless stereo market by volume, while Xiaomi ranked second at 11% and Beats claimed third with 8% market share.

Revenue numbers paint an even stronger picture for the Cupertino giant. Apple captured 44% of global TWS revenue during the quarter, leveraging premium pricing that outpaces competitors despite lower shipment volumes. Overall market shipments grew 4% year over year, while wholesale revenue increased 8%, suggesting consumers are willing to pay more for higher-end options.

Open-ear earbuds emerged as the fastest-growing segment, with shipments jumping dramatically while traditional products declined. Open-hook devices rose 48% and open-clip models surged 87% year over year. Shokz led the open-hook category with 25% market share, and Huawei topped open-clip earbuds at 22%, though Apple didn't rank among leaders in these emerging categories.

Despite the open-ear growth trend, traditional in-ear designs still represent over 80% of shipments and will likely dominate through 2027. This explains why analysts expect Apple to maintain its overall market leadership even as competitors gain ground in newer product segments. Total TWS shipments are projected to reach 344 million units in 2026.