Kuaikeji, September 23 – The International Data Corporation (IDC) has unveiled its 'Global Handheld Smart Camera Market Tracker Report for the Second Quarter of 2026' today.

Data from the report reveals that in the second quarter of 2026, global shipments of handheld smart cameras soared past 5.88 million units, marking a 57% year-on-year surge; sales revenue approached 15.7 billion yuan, reflecting a 50% year-on-year hike.

IDC forecasts that by 2030, global shipments of handheld smart cameras will soar to nearly 41 million units, boasting a compound annual growth rate of nearly 20% over the forthcoming five years.

Delving into market segments, sports cameras continue their meteoric rise. In the second quarter of 2026, global shipments of sports cameras exceeded 2.55 million units, up 47% year-on-year, with an average unit price of 2,262 yuan, down 4% year-on-year.

Among these, traditional wide-angle sports cameras witnessed a 22% year-on-year increase in shipments, while detachable sports cameras, typified by 'thumb cameras,' emerged as the fastest-growing category, with shipments skyrocketing by over 300% year-on-year.

The gimbal camera market fared even better, with global shipments nearing 2.8 million units in the second quarter, an 87% year-on-year jump, and an average unit price of 2,968 yuan, down 6% year-on-year.

IDC attributed the record-high shipments to continuous product innovations by leading manufacturers, robust sales of new dual-camera gimbal models, and summer promotions in the Chinese market.

In the panoramic camera segment, global shipments surpassed 530,000 units in the second quarter, up 4% year-on-year.

Regarding brand positioning, DJI maintains an unassailable lead.

In the second quarter of 2026, DJI's global shipments of handheld smart cameras exceeded 4.28 million units, capturing a 73% market share and securing the top spot. This represents an 11-percentage-point increase from the same period last year, setting a new benchmark.

Within specific segments, DJI's gimbal cameras accounted for over 60% of its own shipments, with a 77% year-on-year increase; its market share in traditional wide-angle sports cameras reached 64%, up 11 percentage points year-on-year; and in detachable sports cameras, it captured over 55% market share with just one product.

Insta360 ranked second, with over 1.15 million units shipped, capturing a 20% overall market share.

In the panoramic camera market, Insta360's shipment share reached 73% in the second quarter; its market share in traditional wide-angle sports cameras exceeded 17%; and in detachable sports cameras, it captured 43% market share.

Moreover, Insta360's Luna Ultra gimbal camera performed exceptionally well after its launch, capturing nearly 6% of the gimbal camera market's shipment share by the end of the second quarter.

In stark contrast, GoPro is grappling with significant pressure amid relentless competition from Chinese manufacturers.

In the second quarter of 2026, GoPro's sports camera shipments declined by 49% year-on-year, while its panoramic camera shipments plummeted by 61% year-on-year.

Despite launching new models such as the MISSION1/Pro sports camera and the Max2 panoramic camera, addressing some hardware deficiencies, IDC believes that GoPro still lags behind Chinese manufacturers in terms of product ecosystem and software-hardware integration.

Simultaneously, GoPro's global market presence is dwindling, with over 65% of its shipments now concentrated in the Americas.